“See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey.” ~ Matthew 21:5 NIV
Do you have expectations? Expectations of what will happen, of who people will be and what they will do? I do. Though, I must confess, that things and people rarely turn out quite the way I expect. So, I suppose, I shouldn’t be all that surprised when the Savior surprises me. After all, He’s been upsetting expectations from the very beginning.
There is perhaps nowhere we see that more clearly than in those last few days of Jesus’ life here on earth.
A Triumphal Entry
It was a Sunday when Jesus rode into Jerusalem. We call it the Triumphal Entry now. And it was triumphal. Though, in an unexpected way.
Because God’s own Son—the Messiah, the Savior—didn’t charge down that dusty road in a glistening chariot like a warrior ready to rout Rome. Nor did He parade through like a king in a golden litter, carried by slaves and surrounded by soldiers, setting out to seize the throne.
That’s the sort of Savior the people were hoping for, praying for, expecting. A warrior king who would bring an end to Rome’s oppression and a restoration of the kingdom of Israel.
But that’s not what happened.
No, when Jesus rode into town, he rode on the back of a borrowed donkey. Not charging through. Not riding above. But in the midst of. Humble. Approachable. Touchable.
Zechariah had prophesied this very entrance centuries before (Zechariah 9:9). And while in the days of King David, the lowly donkey was a royal mount, that was no longer true. By Jesus’ time, the donkey was not considered fit for a king.
But it was fit for a sign. That donkey was more than the fulfillment of the prophecy. It was also yet one more declaration of who Jesus was—and is and forever will be: the promised King from the line of David who would rule forever (Psalm 89:3-4, 35-37).
Still, few expected such a Savior. He had no fine robes and no army. There were no rumblings and thunderings from heaven to mark His arrival. Only the shouts and praises of the crowd.
The Crowds
And that crowd . . . they had come from all over to celebrate the Passover. When word spread that Jesus was coming—the One they had heard about, the One who gave sight to the blind and raised Lazarus from the tomb—they raced out to meet Him with shouts of “Hosanna” (“Save!”) filling the air.
But did they understand who was really coming? Many of them came out to see the One who worked miracles. Others followed the crowd, asking, “Who is this?” (Matthew 21:10 NIV). Still others answered, “Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee” (21:11, emphasis added).
Yes, some surely were seeking the Messiah. Others sought a show of miracles. And some—like those Pharisees who followed the crowds—came whispering and plotting and determined to deny Him (Luke 19:39, John 12:19).
None of them, not even those disciples closest to Him, expected Him to answer their pleas of “Hosanna!”—“Save!”—in the way that He would in the coming days.
A Pattern for Him
Yes, Jesus stepped into the fulfillment of His Father’s plan in an unexpected way. But then, that’s been a bit of a pattern for Him, hasn’t it?
This Savior who chose to leave the glories and perfection of heaven, to fulfill a plan laid out before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:19–20).
This Messiah who would be born in Bethlehem and laid in the animals’ manger.
This King who touched the untouchable, dined with sinners, and lifted the lost from the dirt.
This Jesus who came to be Emmanuel, God with us.
Still Doing the Unexpected
Jesus could have burst into Jerusalem with ten thousand angels by His side, but instead He came quietly. In an unexpected way. Just as He still does today.
Jesus doesn’t charge into our lives, forcing His way into our hearts. Instead, He often comes in quiet, unexpected ways.
In the truths of His Word.
In the whispers He speaks to our hearts.
With “this is the way” nudges to follow Him (Isaiah 30:21 niv).
Guiding us closer and still closer to the Father with infinite wisdom born of infinite knowledge and anchored in infinite love.
Jesus. God’s own Son. The King who reigns forever.
Our unexpected, expected Savior.
Holy God, I praise You for Your unexpected mercy, unexpected grace, and unexpected, endless love poured out on oh-so-undeserving me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Reflection Questions:
Jesus’ ministry and teachings are filled with the unexpected. What unexpected moment stands out to you in today’s reading?
Jesus often calls us to do the unexpected. What unexpected request has He made of you? What unexpected way has He stepped into your life?
Author Info
Tama Fortner
Tama Fortner is a bestselling writer and ghostwriter with over sixty titles, including Simply Christmas, Roar Like a Lion, and How Great Is Our God. With more than twenty-five years of publishing experience, she partners with leading voices in Christian publishing to create inspiring books for children, teens, and adults. She lives in Nashville with her husband, family, and two lively pups.