When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Matthew 21:10,11
A Greater Type of King Who Approaches Us
Daily Devotion – April 4, 2023
Devotion based on Matthew 21:10,11
See series: Devotions
I live in a city that doesn’t claim many lifelong residents. A majority of our citizens are from somewhere else. Thus, a common question is, “Where are you from?” The answer will then trigger a variety of reactions. For right or for wrong, it’s not uncommon to brand the person depending on where they’re from.
When the crowd in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday said that the man riding on the donkey was, “Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee” it may have surprised people. Nazareth had a reputation of being nothing more than a blip on the map. Even today, Nazareth does not offer many “places to see” if you book a tour to Israel. But being from a nothing-good-can-come-from-there-town sheds a little light on just who our King was and is. He wasn’t a royal who only knew palace life or grew up with a family crest sewn into his suitcoat. Even though he knows heaven with its streets of gold, he also knows poverty. Even though he knows the safety of heaven where the gates never close, he also knows danger. He knows the glory of being King but also knows your story personally.
And that’s just a little bit of what makes Jesus a greater type of king. He is relatable. He is approachable. More than being approachable, he also approaches you. Which is exactly what the prophet wanted us to see in Jesus, “See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey.” Find comfort in that greater type of king that you have. You don’t have a king who is holed up in some castle. You have a King who comes to you no matter where or who you are.
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for erasing the barriers that stand between you and me. Because you took away my sin, give me confidence to approach you daily, knowing that you understand what I’m going through, even better than I know myself. Amen.
Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
