Names of Christ: Who do you say that I am?

21 When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, ² saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. ³ If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.^[a]” ⁴ This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,

⁵ “Tell the daughter of Zion,
Look, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

⁶ The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; ⁷ they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. ⁸ A very large crowd^[b] spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. ⁹ The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,

Matthew 21:1-9

Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!

The words that accompany the inspirational music of Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus say:

The kingdom of this world
Is become the kingdom of our Lord
And of His Christ, and of His Christ
And He shall reign for ever and ever
And He shall reign for ever and ever
And He shall reign for ever and ever
For ever and ever, forever and ever

King of kings (Forever and ever Hallelujah! Hallelujah!)

We witness that title for Jesus as he rides into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. (Behold our King comes.) While that language is a little strange to those of us not raised in a monarchy, we have recently waved our palm branches and we may still be able to bow our knee before King Jesus.

Prayer

Humble and yet powerful King Jesus, we show that you reign even now as we recognize you as King of Kings, and monarch of our lives. Amen.