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 still litter the ground, and the cheers continue to resonate through the streets. The city is alive with energy, buzzing with conversations about Jesus. It feels like something significant is unfolding. Yet, as Matthew recounts, when Jesus makes His entrance into Jerusalem, the entire city poses a question: “Who is this?” 

This question is at the heart of Palm Sunday—and it still holds weight today.

The crowd isn’t hostile; they’re filled with hope. They shout “Hosanna,” which translates to “Save us.” They’re yearning for rescue, longing for assistance. Their praise is genuine. 

But there’s also a sense of confusion among them. 

They’re anticipating a king, but their vision of a king is rather specific. They want someone who will act swiftly, confront their adversaries, and restore order in ways they can visibly appreciate and celebrate. 

Jesus is aware of this, yet He still chooses to enter the city. 

He doesn’t correct the crowd with a lecture or silence their cheers. 

However, He also doesn’t mold Himself to fit their expectations. 

Instead, He rides in humbly, quietly, and purposefully—not on a warhorse, but on a donkey.

Jesus accepts their celebration without allowing it to define who He is. 

This can be tough for us to grasp because we often wish for Jesus to operate on our schedule and according to our priorities. We approach Him with genuine needs and unspoken assumptions about how He should respond. 

Palm Sunday highlights this tension. 

Jesus is King, but not the type of king who prioritizes comfort. He reigns through humility, patience, obedience, and a willingness to endure suffering rather than demand submission. 

And here’s the comforting part of this scene: Jesus’ faithfulness isn’t contingent on the crowd’s understanding. The same individuals who cheer for Him now may soon feel confused, disappointed, or choose to remain silent. Some will drift away, while others will observe from afar. 

Yet, Jesus will continue to move forward. This is significant because our faith is often a mix of sincerity and imperfection. We worship wholeheartedly, but not flawlessly. We trust Jesus, albeit with conditions. We offer Him praise, yet still hope He will steer clear of 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 rest of the week unfolds, watch how Jesus answers—not only with words, but with His life.

He doesn’t sit around waiting for us to fully understand before He takes action. He doesn’t need our devotion to be perfect before He carries on with His mission. He knows precisely who He is and what He’s here to do. 

And He just keeps moving forward. 

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 fromThe Valley of Vision, “King of Glory”

Stations, by Audrey Frank Anastasi