Gospel Reflections #147: Jesus' Triumph is His Death and Suffering

Matthew 21:9 "Hosanna to the Son of David.Blessed be He who comes in the name of the Lord."

This is the voice of the people at Jesus' triumphal return to Jerusalem. The long awaited King David had come. The prophecy of Zechariah 9:9 has been fulfilled, and Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey and received a reception befitting a king.

But this king was not the conquering military leader they had expected, but a peaceful, humble, gentle, meek Messiah who would triumph through his sacrifice on the cross. Who would consider His death on the cross a victory? A few days later, the same crowd that was praising Jesus at this time demanded His death.

God's plan is not above the common sense and values of this world, and it is not something that our thought processes can ever comprehend. Jesus triumphed in a way no one expected, through suffering and death.

Those who believed and waited for God's promise may have accepted Jesus' death with sadness, but at the same time they would have quietly accepted that God's promise had been fulfilled.

And Jesus must have realized God's promise when he was resurrected. God's promises never fail us. That is our hope.

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This Gospel Reflections page is written by Masae San, a devoted student of the Bible who passionately embraces the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She shares her daily reflections on the Gospels as a way to reach out to others and spread the message of Jesus. We're sharing her message here so that you too can experience the joy that comes from the Gospel that has filled her heart.