The Unexpected King

Matthew 21:6-11 ~

The disciples went and did just as Jesus directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt; then they laid their robes on them, and He sat on them. A very large crowd spread their robes on the road; others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road. Then the crowds who went ahead of Him and those who followed kept shouting:

Hosanna to the Son of David!
He who comes in the name
of the Lord is the blessed One!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!

When He entered Jerusalem, the whole city was shaken, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds kept saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee!”

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 was 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, without raising a peep.

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 with hearts as 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 do not 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 Him, sitting tall and straight.
As the city came into His view, Messiah got down from the foal and onto His feet
And great tears rolled down his cheeks and fell onto 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 winds through history with His sacrifice of love
A thread that binds all who acknowledge Him, to God Almighty above.