How should we respond when recognizing Jesus as King, like in Matthew 21:9? Seeing the King: Matthew 21:9 “The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed were shouting: ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Hosanna in the highest heaven!’” Recognize Him with Whole-Hearted Praise • Like the Jerusalem crowd, our first response is worship. • “Hosanna” literally means “Save, we pray!”—an open confession that He alone delivers. • Psalm 118:26 confirms the welcome due to Messiah: “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD.” • Praise sets the tone for every other act of obedience. Surrender Our Allegiance Completely • A king deserves loyalty; Jesus deserves absolute loyalty. • Philippians 2:10-11—every knee bows and every tongue confesses. We choose to bow now, not later. • Loyalty shows up in our decisions, relationships, and priorities. Lay Down Our Lives in Obedience • Romans 12:1 calls us to present our bodies as “a living sacrifice.” • The crowd laid cloaks and branches; we lay down ambitions, habits, and rights. • Obedience isn’t optional for subjects of the King (John 14:15). Proclaim His Kingship to Others • Those in the procession couldn’t stay silent; neither should we (Acts 4:20). • Sharing the good news is an act of allegiance and love for our King. • We testify both through words and a lifestyle that matches the gospel (Matthew 5:16). Cultivate Expectant Hope for His Return • Matthew’s account looks toward a greater Triumphal Entry—Revelation 19:16, “King of kings and Lord of lords.” • Living with expectancy purifies conduct (1 John 3:3) and fuels perseverance. • Hope keeps praise fresh and obedience joyful. Live Daily in the Power of His Kingdom • Colossians 1:13—He has already transferred us into His kingdom. • Kingdom living means seeking first His rule and righteousness (Matthew 6:33). • Rely on the Spirit to display kingdom virtues: love, joy, peace, and steadfastness (Galatians 5:22-23). Responding like the crowd in Matthew 21:9 is more than momentary enthusiasm; it’s a lifelong pattern of praise, surrender, obedience, witness, hope, and Spirit-empowered living under the reign of Jesus, our rightful King. |
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