The Gentle King
Devotional by Michael Neale
Read Zechariah 9:9 & Matthew 21:1-9
Zechariah 9:9
The Coming King of Zion
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Matthew 21:1-9
The Triumphal Entry
Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,
5 “Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. 8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.
Devotional
The dusty roads of Jerusalem trembled with anticipation. The air was thick with the scent of palm branches trampled beneath hopeful feet. Centuries after the Zechariah prophecy a great King approaches—not upon a warhorse, not clad in gilded armor, but upon a humble donkey’s colt. The paradox is staggering. Majesty riding meekness; humility-wrapped power. This was a warrior King of a different kind.
The shouts must have risen like a rushing tide. “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Matthew 21:9). The cries of desperation and wonder echoed through the hills. As they spread their cloaks on the road to welcome the royal One that they believed would restore Israel’s glory, the ignition of the week of weeks unfolds. If I would have been there, I probably would have misunderstood, too. They expected conquest, but He came with peace. They yearned for a rowdy revolution, but He offered renewal and redemption. They sought a roaring lion, but He arrived as a gentle lamb.
This moment, prophesied in Zechariah 9:9, is not a fleeting spectacle—it is another piece in the unveiling mosaic of God’s grandest design. Jesus enters not as an earthly conqueror but as Heaven’s deliverer. He comes not to overthrow Rome but to overthrow sin’s dominion. His coronation will not be in a palace but on a cross. His victory will be written not in bloodshed but in His own blood poured out for the world.
As they laid down those palm branches, let us lay down our pride, our fears, our disordered ambitions. Let us hail the humble King and welcome Him into the chaotic and weary streets of our hearts, not just for a fleeting moment, but for eternity. His rule and reign are full and final. It’s deeper than our eyes can see and more powerful than any sword. Nothing will outshine our King forever and ever. He comes not just to reign, but to redeem and restore. And His Kingdom will have no end.
“Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”
Action Step: Holy Week is here, and with it comes a powerful opportunity: to remember that Jesus was the plan all along. As you begin this Fulfilled devotional series, don’t keep it to yourself. Text your group chat. Your cousin. Your neighbor. Invite them to follow the thread of prophecy and promise with you this week. This journey with Christ to the cross is meant to be shared.
As I reflect on what it must have been like watching Jesus enter Jerusalem. I can only imagine the energy and excitement of the crowds. Yet they didn’t understand the full gift that was coming they were focused on an earthly king that is only temporary they had no idea of the eternal gift waiting for them. Some people still miss the real gift of Jesus and focus on worldly things rather than eternal. Ones. Politics, pride, self gratification have led many to focus on self rather than Him! We need to celebrate Jesus each day as our savior and rely on him for all things! We need to sing His praises daily and be as excited for him being in our lives with as much vigor as that day I. Jerusalem
PRAISE THE LORD AND AMEN!!✝🕊📖🙏
Amen GOD bless everyone who worked to bring us this message this morning in Jesus name, Holy Holy Yahweh.
Most who don’t attend would, if only someone would ask them.
We honor the King of all kings today and choose to share the good news of who He is with those the Lord puts in our path and on our hearts.
Amen!
This is my King ! My Savior, my Redeemer, my life .
Lord open my eyes, ears and heart to the true value in my life. Guide me as I honor you, especially in this season. I ask for Your boldness to take this message to a dying world and invite those that I encounter to come meet you this Resurrection Sunday. I asked this in your precious son Jesus’ name AMEN!
“Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
This really resonated with me. It’s easy to get caught up in wanting a different kind of “victory,” but the reminder that Jesus came for peace and redemption is so powerful. The call to lay down our own pride is a great challenge for this Holy Week. Thanks for sharing♥️🙏🏽
What a powerful reminder of the kind of King Jesus is. Not one of worldly power, but of humble, redeeming love. Majesty in meekness, power in surrender. What a Savior!
Thank you Jesus for being my humble, servant king.
All hail King Jesus! The savior of the world. Thank you for coming the way you did. Thank you God for our perfect sacrifice that reconciles us back to you. Hallelujah
I love the reminder of who Jesus is… peaceful. Not a power hungry, status seeking, malicious king like we see from leaders on Earth. Instead, he is the King of Kings – humble, gentle, patient.
Thank you Lord for your character of quiet Power, Peace, Patience & Perfection! Thank you Lord for your never ending Love & Forgiveness!🙏🏻
What a beautiful reminder of what Jesus came to do, the people expected a big revolt to happen to bring “glory” back to Israel but Jesus came humbly to bring peace and destroy the yoke of sin placed upon us. And it must’ve been so hard for Jesus to hear the people yell in the streets “Hosanna” and yet those same people were the ones who screamed “crucify him” thank you Jesus for your peace and sacrifice 🫀🗣️‼️.
It’s interesting to note that they laid down palms on Sunday and by Friday they crucified him.
I’m reminded that in a lot of ways I do the same. It’s easy to get distracted on the road to sanctification by everyday life: The person that cuts in front of us, worldly temptations, or the misplaced priorities I create. In my sin I repeat this ‘Palm Sunday, Good Friday’ pattern over and over. I don’t want to be a hypocrite.
As followers of Christ we are living in his grace and mercy. We can’t make that a cop out. I can do better, I will do better.
Happy Palm Sunday, let your light shine!
Amen what a powerful message. “Jesus enters not as an earthly conqueror but as Heaven’s deliverer. He comes not to overthrow Rome but to overthrow sin’s dominion.” Thank you Jesus for delivering us and for entering our hearts and redeeming us. May your name be exalted forever. For me and my house we will serve the Lord. Amen.
As the world continues to crucify him we shout out Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.. We will not be quieted. We will not quit .. We will forever declare our love for him !!!
Script says “Jesus need it”. In my life what does Jesus need.
If you would like for your kids to see a powerful story from the owners of the Colts. Log in to cfbc RightMedia that you can find it on the cfbc website and in the search tab type video and you will see 8 Easter videos choose first and I showed a 5 minute part of it in our LG today.
I agree with Durell & Wade as we honor our KING 0f KINGS & thanking HIM for HIS unending forever everlasting love. Happy Palm Sunday,
Carol
Thank You, Jesus!
Help me worship You in spirit and truth!
Thank you lord for Jesus my savior, servant, and king.
Jesus gave mankind the possibility of being in a Kngdom that will last forever…not like the mighty Roman Empire that fell. Jesus is the Ruler over all forever.
I’m a little late to this thread but we need to remember that Hosanna is not a praise phrase but actually means, “Save us!” The palm branches were the national symbol of the Jewish group that revolted against Antiochus IV Epiphanes about 167 BC. The Jews enjoyed some measure of sovereignty until the Romans under Pompey conquered Palestine in 63 BC. The people clamoring for Jesus were seeking a conqueror who would overthrow the Romans. They FELT the need for political independence whereas Jesus knew they really needed liberation from sin. When He failed to give them what they wanted they quickly turned on Him and cheered His crucifixion. Some forms of contemporary Christianity promise a Jesus who only blesses and makes us happy but He taught a whole lot more about how difficult and trying it is to follow the real Jesus. Those who follow Jesus for what they can get out of Him may find themselves sorely disappointed. Those who follow Him for what they can learn from Him and give back gratefully for what He has done that we could never do ourselves are the ones truly blessed.
From “save us!” to “crucify Him!”. I thank You Lord that Your redemption plan did not depend on us, but on who You are. I thank You Christ my Savior for being faithful to the end🙏. I thank You for Bethlehem, for the cross, and for the empty tomb. I pray Your forgiveness when I quickly become part of the crowd by forgetting all You gave up for me. I love you my Savior and my Lord!!!
My Savior and my King! I praise You and thank You for Who You are!
Thank you Lord for the blood applied. Thank you for saving my life. The King who received his crown on the cross just for me. Words cannot express my love and gratitude . Help me to be more like you.
This is an excellent devotion because it shows us that it is like us being born again and that it would also remind me of how, with Green Lantern First Flight in which that it is like on how Abin Sur was passing the ring to Hal Jordan in which it is like how we should see the fact that we should also think in the fact that how God can also use that to help us connect to his works and that maybe with the fact that it can be the best way to show that God has delivered us as similar to Green Lantern First Flight with Abin Sur delivering his Green Lantern Ring to Hal Jordan. This is an awesome example on how I can connect the dots on how God has delivered me and that he can also use that to provide anyone because when I like to watch movies, I would use it to cross reference on how it is going to connect to him and the people of the bible as well.