If you can only see a crowd labling Jesus as a king you fail to see He set himself as king when he road in on an ass and foal of an ass. This is a prophecy in Zechariah 9, but it is speaking of a tradition from the time of the kings that when he was coronated he would come riding on a ass with her colt. The sitting position is a colt being used as the foot stool for the king's feet as he sat sideways on the ass. Always sounded like a hard position to ride in, but that what was done. Is Jesus at this time setting himself to be something that the people were not yet ready for. Jesus had the disciple go and get the colt, and they went obediently. There are rulers and kings that will always will exist that if you say go and do their followers do just that. God is a God that desires us to follow him, not because He wants us to follow like a lemming, but he wants us to follow him like we do good parents in following their leadership, because they desire to keep their children from harm. If man can see God and Christ as good Father's not evil, but desiring good things for their children then they understand why God sent his Son into the world to demonstrate the following of the world after the leaders of the world.

I never want to look at Christ as being evil or being only a crowd pleaser like any guru on the street with a crowd around him. What I hope is Christ would be our teacher of all things. A teacher and leader that showed the world how fast in one day you can be king and even turn and cleanse the temple and the next they seek your life. What did Jesus do that so wrong on the day he rode into the city of Jerusalem. The people in the city that saw asked who was this man thought to be king and the crowd the crowd that followed said this is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth. He went into the temple turning over the money changers and casting out those that sold and bought there. He said, "my house shall not be call a den of thieves." The blind and lame came to him and he healed them. The priesthood was displeased. Jesus said "out of the mouth of babes adn sucklings though Has perfected praise". And he left and went into Bethany and stayed there.

Why would anyone be upset if someone got healed. The truth being that is a mystery. Unless there desire to be the one's in control was greater, they lost money that day the money changers were cast out. They were angry because the crowd sang about him being the Son of David. The priest were angry because they sang Hosanna in the streets. They of all people understood the symbolism of the ass and colt. Yet the were comfortable with Caesar being king.

Most of us are comfortable with our government being as they are. No one really desires change. When one makes Jesus Lord of their life, they are content to have Him rule their hearts but if he came walking down the street would you want him has your king in the Palace? It easy to talk of heaven and going to the place where God rule is sovereignity in every since of the word sovereign, but to place him on the throne in our world, I am not sure the world is ready to see Jesus. In fact I know they are not. Yes many would like Jesus coming in the sky to settle the age old arguement of believers and non believers of His return. Yet are they ready for godly leadership, where tears are wiped away, and all diseases healed. They ready for Christ protection on the earth. Those of us that believe and have seen harshness of this world and have lived to tell the tale, also can tell the safety of God protection in storms of life. Our idea of Christ as King and ruler not just of our hearts but of land, is a great mystery to unbeliever. They see the fundamentalist Christians in regards to strict code of behavior, and say I do not want to live like that. They see the liberals in the churches and say that can not be Christian. They see the moderates and conservatives and say how is my life different from theirs.

Then the tears roll down the ministers eyes as he begins to tell how God is the changer of man. How Christ when he lives in our hearts and we allow him to rule, then the changes in how we behavior and live come from Him and not from how we perceive the people of God to be. God begins a work in our life when we receive His Son into our heart. A work that defies the eyes of liberals, fundamentalist and conservative and moderates. God begins to shape the individual into something he desires them to be, he gives them the desires of their heart as they begin to understand what true desire is.

If we examine all the characters in scripture some of us would say I never do that or be like that. I never have two wives or drink in a pub like Samson, or commit adultery like David. Or I would not disobey God only to slip and fall the next day. God's laws are for our protection, God love is for our understanding of his grace despite mankind's fall including our own individual fall. If we fall to see God's grace we fall to see the Messiah as healer and king.

Most desire a king like Jesus, but many are not ready for a king like Jesus. Individually it seems impossbile to obtain a life pleasing to God and yet it can only be obtain by believing in Jesus who is the free gift of God's love and something to be shared with others. His love for man despite our errors, though our goal should be to strive to live and follow after Jesus in humble submission, knowing when we fail we have advocator whose name is Jesus to go before the Throne of God with us. Jesus says to the Father this is one of ours. He is a part of our family.

God does set himself up as ruler, but he created us and that alone He is worthy to be praised. But praise to him is more then because He is our creator, but because he allows us our independence so we can see our need of him. Those that were healed in the temple knew their need of Jesus. Those that looked around wondered who Jesus even was. Yet he had been walking among them for a long time. Even coming to Jerusalem ever since he was a baby. They were blind to who He was. That my friend is prophesied as well, for it would allow Christ to go to the cross for you and me, to pay the price for sin.

Dear Heavenly Father, continue to prepare the hearts of the believer for Christ not to only be king of our hearts but our earthly kingdom as well, for you promised us you would send him back to us one day. In Jesus precious name, Amen..

Continual Scripture Study for Devotion:

Zechariah 9:9 KJV Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.