The Unexpected King

The Unexpected King 

by Terri Groh

Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed be the One who comes in the name of the Lord!

Here comes the expectant King, riding towards Jerusalem, not with sword

As what thought. Not on horse, tall and proud.

But on a young beast of burden, before the expectant crowd.

 

They shouted and through the streets the men, women and children ran,

Waved their branches of palm and threw up their welcoming hands.

Little did they realize that in just a few short sleeps.

This king would be led to a slaughter, much like sheep.

 

The crowd that waved those praising hands in the sky

Would soon lift fists up high and shout, “Crucify!” “Crucify!”

Fickle people that would so easily be turned astray, by religious leaders old and gray, 

with hearts as hard and brittle as clay.

 

Jesus rode through that crowd and the children laughed and cried out.

“Master, Teacher, Lord!” the people did shout!

Joy and praise, love and laughter, adoration poured forth

While the Pharisees muttered and plotted and questioned His worth.

 

“Sir control your disciples”, they haughtily yelled.

“How dare you allow such blasphemy,” the angry words were expelled.

Messiah’s only answer was, “If they cannot welcome the coming of the King.”

“These rocks will cry out and inanimate objects will sing.”

 

Jesus rode through that exuberant crowd, and down the road to Jerusalem’s gates

While garments were cast down before the Savior, sitting tall and straight.

As the city came into His view, Messiah got down from the foal and onto His feet

And great tears welled up and down his cheeks and then they fell on to in the street.

 

His heart grew heavy, as the burden of people’s sin grew great.

He mourned for what might have been, and what would become of their hate.

For He knew what was coming and the pain that was so near.

While those lost ones had no clue of the cost of those tears.

 

Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed be the One who comes in the name of the Lord!

Here comes the anticipated King, not as expected, but weaving a cord.

A blood-red string that would wind throughout history with His ultimate sacrifice of love

A thread that binds all who acknowledge Him to God Almighty above.