The King Deserves the Praise

Reflection

When I was a child, whenever I did something special, I always anticipated the reaction. Maybe I had done a chore that no one asked me to do, or I brought home a good grade from school. I wanted to see that smile and hear those familiar words, "Good job" or "Well done." I appreciated being praised for doing something well, and honestly, I think most of us understand that feeling. It is nice when someone notices our efforts and lets us know that what we did was appreciated.

As I have gotten older, though, I have thought differently about those moments. The chore I did or the good grade I brought home was something I was supposed to do. The praise was nice, but it did not change the fact that it was my responsibility. I did not deserve some great honor simply because I had done what I was supposed to do. That thought came back to me when I read about Jesus entering Jerusalem and the people praising Him.

Luke tells us that the disciples began rejoicing and praising God with a loud voice because of the mighty works they had seen. They cried out, "Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest." The Pharisees did not like what they were hearing, and they told Jesus to rebuke His disciples. But Jesus answered that if they became silent, the stones would immediately cry out.

I have read that verse many times, and for some reason I would always stop there and think, why now? Jesus had been with these people. They had seen His miracles. They had heard His teaching. They had watched Him heal the sick, feed the hungry, raise the dead, and show compassion to people others overlooked. Why was this particular moment so significant that Jesus would say the stones themselves would cry out if the people were silent?

The Arrival of the King

Then I began thinking about what was happening around Him.

Jesus was entering Jerusalem as the King.

This was not simply another day in His ministry. There was a significance to the scene that went far beyond the excitement of a crowd. The prophet Zechariah had spoken of the coming King, saying, "Behold, thy King cometh unto thee... lowly, and riding upon an ass." Now Jesus was entering Jerusalem in a way that brought that prophecy into view.

The King was coming.

And when we look back even further, we can hear another announcement. At the beginning of Jesus' earthly life, the angel told the shepherds, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Then a multitude of the heavenly host praised God, saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace."

Now, years later, Jesus is entering Jerusalem, and the praise is rising again. The words are not exactly the same, but the scene reminds us of the One who had been announced at His birth. The Savior is here, and the King is entering His city.

Jesus does not become worthy of praise because of what He does for us today—He is worthy because of who He is.

He Is Worthy Because of Who He Is

That makes the praise of the people mean something much greater to me.

When a king enters, there is an expectation of honor. But Jesus is not simply a king who deserves the respect given to a ruler. He is the King of Kings. He deserves far more than the kind of praise we give when someone has done something impressive.

That brings me back to my childhood desire to hear, "Good job."

There is nothing wrong with appreciating encouragement, but there is a difference between receiving praise for something we have done and giving praise to someone because of who they are. Jesus does not become worthy of praise because He performed a miracle today or answered my prayer the way I wanted. He does not need to prove Himself worthy to me.

He is worthy because He is the King.

The people cried out, "Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord." In the other Gospel accounts of this same event, we also hear the word Hosanna, a cry connected with the plea to save. Their praise was connected to the One they were recognizing as the coming King and Messiah.

And Jesus knew that this praise could not simply be silenced.

The Pharisees wanted the disciples to stop, but Jesus said that if they held their peace, the stones would cry out. What a picture. The King was worthy of recognition, and creation itself could not remain silent about Him.

Praise in the Middle of Ordinary Days

That makes me wonder how often I become too quiet.

Not necessarily quiet in the sense of standing in front of a crowd and shouting. Sometimes our quietness is much more ordinary. We wake up, go about our responsibilities, take care of our families, work, shop, clean, cook, pay bills, and handle whatever else the day brings. We can move through an entire day without stopping to remember that Jesus is our King.

But He deserves our praise in the middle of ordinary days too.

He deserves it when the house is quiet and when it is noisy. He deserves it when the day has gone well and when it has not. He deserves it when we understand what He is doing and when we don't. His worth does not change with our circumstances.

I may enjoy hearing someone tell me that I have done a good job, but Jesus deserves something far greater than the praise I may receive for doing what I am supposed to do.

He deserves my worship. He deserves my gratitude. He deserves my obedience. He deserves my praise.

He is the Savior who was announced to the shepherds. He is the King the prophets spoke about. He is the Messiah who entered Jerusalem riding upon a colt. And He is the One who would willingly go to the cross for us.

When the King enters, creation cannot remain silent—
Offer Him your gratitude, your worship, and your heart.

Before You Go

Before you move on with your day, stop for just a moment and remember who Jesus is.

You may have errands to run, work to finish, people who need you, or concerns occupying your thoughts. But none of those things are greater than your King. You don't need a special occasion to praise Him, and you don't have to wait until everything is going right.

Today, let your heart say Hosanna.

Praise Him because He is your Savior. Praise Him because He is your Messiah. Praise Him because He is your King. Whatever your day holds, don't let the ordinary become so loud that you forget to worship the One who is worthy of it.

The King has come, and He deserves the praise.