Jesus the Victorious King, a Palm Sunday Reflection

By Sha.ron Quek

Today is Palm Sunday, the beginning of, what some traditions call, Holy week or the week leading up to Easter Sunday. All 4 gospels record the account of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem riding on a donkey, instead of a horse or on foot, fulfilling a prophecy (Matt 21:5 quoting Zechariah 9:9), symbolizing humility and peace. His intention for the city was peace and his manner, one of humility.  

How different Jesus is from other Kings in history who won their victory through military might. This is what Jesus was like, He came in peace, simplicity and humility, proclaiming a Kingdom where love, mercy and peace reign over status, strife and power.  

Many in the crowd took off their cloaks to line the streets. Others cut branches off trees and spread them on the road. All this in honour of Jesus as they shouted, 

“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Matt 21:9b)

Jesus would receive a very different reaction from the crowd later that week, one which called for His crucifixion and by Friday, Jesus was crucified as a common criminal on a Roman cross. This progression of events for Jesus does not seem like a ‘victory’ for a King. The disciples also did not get it, in John 12:16, John records this. 

“At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realise that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.” (John 12:16).

From the hindsight of Easter Sunday, we clearly see that Jesus’ victory was one of a different kind, over an enemy that has followed mankind from Adam all the way to Jesus. And one which was conquered through Jesus’ humble submission to His Father’s will. In Romans 5:12-15 (NIV), Paul writes about this,

“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way, death came to all people, because all sinned—To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come. But, the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!” (Romans 5:12-15)

Such is the love of God for all of mankind. So, Jesus’ victory is so much MORE than we think of. He came in humility and gentleness and His victory was one very different from our normal understanding of victory.  

In my recent trip to MENA (Middle East North Africa), I realised how our brothers and sisters in Christ here experience in a greater way what it means to live in Christ’s humility and gentleness (in the face of great challenges and persecution) and also to know Christ’s victory in very different terms from the world’s.

Many of them had to live a life of greater risk and suffering BECAUSE of their faith. For some, they were cast out by their families because of their faith. For others, it was choosing to stay in a country that greatly needed their presence even when they had the opportunity to go to safer places. Many brothers and sisters demonstrated God’s love through holistic ministries such as special needs therapy, good quality education for all and relief and development.

Do consider signing up for “Peacemakers in Ancient Lands” MENA gathering which is happening here at our church from 1-3 May 2025 to hear and know more about what God is doing in this region so that you can participate and pray better for them. More details are in the announcements section of our bulletin.

Church, as we reflect on Jesus’ humility and love this Palm Sunday and into Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, let us be encouraged by Jesus’ example of humility and love when we endure suffering and humble circumstances in this life as our King demonstrated in His life, even to the end of it.