Devotional: Welcoming the King We Didn’t Expect
 Matthew 21:1–11

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the crowds were ready. They shouted “Hosanna!”, laid down palm branches, and celebrated Him like a conquering king. They believed He was about to take control, overthrow oppression, and establish the kingdom they had been longing for. Then, Jesus came in on a donkey instead of a war horse.  Everything about His arrival challenged their expectations.

It’s easy to read this story and wonder how the same crowd that shouted “Hosanna” could later cry “Crucify Him.” But if we’re honest, we often do something similar. We welcome Jesus with celebration—as long as He moves in the ways we expect. We praise Him when He fits our plans, answers our prayers the way we want, or leads us where we’re comfortable going.

There was a season in my life when I was really asking God to show up in a specific way. I had a picture in my mind of what ‘God coming through’ would look like… and honestly, He had something else in mind. He was healing me in a different way than what I thought I needed. 

Instead, what He gave me was something quieter, slower, and honestly harder to recognize at the time. I wanted God to fix the situation and He wanted to shape my heart.

I wanted clarity and He was teaching me trust. I wanted things to change around me and He was changing my heart and teaching me humility along the way. 

Can you recognize when He comes gently instead of powerfully? When He leads you into surrender instead of success? When He doesn’t overthrow our circumstances but instead asks to transform our hearts?

The triumphal entry reminds us that Jesus is King—but not always the kind of King we imagine. He comes in humility, in peace, and often in ways that don’t immediately feel triumphant.

And yet, His way is the true victory. Do you believe that? 

Reflect:

Am I welcoming Jesus for who He truly is—or for who I want Him to be?

What would it look like for me to trust His way, even if it doesn’t feel like a win right now?

Today, we can lay down more than palm branches. We can lay down our expectations, our need for control, and our assumptions about how God should work. And in doing so, we make room to truly receive our King.

Prayer:

Jesus, we praise You as our true King.

You came in humility, not power as we expected, yet Your way brings real peace.

Forgive us for the times we’ve wanted You to be a different kind of King.

Help us to lay down our expectations, like the crowds laid down their branches, and welcome You fully.

Teach us to trust Your way—even when it looks different than we imagined. Amen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Road to Resurrection