Blessed is the King
Luke 19:37-40
Now He came near the path down the Mount of Olives, and the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen: Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heaven!
Some of the Pharisees from the crowd told Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out!”
In this picture, we see Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, and the crowd is praising Him as King – not just any king, but as the Messiah. They had seen the many miracles He performed and knew He was more than just an ordinary man. He taught with great authority, and they recognized Him as deity.
The very thought that the crowd would recognize Jesus as King disgruntled the teachers of the law. A man who taught the grace of a loving God did not fit their understanding of the law, and they rejected Him as King. In this entrance we see a battle between grace and the law take place.
The teachers of the law demanded that Jesus rebuke His disciples, but He would not. He explained that if they did not praise Him, even the rocks would cry out. He was entering the city to become the sacrifice for their sins, and praise was quite appropriate. By demanding His death, the teachers of the law unknowingly played right into God’s plan. While they thought they would get rid of this “King,” they were unwittingly establishing His kingdom. In the battle between the law and grace, grace came out the victor. For this reason, we should all praise Him!
Today, take time to praise Jesus for the grace He has given us, but most importantly, acknowledge Him as King. Pledge your allegiance to the grace that has lifted you from a pit of despair and given you new life. Don’t let a stone out-praise you! The battle between the law and grace has already been won in your favor. Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!
Have a blessed day!