“Thy King Cometh”
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the joyous thought that He was about to enter the capital, proclaim
Himself King, and assert His royal power. While on their errand they
communicated their glowing expectations to the friends of Jesus, and
the excitement spread far and near, raising the expectations of the
people to the highest pitch.
Christ was following the Jewish custom for a royal entry. The
animal on which He rode was that ridden by the kings of Israel, and
prophecy had foretold that thus the Messiah should come to His king-
dom. No sooner was He seated upon the colt than a loud shout of
triumph rent the air. The multitude hailed Him as Messiah, their King.
Jesus now accepted the homage which He had never before permitted,
and the disciples received this as proof that their glad hopes were to
be realized by seeing Him established on the throne. The multitude
were convinced that the hour of their emancipation was at hand. In
imagination they saw the Roman armies driven from Jerusalem, and
Israel once more an independent nation. All were happy and excited;
the people vied with one another in paying Him homage. They could
not display outward pomp and splendor, but they gave Him the worship
of happy hearts. They were unable to present Him with costly gifts,
but they spread their outer garments as a carpet in His path, and they
also strewed the leafy branches of the olive and the palm in the way.
They could lead the triumphal procession with no royal standards, but
they cut down the spreading palm boughs, Nature’s emblem of victory,
and waved them aloft with loud acclamations and hosannas.
As they proceeded, the multitude was continually increased by
those who had heard of the coming of Jesus and hastened to join the
procession. Spectators were constantly mingling with the throng, and
asking, Who is this? What does all this commotion signify? They
had all heard of Jesus, and expected Him to go to Jerusalem; but they
knew that He had heretofore discouraged all effort to place Him on
the throne, and they were greatly astonished to learn that this was He.
They wondered what could have wrought this change in Him who had
declared that His kingdom was not of this world.
[571]
Their questionings are silenced by a shout of triumph. Again and
again it is repeated by the eager throng; it is taken up by the people afar
off, and echoed from the surrounding hills and valleys. And now the
procession is joined by crowds from Jerusalem. From the multitudes
gathered to attend the Passover, thousands go forth to welcome Jesus.