In the eyes of the Pharisee this was a ridiculous imposter upsetting their world. To these men who worshiped the Law of Moses the young man riding the donkey was anathema. He was a blasphemer who would not keep the Sabbath; he was being treated as a conquering king by the rabble. Just look at them lining his path with palm branches and calling him King. King indeed! They would see about that.

Jesus wept. This was His day. It should have been as joyous a day as any in His life. Judas thought so. He saw that day as in fact the arrival of the new king. Jesus was a king of infinite magical powers who would quickly drive out the old Romans. Judas heard the jingle of lots of money they would have when Jesus declared himself king.

Jesus could foresee the end of the coming week. He knew that before another Sunday the same voices singing so sweetly and the same hands that lay down the palm branches would demand His life and drive nails into His hands and feet. He knew that this lovely morning with its pomp and ceremony was the road to the cross.

His students, except for Judas, had stayed in Bethany. There was much to do to prepare for the Passover the next week. They would meet later in a room in the city to celebrate the time of deliverance of the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage.

Judas had another mission. He would force Jesus to declare himself. The Pharisees wanted Him. Judas would deliver Him. It was a perfect plan. They would come to take Him and with a wave of His mighty hand Jesus would call a legion of angels to establish His kingdom once and for all. Judas would be named Secretary of the Treasury and all would live happily ever after.

No, Jesus did not look much like a king. The days passed and He did not act like a king at all. He drove the moneychangers out of the temple; Judas thought it had begun, but still nothing happened. The High Priest made Judas a deal. For 30 silver shekels Judas would lead the Temple Guard to Jesus. He took the money with a smile on his face. Surely when they came Jesus would stage his coup.

Judas did not know that a Messiah does not look like a king or need an army to establish an eternal kingdom. His throne would be a cross. His kingdom, established by three words, “It is finished.” He needed only to love men and women so much that nothing could keep Him from doing the Father’s bidding and take upon Himself the sins of mankind. That is what a Messiah looks like.