How do you prepare for special guests? Do you clean the entire house, ensuring it is absolutely spotless? Do you put the best tablecloth on the dining room table? Do you break out your best china? Do you reserve a special place for them to park in your driveway?
Hosting special guests can be a joy and yet stressful. Cleaning the house with extra care, pulling out the best of everything we have, and even setting aside specific areas for them takes a lot of work. But we do all that because the person is special to us and we want them to feel special.
The crowd knew Jesus was special, too. They saw Him as the long-promised King of Israel. Of course, their view of what king of king He would be was much different than the King He was meant to be. But that didn’t stop them from providing the royal treatment. Spreading their cloaks and cutting branches to cover the road He was riding on was just the beginning. The shouts of acclamation and honor add to their praise and honor of Him.
Though they honored Him with a red-carpet treatment and loud praises, Jesus rode on the colt of a donkey—a lowly animal. He did not ride in on a big white stallion with banners flying and an armed guard in gleaming armor. Instead, He rode in on a humble animal with poor disciples trailing Him. They looked like any other group of pilgrims coming for the Passover.
Perhaps we should approach our lives in the same manner. Rather than seeking the royal treatment, strive to be humble. Rather than bragging on ourselves, simply focus on the work set before us. Humbly walking with God and working beside him is the best thing for our lives.
I pray we all celebrate Jesus following God’s plan. I pray we honor Him with praise. I pray each one of us will strive to humbly walk with God and focus on the work he has set before us. Celebrate Jesus. Honor Jesus. Humbly walk with God. Focus on God’s work. It is best for you.
Matthew 21:8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
Marty Pressey 