He is the king who cried.
When Jesus arrived in Jerusalem from Lazarus’s house in Bethany at the start of his passion week, he rode in on a donkey. A humble entrance. Unexpected from a king.
The ancient Jewish prophet Zechariah had declared it centuries prior,
“Rejoice greatly, O Jerusalem!
Behold, your King is coming to you;
He is just and having salvation,
Lowly and riding on a donkey”
This Sunday is known as Christ the King Sunday on the church calendar. It’s the last Sunday of the year prior to Advent Sunday and is always the last Sunday of November. (This is the church calendar of liturgical celebrations that has been used for centuries across Christian movements.)
As Jesus left Bethany people began to shout and praise God, throwing their jackets on the road in front of him, symbolizing their very lives being prostrated before the King … waving palm branches as they would for royalty. It was loud and vibrant and filled with singing, shouting loud prayers of celebration.
Then Jesus began to cry. Not for himself, and the anticipation of a painful death … but for the people who would conduct that crucifixion. Crying for humanity. Crying for those wound so tightly in the traditions of men they were about to miss the love of God. Love is a person. They were about to walk into the darkness of deception.
The triumphal entry of Christ is one of the best known stories in the Bible – Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey – but we miss the true anguish of his heart. He loves us. He’s riding into the redemptive gift of his life, the anguish of sacrifice, which he freely and lovingly did. But he hurts for those who will not receive him.
That’s our King. Jesus the Christ. The One who loves us, gave his life for us, keeps us tucked deeply in the center of His heart … the King of power and majesty and wonder and grace … he is the one who reigns over all creation.
David gave you and me words for this in a song in Psalm 93;
The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty; the Lord is robed, He has girded Himself with strength and power; the world also is established, that it cannot be moved.
The Lord on high is mightier and more glorious than the noise of many waters, yes, than the mighty breakers and waves of the sea.
Your testimonies are very sure; holiness [apparent in separation from sin, with simple trust and hearty obedience] is becoming to Your house, O Lord, forever.
In Daniel 7 the prophet declares about Christ;
“And there was given Him [the Messiah] dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away, and His kingdom is one which shall not be destroyed.”
This is our King. This is why we are men of peace in the midst of chaos. Men of strength in the face of adversity. Men of compassion to the lost and suffering. Men of grace to those in deception. Men who follow the King.
When Jesus was brought to Pilate on false charges Pilate asked him who he was and why he was in trouble … here’s that conversation from John 18;
Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?”
Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
He is the King who came in power and strength to set us free.
And … He is the King who cried over you and me.
That’s your King.
Walk in confidence this weekend.
You’ve got this – because He’s got you.
