the king who didn’t come as expected
“The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! The King of Israel!’” — John 12v12-13 NKJV
They celebrated loudly. They welcomed boldly. They honored Him publicly. But they misunderstood Him completely. They expected a king who would conquer Rome. They expected power that would dominate enemies. They expected immediate change in their circumstances. And when Jesus didn’t meet those expectations, the same voices that shouted Hosanna would soon fall silent, and some would even cry out for His crucifixion.
Jesus didn’t enter Jerusalem on a war horse, He came riding on a donkey. A symbol of peace, a declaration of humility, a statement that His kingdom operates differently. “Behold, your King is coming… lowly and sitting on a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9 NKJV). He didn’t come to take a throne by force. He came to win hearts through sacrifice.
The crowd waved palms as a sign of victory, but they didn’t yet understand that victory would come through the cross. They celebrated the arrival without grasping the assignment. Jesus came not just to reign, but to redeem. “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20v28 NKJV).
It’s easy to praise God when He aligns with your expectations. It’s harder to trust Him when His plan looks unfamiliar. True worship isn’t based on outcomes, it’s rooted in identity. He is King whether He fixes it immediately or not. He is worthy whether the situation turns or not.
Palm Sunday calls you to examine your praise. Is it conditional or is it surrendered? Is it based on who you want Him to be or on who He has already proven Himself to be? “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5 NKJV).
So lift your voice, but also align your heart. Welcome Him, not just as the King you expected, but as the Savior you need. Because the same Jesus who rode into Jerusalem in humility walked toward the cross with purpose. And through that surrender, He secured the victory the crowd couldn’t yet see.
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