March 31 (Tuesday) 

The Humble King 

Scripture Reading: Matthew 21:8–11 

Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.” 

Morning Reflection 

Palm branches are still on the ground. 

The cheers are still echoing in the streets. The city is buzzing. People are talking about Jesus everywhere. Something important feels like it’s happening. 

And yet, Matthew tells us that as Jesus enters Jerusalem, the whole city asks a question: 

“Who is this?” 

That question sits at the center of Palm Sunday—and it still matters today. 

The crowd is not hostile. They are hopeful. They cry out “Hosanna,” which means “Save us.” They are asking for rescue. They are longing for help. Their praise is sincere. 

But many of them are also confused. 

They are ready for a king, but they are imagining a certain kind of king. One who will act quickly. One who will confront their enemies. One who will restore order in ways they can see and celebrate. 

Jesus knows this. 

And He still enters the city. 

He does not correct the crowd with a speech. He does not shut down their praise. But He also does not reshape Himself to meet their expectations. He rides in humbly. Quietly. Deliberately. Not on a warhorse, but on a donkey. 

Jesus receives celebration without letting celebration define Him. 

That’s hard for us to understand, because we often want Jesus to work on our timeline and according to our priorities. We come to Him with real needs—and with quiet assumptions about how He should respond. 

Palm Sunday exposes that tension. 

Jesus is King, but not the kind of king who secures comfort first. He reigns through humility. Through patience. Through obedience. Through a willingness to suffer rather than force submission. 

And here is the comfort in this scene: Jesus’ faithfulness does not depend on the crowd getting it right. 

The same people who praise Him now will soon grow confused, disappointed, or silent. Some will walk away. Some will watch from a distance. And still, Jesus will keep moving forward. 

That matters, because our faith is often mixed. 

We worship sincerely, but imperfectly. We trust Jesus, but with conditions. We praise Him, but still hope He will avoid certain paths. 

Jesus is not undone by that. 

He does not wait for perfect understanding before He acts. He does not require flawless devotion before He continues His mission. He knows exactly who He is and exactly what He has come to do. 

And He keeps going. 

So today, the question is not simply whether we praise Jesus. It is whether we are willing to follow Him when He doesn’t meet our expectations. 

Can we trust a King who moves slowly? A Savior who chooses humility over spectacle? A Lord who will not bypass suffering? 

If you feel uncertain or confused about what God is doing in your life, Palm Sunday speaks gently to you. It reminds you that Jesus is steady even when we are not. He is faithful even when our understanding lags behind. 

Let the question the city asked become your prayer today: 

“Who is this?” 

And as the week unfolds, watch how Jesus answers—not only with words, but with His life. 

Reflection inspired by N.T. Wright, Jesus and the Victory of God — on misunderstood messiahship; Tim Keller, King’s Cross — on kingship through humility 

Songs 

● Modern: King of Kings 

● Hymn: All Glory, Laud, and Honor 

Morning Prayer 

King Jesus, I want You to work quickly and clearly. I want answers and relief. 

Teach me to trust You as You are, not as I imagine You should be. Reign in my expectations. Rule my heart with grace and truth. Amen. 

Adapted from The Valley of Vision, “King of Glory” 

March 31 (Tuesday) — Evening 

Evening Questions 

1. What expectations did I bring into today—spoken or unspoken? 

2. Where might Jesus be inviting me to trust Him beyond my assumptions? 

3. What would it look like to follow Him this week, even when I don’t fully understand? 

Evening Prayer 

Humble King, You do not bend to my expectations, yet You do not turn away from me. 

Teach me to follow You with trust, even when I don’t see clearly. Amen.