12/24 Matthew 21:9

⁹ And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"

It was five days before Passover. That was a special day for Jews. They chose their lamb that would be slain and eaten on that day. That is the day Jesus presented Himself, the Lamb of God, on the east entrance to the city. On the west, Governor Pilate and his forces would be entering to the cheers of those eager to please those in power.

The crowd that met Jesus was shouting something rather seditious. Hosanna means "to save now." Son of David is a messianic title. If we transliterated it into a contemporary expression it could read, "Save us, New King David! Blessed is he who comes with God's authority. May heaven deliver us!" That is why the Pharisees urged Jesus to quiet the crowds. But Jesus didn't correct them. He had come from heaven with God's authority as a new king to save our souls. All through the gospels we see people taking a physical interpretation of what Jesus meant in a spiritual sense.

We can be on the right side of the city with the wrong heart. There was little difference from the heart of those who wanted Jesus to boot out the Romans and those who wanted the favor of Pilate. Why have you come to Jesus? Why do you praise Him? It must be because of what He has come to do, not what you want Him to do. He has come with heaven's authority to reign in the lives of those who will receive the salvation of their souls.

Consider: We are in His kingdom when we submit to His rule over our lives.