The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! ” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!” Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” (John 12:12-15 NIV)
The crowds were looking for an earthly political King. Jesus wasn't as concerned, however, about the temporary things of this world. Instead, he was and remains today much more concerned about establishing an eternal kingdom in the hearts of men. Being fully God, he knew that a political king, someone who could lead a rebellion against Rome and re-establish the geopolitical greatness of the times of David, would not lead to an eternal kingdom. In fact, he made this point plain: Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” (John 18:36 NIV).
We often expect the God of the universe to conform to our understanding or to our desires of who we want him to be. Do not be deceived or so prideful as to think that God must conform to you or your wishes. We are to conform to Him.
Today's verses remind us that we must pay attention to the entirety of scripture to capture the true understanding of God.
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