The Humble King: Jesus' Kingship and Our Surrender

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus is the Fulfillment of Prophet, Priest, and King.

The Old Testament points to three anointed offices: prophet, priest, and king. Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of all three, the one who perfectly reveals God, mediates between God and humanity, and reigns with all authority. His entry into Jerusalem on a colt was a deliberate act, rich with symbolism that pointed to these roles. He is the final and complete answer to God's promises. [13:05]

“Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’” (Matthew 21:5 ESV)

Reflection: As you consider the different aspects of Jesus' identity, which one—prophet, priest, or king—resonates most deeply with your current need? How does recognizing Jesus in that specific role shape your understanding of what He offers you today?

Day 2: Jesus Declares Himself a Different Kind of King.

The kingship of Jesus stands in stark contrast to worldly power and figurehead monarchs. He cannot be managed, controlled, or reduced to a symbol that simply approves our own desires. His authority is absolute and His rule is active, demanding a response that goes beyond mere acknowledgment. He will not tolerate being a passive figurehead in our lives. [16:22]

“Pilate said to him, ‘So you are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.’” (John 18:37 ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life are you most tempted to treat Jesus like a figurehead—giving Him nominal respect while ultimately retaining control? What would it look like this week to actively submit that area to His true kingship?

Day 3: Our Expectations Often Clash with God's Plan.

The crowd welcomed Jesus because they expected a political liberator who would meet their immediate desires and restore national glory. They were prepared to accept a king who fulfilled their agenda. True discipleship, however, requires surrendering our preconceived notions of what Jesus should do and embracing His superior, eternal plan for salvation. [30:01]

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific hope or prayer you have that, if unanswered in the way you want, might cause you to struggle with disappointment in God? How can you entrust that desire to Jesus, the king who knows what you truly need?

Day 4: True Salvation Comes Through Righteousness and Humility.

The path to salvation was not through military conquest but through the righteous sacrifice and profound humility of the King. Jesus, the sinless one, had the right to pay the price for our sin, and He willingly humbled Himself to die in our place. This is the foundation of our rescue and the greatest demonstration of love. [31:33]

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” (Philippians 2:5-7 ESV)

Reflection: How does the truth that your standing before God is based entirely on Christ's righteousness, and not your own, free you from the pressure to perform? In what practical way can you reflect His humility in a relationship or situation this week?

Day 5: Following King Jesus Means Surrendering All to Him.

A life under Christ's kingship is marked by a willing surrender of our possessions, time, and very selves. The simple fact that "the Lord needs it" becomes sufficient reason for us to release what we hold dear. This is not a burden but a joyful response to the immeasurable gift we have received in Him. [36:13]

“Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.’” (Matthew 16:24-25 ESV)

Reflection: Is there something—a possession, a habit, a dream, or your time—that the Spirit is prompting you to release for the Lord's use? What would it look like to offer it to Him not with reluctance, but with a heart of worship?

Sermon Summary

Palm Sunday sets a sharp contrast between popular expectation and divine purpose. Matthew traces a carefully planned entry into Jerusalem that fulfills Isaiah and Zechariah: a humble king arriving on a colt, not a warhorse. The text highlights three offices—prophet, priest, and king—and shows the arrival as the culmination of those roles: revelation, mediation, and rightful rule. Crowds greet the procession with cloaks and palm branches, crying “Hosanna,” imagining a David-like deliverer who will expel Rome, unite the nation, and restore prosperity. Their hope reveals common human tendencies to make kings serve personal and political aims.

The procession dramatizes the kind of kingship that arrives—righteousness married to humility. The colt and the fulfilled prophecies signal that power will express itself through sacrificial service rather than force. Righteousness gives the king the authority to make amends for sin; humility moves him to accept death on a cross that sinners deserve. This double reality explains why popular acclaim soon turns to rejection: the people wanted a king who mirrored their desires, but the coming reign seeks to transform souls, not merely solve temporal problems.

The text issues a direct ethical summons. To have Jesus as king requires practical alignment: a willingness to yield possessions, time, and reputation when “the Lord needs them.” True discipleship flows from seeing personal unrighteousness, receiving the king’s righteousness, and adopting his humility. Worship, moral reformation, and joyful surrender should mark a kingdom life, not begrudging renunciation. The narrative closes with prayerful encouragement to seek the Lord now, to embrace repentance, and to live as citizens of a kingdom that will one day come in full glory. The movement from Palm Sunday praise to the cross demonstrates a ruling love that refuses spectacle and secures salvation.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus fulfills prophet, priest, and king Seeing Jesus through these three offices reframes every expectation of power. Prophetic authority reveals God’s purposes; priestly work mediates forgiveness; royal rule reorders lives. Recognizing all three prevents reducing kingship to politics or miracles and invites trust in a comprehensive salvation. [12:23]
2. The colt declares humble authority The choice of a colt signals a king who rejects spectacle for service. Humility here does not mean weakness but a deliberate economy of means to accomplish redemption. When power chooses vulnerability, redemption becomes believable and accessible to the broken. [18:53]
3. Popular hopes often misread salvation Crowd enthusiasm exposed aspirations for national glory and earthly relief more than spiritual renewal. Expecting a Davidic triumph confuses earthly liberation with eternal reconciliation and risks fickle allegiance when outcomes differ. Discernment requires asking whether desired outcomes align with God’s deeper redemption. [22:39]
4. Righteousness enables substitutionary rescue Righteous rule gives the moral standing to make amends for others’ sin. This righteousness doesn’t demand merit from sufferers but furnishes the basis for atonement that frees them from death’s claim. Embracing that exchange alters identity from guilty to secured. [30:58]
5. Kingship demands cheerful surrender Kingly authority in practice asks, “If the Lord needs it, will it be enough?” True allegiance yields possessions, plans, and pride without resentment. Such surrender springs from gratitude for what the king has already given, not from duty alone. [36:13]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[10:06] - Palm Sunday context
[11:29] - Jesus’ sovereign plan
[12:23] - Prophet, priest, and king
[17:43] - Instructions for the colt
[18:53] - Fulfillment of prophecy
[22:39] - Crowd’s political expectations
[26:08] - Palm procession and Hosanna
[30:58] - Righteousness, humility, sacrifice
[36:13] - Practical kingship: surrender
[41:06] - Prayer, benediction, fellowship

Bible Study Guide

Based on the provided sermon summary and transcript, here is a Bible study discussion guide.

Bible Reading
Matthew 21:1-11 (ESV)
Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,
“Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”
The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Zechariah 9:9 (ESV)
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Observation questions

According to Matthew 21:1-3, what specific instructions did Jesus give his disciples, and what was the reason they were to give if questioned?
What two actions did the crowd take to prepare the way for Jesus in verses 7-8, and what do these actions signify?
What were the specific words the crowd was shouting, and what does the word "Hosanna" literally mean? [26:08]
The sermon mentioned that Jesus fulfills three Old Testament offices. Which one is most prominent in this passage, and what are the other two? [12:23]

Interpretation questions

Why would Jesus choose to enter Jerusalem on a young colt instead of a warhorse, and what does this specific choice reveal about the nature of his kingdom and power? [18:53]
The crowd greeted Jesus with great excitement, yet their expectations were disappointed within a week. What were they hoping this king would do for them politically and nationally, and why did Jesus not meet those expectations? [22:39]
Zechariah 9:9 describes the coming king as both "righteous" and "humble." How do these two qualities work together in Jesus to accomplish true salvation, rather than just a political victory? [30:58]
When the disciples were told to take the colt, the phrase "the Lord needs them" was sufficient. What does this simple reason imply about the authority of Jesus and the proper response of his followers? [17:43]

Application questions

Popular hopes often misread salvation by expecting God to fix our temporal problems more than our spiritual condition. [22:39] What is one situation in your life right now where you might be tempted to want a king who solves an immediate issue, rather than the king who wants to transform your heart through it?
Kingship demands cheerful surrender, asking, “If the Lord needs it, will it be enough?” [36:13] Is there a possession, a amount of time, or an aspect of your reputation that you have been holding back? What would it look like to surrender it cheerfully this week, not out of duty, but from gratitude for what the King has already given you?
The colt declares a humble authority, showing that power chooses vulnerability to make redemption believable. [18:53] In your relationships, work, or family life, where is God calling you to reject the world's model of forceful power and instead lead with Christ-like humility and service?
True discipleship flows from seeing personal unrighteousness and receiving the king’s righteousness. [31:57] Do you more naturally think of yourself as a "good person" who is improving, or as someone who is not good and desperately needs the righteousness of Christ every day? How does this self-perception affect your daily dependence on him?
The crowd's allegiance was fickle because it was based on Jesus fulfilling their desires. What are some indicators that our worship and allegiance to Jesus might be conditional on him doing what we want, rather than on who he is as our righteous and humble Savior?

Sermon Clips

It would have been easy just to have been a king like David. But Jesus was a greater king who became the sacrifice, who laid down his life that we might have, not just the glory of a great nation, but to enjoy the glory of the Lord forever. Is Jesus your king? Do you delight in him? Is your delight in him shown by being like him? Not to get his love, but because of his love. [00:39:03] (43 seconds) #GreaterKingSacrifice

Even when the very people he's saving scream at him, mock him, humiliate him, he does not move because he's the king who's committed to you and to me. Throughout this whole week and Jesus' whole life, he was committed to bringing true salvation. As Zechariah rightly points out, the true king would bring salvation through righteousness and humility. [00:30:42] (28 seconds) #UnwaveringKingCommitment

His righteousness meant that he could actually die in our place. Jesus, as the righteous one, had the right to make recompense, to make amends To be the true sacrifice to set us free from the wages of sin, which leaves us spiritually dead and eternally separated from God, who is righteous and holy. Do you know this righteous king? [00:31:14] (36 seconds) #RighteousSubstitution

And fun which is seen outside of that is actually no fun at all. It's momentary. It's fleeting. And it's thieving. It promises one but takes the other. Like poison food, it promises to fulfill but actually makes us sicker. Jesus came to do something so much greater. He came to bring us true salvation. The cries of the crowd would change because he wasn't the kind of king they wanted, but Jesus was the king they needed. [00:29:29] (40 seconds) #TrueJoyNotFleeting

Having Jesus as king is to put our wants and desires to the side and place Jesus' wants and desires at the front, to seek him and his kingdom first and let not put everything else in its rightful place. Such a life is marked by moments when the Lord needs them. It's all the reason that you need. Is that enough for you? Is that enough for me? [00:35:50] (33 seconds) #SeekKingdomFirst

It can't be the same with Jesus. He can't be a figurehead. He can't be someone that we're looking to give him permission to do the things and let us do the things we want to do, and that his monastic position depends on his cooperation with our wants. Absolutely not. Jesus will not tolerate being the figurehead in our lives. Such is a position as evidence that we don't know who he really is at all. [00:15:55] (33 seconds) #JesusNotAFigurehead

But friends, can I just say that we never ever give up things through gritted teeth when we understand who Jesus is? We always do it singing, blessed be he who comes in the name of the Lord. Jesus paid it all. All to him, I give. Such a life realizes that even if we had the whole world and gave it up, it would be nothing compared to what Jesus gives. [00:38:20] (28 seconds) #GiveAllWithJoy

They're throwing down their cloaks. They're cutting down these palm trees that they're lining the road with as a procession. They're inviting Jesus all the way into Jerusalem. Come on, Jesus. Take your place. They're showing their support, and by taking their cloaks off, they're showing their submission. They're declaring and crying out to this coming king, save us now, fulfilling the promise to David whose throne would last forever. [00:26:27] (32 seconds) #PalmProcessionSubmission

Don't ever believe the lie that the church is filled with good people. I hope I hope that we don't do the opposite of that. Hope we're better people because we follow Jesus, but it's not because we're good that we're here. It's because we know we're not good. And we know that Jesus is good. And that the only way for us to get right with God, which was our created purpose, to know him and enjoy him forever, is for Jesus to bring his righteousness to us and to remove our sin from us. [00:32:08] (45 seconds) #RighteousnessRemovesSin

Here is Jesus riding in on a colt so that you might know he is the king, so that you might find him, so that you can receive from him. And yet he's not just righteous, he is humble. And so in his humility, he endured the humiliation of the cross. Such a death was beneath Jesus. There was no right for Jesus to die. He had no sin, but it was Jesus' humility, his willing to humble himself to death, even death on a cross, because of his great love for those who know him as king. [00:33:14] (47 seconds) #HumilityToTheCross

Throughout this whole week and Jesus' whole life, he was committed to bringing true salvation. As Zechariah rightly points out, the true king would bring salvation through righteousness and humility. That is not what the crowd was looking for. His righteousness meant that he could actually die in our place. Jesus, as the righteous one, had the right to make recompense, to make amends To be the true sacrifice to set us free from the wages of sin, which leaves us spiritually dead and eternally separated from God, who is righteous and holy. [00:30:58] (46 seconds) #RighteousHumbleSavior

Sometimes we make the mistake of thinking that Jesus steals our fun, And fun, according to Jesus, and his standard and his understanding is life and all its beauty. And fun which is seen outside of that is actually no fun at all. It's momentary. It's fleeting. And it's thieving. It promises one but takes the other. Like poison food, it promises to fulfill but actually makes us sicker. Jesus came to do something so much greater. He came to bring us true salvation. [00:29:05] (53 seconds) #SalvationNotTemporaryPleasure

When is the Messiah coming to restore Israel? And there isn't really a date or a time given in Zechariah. Instead, God makes promises about the kind of king who will come, the way that they'll know that he's come. Zechariah explains that the Messiah will be a king. He will be righteous and bring salvation, and he will be humble. And that humility will be backed by the fact that he comes in a colt, not a horse. [00:21:38] (35 seconds) #ZechariahPromises

And in many ways, the reality is we all come with our own hopes that this king Jesus will give us what we want as well. We come with an expectation, a prerequisite idea of what Jesus being king in our lives would look like. And we say to Jesus, essentially, Jesus, if I could just have this, and we all have to fill in our own blank, if I could just have this, I know, then I'd be happy. If only you could take away that, everything would be okay. [00:27:58] (45 seconds) #IfOnlyYouTookThis

And so the big question I want us to think about, maybe the first pre question of this is simply, since Jesus is the king, is he your king? But the bigger question to ask ourselves is, what does that actually mean in your life to have Jesus as king? What examples could you give to show that Jesus is your king? Because having Jesus as king is not the same as having Charles the third as our king here in Great Britain. It's a totally different kind of kingship. [00:14:06] (33 seconds) #WhatDoesJesusAsKingMean

Coming, God's only son. Righteous, yet humble, riding on this colt, comes to Jerusalem. It would have been easy just to have been a king like David. But Jesus was a greater king who became the sacrifice, who laid down his life that we might have, not just the glory of a great nation, but to enjoy the glory of the Lord forever. Is Jesus your king? Do you delight in him? Is your delight in him shown by being like him? Not to get his love, but because of his love. [00:38:47] (58 seconds)

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The Humble King: Jesus' Kingship and Our Surrender

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus is the Fulfillment of Prophet, Priest, and King.

Day 2: Jesus Declares Himself a Different Kind of King.

Day 3: Our Expectations Often Clash with God's Plan.

Day 4: True Salvation Comes Through Righteousness and Humility.

Day 5: Following King Jesus Means Surrendering All to Him.

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

The Humble King: Jesus' Kingship and Our Surrender

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