Gentleness

“Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”

Matthew 21:5 (NIV)

We don't tend to associate kingship with gentleness. We assume that kings and rulers have to be brash and macho. It isn't necessarily so however.

Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He defines what true leadership is, not some bully boy dictator like Putin. Thankfully, God is gentle, he doesn't beat us about the head with a big stick as it were.

We would expect a king to ride a white stallion, like that famous painting of Napoleon on his steed. Yet Jesus, in humility, and in fulfilment of prophecy, rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. He wasn't out to conquer the Roman occupiers; he wants to conquer our hearts.

The crowds welcomed Jesus enthusiastically. Many will have assumed he was going to kick out the Roman oppressors. Yet as he told the Roman governor Pilate, his kingdom isn't of this world.

'Almighty God, we're thankful for Jesus's humility and gentleness with us. We know we deserve your harshest punishment, but ask you to have mercy upon us because of him, in whose name we pray, amen'.


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