The King We Need Vs. The King We Want

Often in our lives, we are at a crossroads, trying to determine whether we will follow what we want and what we need. It might look like this.

We want a double cheeseburger with fries and a milkshake, but our body needs a salad.

We want to purchase the newest iPhone or a new pick-up truck, but our bank accounts shout at us, “You need to calm down and pay your electricity bills!”

We want to binge-watch 17 episodes of that new Netflix series in one night, but what we need is 8 hours of sleep.

Life tends to remind us how our desires can often conflict with our actual needs. On the one hand, our personal aspirations and wishes move us to follow our desires. On the other hand, reality continues to pull us back, reminding us that the things we want may not be what we need.

What if our personal relationship with Jesus Christ is like that?

We may want a faith that is easy, comfortable, and free of difficulties. We may want a faith that aligns with your personal aspirations. But what if that isn’t what Christ wants from you? What if you needed something else?

You see, Jesus was nearing the end of his journey. During the final stretch of his travels, he visited multiple towns but timed everything perfectly to be in Jerusalem for Passover. All the while, his disciples were following him – what did they want from Jesus?

Expectations were running high because, not long ago, Jesus proclaimed, “Lazarus, come forth,” and Lazarus was raised from the dead, which made Jesus even more popular. The excitement surrounding him grew to new heights. As Jesus approached Jerusalem, his crowd kept becoming bigger and bigger by the day. Furthermore, many Jews were also coming to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover, and they wanted to see for themselves if the rumors they had been hearing about a young rabbi were true.

That day, Jesus walked in front of his disciples as they came to Bethany. From there, he sent two of his disciples to town to secure a donkey for him to ride on. The disciples were instructed to go into the village and find the colt that had never been ridden. If the owners asked, the disciples were to give the code word, “The Lord has need of it.” Jesus was to ride the donkey into Jerusalem.

Jesus, divinely ordained and carefully planned every aspect of this event, down to the smallest detail. This time was decided long before the foundation of heaven and earth. Eve, the choice of arriving on a young, unridden donkey was intentional.

Now, what was unique about this event is that never before had Jesus done anything to put himself on display publicly. But someone might ask, “Why all this planning? Why a young donkey? Why is he going into Jerusalem like that?”

The answer is that over 500 years ago, a prophet named Zechariah had prophesied that the Messiah would come, and he would come in the following manner:

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!

Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold, your king is coming to you;

righteous and having salvation is he,

humble and mounted on a donkey.

500 years before Jesus’ earthly time, Zechariah proclaimed that the coming King and Savior would come mounted on a donkey. When Jesus entered Jerusalem, he identified himself as the Messiah – the one the Scriptures spoke about and the one the Israelites longed to see. Jesus Christ pointed to Zechariah and then to himself, saying, “The king that Zechariah spoke of? That’s me!”

Jesus’s entrance fulfilled a long-awaited prophecy of a savior and beautifully portrayed both his position as a king and a humble servant.

Those who witnessed what was happening also knew the prophecy of Zechariah and Jesus’ open identification that he is the Messiah that the Scriptures spoke about – the anointed one many prophets and righteous people in the past longed to see. However, what did the crowds who followed Jesus in that moment, even Jesus’ disciples, want from Jesus?

Once the donkey was secured, the march began. The Scripture says: “And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road.” Jesus was the star of the show. All eyes were fixed on him, and they laid down their cloaks as a gesture of reverence and demonstrated. The crowds kept getting bigger and bigger. Then, Jesus drew near Jerusalem, and the people began to joyfully praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen. People were shouting with great noise, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the Lord!” They said, “Here comes the King of Israel, the rightful heir of David, the Messiah who would usher in peace!