November 14 – The King is Coming

On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, "Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, even the King of Israel." Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written, "FEAR NOT, DAUGHTER OF ZION; BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SEATED ON A DONKEY'S COLT." These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him. So the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about Him. For this reason also the people went and met Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign. So the Pharisees said to one another, "You see that you are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him." John 12:12-19 

What a great celebration we’d have with everyone if the entire world had gone after Jesus—but they didn’t. People who saw Lazarus raised from the dead were still following Jesus—giving their testimony of His miracles. It wasn’t the whole world going out to meet Jesus—only a large group of Jews—and that didn’t include the Pharisees, the Jewish leaders. Jesus' followers were shouting…blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord…from Psalm 118.26. They were looking for a King—a political ruler to save them from the Romans—not the spiritual King that Jesus was. The quote about the King coming riding on a donkey is taken from Zechariah 9:9. No one realized that prophesy was being fulfilled right before their eyes.  

What is happening right before our eyes that we don’t see as prophesy fulfilled? Do we realize the complexity of issues that Israel is dealing with in the conflicts with neighboring countries? The last week of the seventy weeks of Daniel’s prophesy won’t start until the beginning of the Tribulation period. That won’t begin until after the rapture, according to some commentators. We’re in a holding pattern for now—waiting for the Jews to claim Jesus as their Messiah. See Daniel chapter 9, particularly verses 20-27. Jesus tells us in Matthew 24 not to be misled (verse 4) and to be ready (verse 44) for the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not think He will. Are you ready? What will it take for you to “be ready” spiritually?  

Heavenly Father, help us to see the signs of the times and to be ready for Jesus’ return. Behold The King is Coming! I want to be prepared.
 

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB).