‘See your king come to you, gentle and riding on a donkey.’ We live in a culture today where gentleness and kindness are recognised and welcomed from our leaders. Perhaps this is because of we’ve seen too much dominance and arrogance on display from those at the top. At the time of Jesus, however, a leader was adored not for meekness but for his sense of majesty and power.

Caesar and other Roman generals regularly held a ‘Triumph’ on their entry to Rome or other great cities. These ‘Triumphs’ were the highest honour that could be bestowed on a Roman, it was the summit of their career. To ‘Triumph’, a man was required to have won a major battle, killing at least 5,000 of the enemy and ending the war.

These ceremonies often began with a solemn procession from the Triumphal Gate, passing through the forum and the Via Sacra (“Sacred Way”) along streets adorned with garlands and lined with people shouting, “Lo Triumphe!” There would be politicians, musicians, sacrificial animals, spoils of war and prisoners all paving the way of the victor who wore a purple robe a gold tunic and toga, sceptre in hand!

You might be able to spot some slight similarities to what is happening here with Jesus, but perhaps screaming all the more loudly are the differences between Jesus and Caesar. At Jesus’ triumphal entry to Jerusalem, he was not boasting in great battles won over distant nations where people were killed or conquered in his name. Rather the motivation of this celebration came off the back of his ‘proclaiming of good news to the poor… freedom to prisoners… recovery of sight to the blind… setting the oppressed free’ (Luke 4:18). And, his parade didn’t bring the sense of glory one would expect from a triumphant king. Rather, we’re told he came ‘gentle and riding on a donkey’ (v.5).

Simply put, Jesus was a King unlike anything anyone had seen before. Gentle and lowly, and yet far more triumphant than Caesar could ever dream of being. How can this be so? Because as Jesus approached the cross and his own death, it would be the very place he will do battle against the greatest enemies of humankind: Sin and death. A battle he would return victorious from taking away their sting forever. “Lo Triumphe!”

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Question:

In what ways do we see Jesus as both gentle and powerful in this chapter?

Prayer:

Jesus, thank you that you are both kind and gentle with me but also powerful and mighty over whatever I face in this life. Help me to trust you as my King. Amen