“Here comes the Queen’s motorcade,” someone shouted. Lynne and I spent two years stationed in London, and on this particular day, we were attending the Royal Ascot.

The Royal Ascot is not a casual affair. There are a lot of three-piece morning suits and top hats. I was in my Dress White Uniform and Lynne wore a long dress and hat. This was years ago, and the motorcade not only included the Queen but Prince Charles and Lady Diana.

Lynne was thrilled. If you know anything about the Brits, they are into their royalty. They know how to make an entrance!

There is another King I know, and He knows how to make an entrance as well — but not like the kings of this worldly realm.

“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.’” (Matthew 21:1-2, ESV)

Matthew tells us this was in fulfillment of a prophecy in Zechariah.

“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.” (Zechariah 9:9)

The crowd responded with great expectations.

“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!’” (Matthew 21:8-9)

Luke’s Gospel differs slightly as they shout, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (19:38)

The celebration was brief. The King came not to overthrow Rome.

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for man.” (Mark 10:45)

Two thousand years have passed and the King, crowned with many crowns, seated at the right hand of the Father, still comes to us humbly.

What should our response be? My response is to submit myself to the King of kings and Lord of lords. Pastor and author A. W. Tozer summarizes it much more eloquently that I ever could.

“O God, be Thou exalted over my possessions. Nothing of earth’s treasures shall seem dear unto me if only Thou art glorified in my life. Be Thou exalted over my friendships. I am determined that Thou shalt be above all, though I must stand deserted and alone in the midst of the earth. Be Thou exalted above my comforts. Though it mean the loss of bodily comforts and the carrying of heavy crosses, I shall keep my vow made this day before Thee. Be Thou exalted over my reputation. Make me ambitious to please Thee even if as a result I must sink into obscurity and my name be forgotten as a dream. Rise, O Lord, into Thy proper place of honor, above my ambitions, above my likes and dislikes, above my family, my health and even my life itself. Let me sink that Thou mayest rise above. Ride forth upon me as Thou didst ride into Jerusalem mounted upon the humble little beast, a colt, the foal of an ass, and let me hear the children cry to Thee, ‘Hosanna in the highest. Amen!’” (The Pursuit of God, p. 108)

What say ye, Man of Valor?
Semper Fidelis!