The Return of the King

2 Samuel 16:1-2 NIV

When David had gone a short distance beyond the summit, there was Ziba, the steward of Mephibosheth, waiting to meet him. He had a string of donkeys saddled and loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred cakes of raisins, a hundred cakes of figs and a skin of wine. The king asked Ziba, “Why have you brought these?” Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on, the bread and fruit are for the men to eat, and the wine is to refresh those who become exhausted in the wilderness.”

Palm Sunday was a monumental event for first century Jews. It was parade day, celebrating the selection of the Paschal lamb. The roads outside of Jerusalem were packed with Jews coming to Jerusalem for Passover. And, on this day, from Bethlehem, a parade of sheep were herded toward the Holy City. Sheep that were selected as sacrifices for the people of Israel. At the head of the procession was the candidate for the Peschak... the lamb to be sacrificed on behalf of all the nation.

All of the nation’s priests and rabbis lined the street in the city where, upon hearing the cheers of the people just outside the gate, the High Priest, Ciaphas would begin the majestic processional through Jerusalem to greet the lamb. As he passed these rabbis, they too would fall in line and join him on his way to the gates. So... at the pinnacle of excitement, all of the Jews and their Priests would be gathered together to greet this paschal lamb.

But who also road down the mountainside to enter Jerusalem’s gates... just a few minutes before the Paschal Parade did? Jesus. Riding on a donkey. And the crowd went wild. Ciaphas, hearing them cheering for Jesus, would have thought the paschal lamb was near and would begin his pompous processional. Upon reaching the gate, he would have been startled, frustrated, and furious to find that he was face to face with the Lamb of God, instead of the lamb for men.

But, what does riding into Jerusalem on a donkey have to do with anything. First of all, Jeremiah prophesied it. But even then, why a donkey. It seems that the last great Messiah for the Jews was King David. When his son overthrew him and sent him into exile, David left the city and climbed up the very same slope that Jesus had just descended. At the summit, he climbed upon a donkey and left Jerusalem behind.

There were many who already assumed that Jesus was going to lead a revolt to give Israel her freedom. They were among the first to begin shouting “Hosannah” when Jesus appeared. But coming down that same slope, riding a donkey also meant that King David had returned from exile, exciting them even further.

A few weeks later, Jesus would leave, ascending into the clouds... telling his followers to keep watch because he, too, would return in the same manner he left.

As the king leaves... so shall he return