“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.” (John 12:12-15)
I once had a lady in a class I was teaching express the
thought that she did not wish to hear Jesus called King because in the United
States we don’t agree with the idea of Kings ruling over us. But Jesus isn’t a
fairy story; he is truly a king, the King. But he is the king who rode though
death in order to carry his subjects into his kingdom. It is because of his
death and resurrection that we are allowed to be a part of his kingdom. It is in his glory, the glory of the King, that we find joy in obedience.
Ride
on, ride on in majesty!
Hark,
all the tribes hosanna cry,
thy
humble beast pursues his road
with
palms and scattered garments strowed.
Ride
on, ride on in majesty!
In
lowly pomp ride on to die,
O
Christ thy triumph now begin
over
captive death and conquered sin.
Ride
on, ride on in majesty!
The
winged squadrons of the sky
look
down with sad and wondring eyes
to see
the approaching sacrifice.
Ride
on, ride on in majesty!
Thy
last and fiercest strife is nigh;
the
Father on his sapphire throne
awaits
his own anointed Son.
Ride
on, ride on in majesty!
In
lowly pomp ride on to die;
bow thy
meek head to mortal pain,
then
take, O God, thy power and reign.
Henry Milman (1791-1868)
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