The Arrival of the King

Matthew 21:1-11 ESV

The Humble King

This may sound strange, a King who is all-powerful. A King who stands above the Jewish religious system, the Roman Empire, and every other empire that existed during Jesus’ time. Yet we now see and know that Jesus was not just an ordinary king. He is a divine King. All power; dominion, thrones, authority, and influence are under Him, subjected to Him. Because He is not just a king; He is God.

This is Christology from above—the truth that Christ Jesus is fully God and fully man. The virgin birth of Jesus is one of the most significant evidences of His divinity.

This truth becomes real only when someone encounters the Holy Spirit. Only then can a person truly know that Jesus is Lord, that Jesus is God, and that Jesus is Savior.

In this passage, we see that the arrival of the King brings significant hope to people in desperate need of a Savior. That is why they cry out with messianic hope: “Hosanna to the Son of David!”, a Savior who will rescue them from sin, wipe away pain and tears, overcome the kingdom of darkness, and establish His kingdom of justice, righteousness, love, peace, salvation, and new life for all who receive Him.

This King is not like other kings. When people gain power, it is rare that they remain untouched by the temptation to misuse it. Human leaders often fail. But this is not the case with King Jesus.

He is a humble King.

This does not mean He is weak. It means He willingly chose humility, to serve and to save humanity from its own depravity, which leads to eternal destruction.

It was prophesied that the King was coming, but not in the way people expected. Earthly kings arrive on war horses, with power, wealth, and armies to display dominance, yet Jesus chose a simple donkey—not because He lacked power, but because He was revealing a completely different kind of kingdom. The kingdoms of this world are built on pride, control, and conquest, where rulers take power, crush enemies, and lead through fear. But the kingdom of Jesus is built on humility, surrender, and love, where the King lays down His life instead of taking others’, calls people to love their enemies, and defines greatness through servanthood. Earthly kings protect their thrones by shedding the blood of others, but Jesus secured His kingdom by shedding His own blood. His victory was not through war or political overthrow, but through the cross, bringing forgiveness of sins, revealing the Father’s love, and defeating sin, death, and the powers of darkness. So His kingdom is not about force, status, or domination; it is about grace, redemption, peace, joy, and eternal life for all who believe.

The Welcomed King

In the next verse, we see that the king was welcomed by the local people. They did whatever they could to honor Him: laying cloaks on the road, cutting branches from the trees, and shouting, “Hosanna! Son of David!” They shouted this because they were expecting a king who would deliver them, a savior from the lineage of David who would rescue, restore, and bring justice to their nation.

It was a very simple way of publicly acknowledging the king. No fancy smoke machines, no soft launches, no big parties, no extravagant lights, no loud music, no designer suits, just humble acts of honor and praise. And Jesus received it. He was not annoyed. He rode in on a donkey, not a Bugatti; He welcomed the people’s simple gesture of cloaks and branches, not champagne or red carpets.

Today, I want to invite you to know that this humble king has welcomed you and has called you to be His own. He wants to redeem you, set you free, forgive you, heal you, restore you, and give you new life. He wants to cleanse you from all your sins. And today, if you hear the gentle knock on your heart’s door, give your life to Jesus. He isn’t looking for anything fancy from you, He’s after your heart. He loved you so much that He died on the cross, paying the penalty for your sins, so that you could truly live.

The Exalted King

In Matthew 21:10-11, we see Jesus being recognized by the people as the prophet from Nazareth. They had already witnessed His prophetic abilities, His divine teaching, His miracles, and His authority, but that was not enough for them to fully understand who He truly is. Jesus didn’t just possess the ability to teach or heal; He is divine, fully God, and must be exalted as the King of kings, Lord of lords, and the one true living God. Yet the people called Him a prophet, not God, because their understanding was limited. They saw His works and authority but did not yet grasp His full divine identity. Their praise acknowledged His role and lineage, but the revelation of His true nature comes only through faith in Him.

In Matthew 21:10-11, the crowd sees Jesus coming into Jerusalem and exclaims, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee!”

Notice that they called Him “prophet” and not “God.” Why?

1. Limited understanding of His identity – The people had witnessed His teaching, His miracles, and His authority, but they still thought in human terms. In Jewish tradition, prophets were God’s messengers who spoke His word and performed signs. They were expecting a prophet or a king who would deliver them politically or nationally, not necessarily God Himself in human form.

2. Divine mystery hidden – Jesus’ full divinity was veiled in His humanity. Though He was fully God, most people at the time could only recognize His human life and His acts—they didn’t yet understand that He is God incarnate.

3. Messianic expectation – Many Jews were expecting a Messiah who would restore Israel’s kingdom in an earthly, political sense. Their mindset was that a prophet or a king would lead them to victory, not that God Himself had come to earth to save humanity.

So when they shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” and called Him a prophet, they were acknowledging His role and lineage, but they didn’t fully grasp His divine nature. Exalting Him as King of kings, Lord of lords, and God Himself requires spiritual revelation, which comes through faith in Him.