He Set His Face: A Devotional for Holy Week PALM SUNDAY – Read Luke 19:28-40 A few months ago, we gathered with anticipation to celebrate Advent—the coming of Jesus to earth as a baby, when Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem, where the Savior King would be born as a peasant and where the humble shepherds who praised His birth were among the lowest status in society. About 33 years after that first Christmas, Jesus set off toward Jerusalem as a man, where He would die like a criminal. A king. The King. Born as a peasant to die like a criminal. Jesus knew this purpose. Nothing would ever happen outside of His control because He came at Christmas for His mission at Easter. Likewise, Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem was purposeful. No part happened by accident. Although He was heading to Jerusalem for Passover—a tremendously important time of remembrance for the Jewish people (the time when God’s people were spared from death in Egypt because of the sacrificial blood of a lamb on their doorposts)—He had an even greater purpose. In this passage, Jesus was approximately a mile from Jerusalem. He was accustomed to walking long distances, so His riding a colt the last mile of His journey wasn’t because His feet were tired. Zechariah prophesied that the Messiah, the true King, would bring righteousness and salvation and would come to His people on a colt of a donkey (Zechariah 9:9). That Jesus rode into Jerusalem on this colt not only fulfilled Messianic prophecy, it also provided a picture of the great peace that He was bringing. Donkeys were not used for military processions but for peaceful, civil ones. Jesus was not declaring political war or proposing victory over the government of Rome. He was bringing peace to the hearts of His people through salvation. He could have walked, but the colt sent a purposeful message to His friends and His enemies about His true identity as their peaceful King. He was on mission as the Messiah. To their King, Jesus’ followers shouted out parts of Psalm 118:28 (part of the Hallal, which was sung regularly during the Passover season) as they humbled themselves before Him and identified Him as their King. Although the Psalm was full of blessing for the King, it also pointed to the rejection that Jesus would find from the leaders (v. 22). Some Pharisees refused the idea that Jesus could be the promised King, but Jesus purposefully asserted His identity as the Messiah, for whom even the rocks could praise. In control of the entire situation, Jesus essentially laid out a choice for the Pharisees to follow Him or continue with their plans against Him. No matter what, He was on mission to bring salvation. Even without understanding all of the implications of His mission, Jesus’ followers continued to rejoice in the peace that reigns in Heaven because God’s plan for the salvation of His people was being fulfilled for His glory. Christ reigned as King when He rode that little donkey into Jerusalem. And, although some rejected Him, one day all knees will bow and worship Him as the one, true King, and God’s mission will be complete (Philippians 2:20). HOLY WEEK TIMELINE: On Palm Sunday: • Jesus entered Jerusalem riding a donkey foal (Matthew 21:1-11) ° Wept for Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-44) ° Visited the Temple and returned to Bethany (Mark 11:11) Questions: How did Jesus demonstrate control over His entrance into Jerusalem? What does this signify about who He is? What do your daily actions demonstrate about your choice to follow or reject Jesus as your King? How are you fulfilling your calling to be part of Christ’s mission? He Set His Face: A Devotional for Holy Week – The Church at Brook Hills .