The Road to the Cross - Part 1
Scripture
“See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey…”
— Zechariah 9:9“They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
— John 12:13
Devotion
He did not come the way they expected.
No war horse.
No army.
No display of power.
He came low.
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A king…
riding on a donkey.
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The crowds shouted.
They celebrated.
They believed they were witnessing victory.
But they did not yet understand
what kind of victory was coming.
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They wanted a king who would conquer.
He came as a King who would surrender.
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Every step into Jerusalem
was a step toward the cross.
And still…
He did not turn away.
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There is something in us
that still longs for a different kind of King.
One who removes the struggle.
One who fixes everything quickly.
One who meets our expectations.
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But Jesus does not enter our lives
with force.
He comes gently.
Quietly.
Humbly.
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And the question is not
whether He is King.
The question is—
will we recognize Him
when He does not come the way we expected?
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🌿 Prayer
Lord,
You came not in power,
but in humility.
Not to conquer as the world conquers,
but to give Yourself fully.
Teach me to recognize You
even when You come quietly.
When You do not meet my expectations,
help me not to turn away.
Shape my heart to receive You
as You are—
not as I imagine You should be.
Let me follow You
not only in celebration,
but all the way to the cross.
Amen.
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