Holy and Lowly
March 28, 2025
"Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."
Zechariah 9:9 (NIV)
Have you ever been disappointed when something important didn't happen the way you expected?
By the time Jesus entered Jerusalem on what we now call Palm Sunday, He was a marked man. Yet He chose to come openly during Passover when the city was packed with visitors. The crowds waved palm branches and shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" They were expecting a mighty warrior-king who would overthrow the Romans and restore Israel's glory.
But their expectations were dramatically upended when Jesus arrived not on a majestic war horse, but on a humble donkey.
Five hundred years earlier and writing today’s verse, the prophet Zechariah foretells this moment: "See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey."
This wasn't a mistake or poor planning on Jesus' part. He deliberately fulfilled this prophecy to reveal His true nature as King. The donkey symbolized peace, not war. Jesus came not to conquer by force, as other earthly kings, but through grace, mercy, and ultimate sacrifice.
Maybe you struggle with the way God’s working in your life, expecting Him to operate one way when He chooses another. Like those crowds in Jerusalem, we can miss Jesus because He doesn't match our expectations.
When you embrace Jesus as He truly is—not as you expect Him to be—you'll discover the profound peace that only the true King can bring to your heart.
Where are your expectations of God limiting your perspective of Him and others? How can you see God’s presence in humble, unexpected places? Surrender to God’s perfect–though sometimes surprising–purposes, and welcome the holy and lowly King into every area of your life.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, Thank You for being a King unlike any other. Forgive me when I try to make You fit my expectations rather than accepting Your perfect plan. Help me follow Your example of humility and service. May Your Kingdom reign in my heart today so others might see You living through me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.