The King is Coming

“And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.” Matthew 21:8-9

On September 8, the world received the sad news of the death of Queen Elizabeth of England. She had reigned for 70 years, respected, and honoured by the world. Over the past few days, we have seen pictures and read reports of the crowds who have gathered along the highways, as her coffin traveled from Scotland to London. Reports tell us that lines of people stretched for five miles, with people waiting for 30 hours or more, for a chance to pass by her coffin and pay their final respects.

Our prayers and our condolences go out to her family. To them she was more than their Queen, she was a beloved mother and grandmother. She had been there for them in their good times and their bad, and they will certainly miss her.

Our scripture today is about a different kind of procession. So many in Israel had been waiting for their Messiah to come. As they listened to the teachings of Jesus and saw Him perform miracles, they were hoping that their King had come to deliver them from Roman rule and set up His kingdom. Now it looked like He was fulfilling the prophecies of the Old Testament:

Isaiah 62:11 “Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.”

Zechariah 9:9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.”

How wonderful it must have been to be part of the group that day. Did you ever let your mind wander and try to picture who was in the crowd and what thoughts and memories were going through their mind as they lifted their voices in praise to Jesus?

Although Jesus is not with us in bodily form today, we know Him as our Saviour and Lord, and what joy it is to be able to lift our hands and our voices to Him in worship. One of these days, He will return as our King, and our desire should be to be ready and part of the crowd that welcomes His return.

Over the next few days, I would like to use my imagination and look at folks who might have been there, and what they might have been thinking about.

Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, that we know you as our personal Saviour. May our hearts ever be lifted to you in praise and adoration for who you are.

Devotion by Anne Johnston