The Time Has Come

“This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” 
Matthew 21:4-5

As I was thinking about Palm Sunday which marks Jesus’ triumphant entry to Jerusalem, the beginning of the final week of His life on this planet These lines form Lewis Carroll’s poem The Walrus and The Carpenter came to mind “The time has come, the Walrus said, to talk of many things: of shoes & ships and sealing wax of cabbages and kings.” The time has come to talk of the King.   

Both Matthew and John quote the prophet Zechariah as they talk about what we know as the Triumphal Entry. So the time has come to talk of the King. Zechariah speaking to encourage those who had returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile says: “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9).

The crowd certainly helped to fulfill Zechariah’s words. Jesus, riding on the colt of a donkey does indeed, receive a king’s welcome into the city. In Matthew’s Gospel the crowd acknowledges that Jesus is the “Son of David (Matthew 21:9). Mark writes “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our Father David” (Mark 11:10) and John writes “Blessed is the king of Israel (John 12:13). The celebration wouldn’t last, between the people not understanding that Jesus had not come to save them from the Romans – He had come instead to save them from their selves and the fear and jealousy of the Jewish religious leaders it would prove to be a hard week leading up to His death and resurrection. 

Another – The time has come moment presents itself as Jesus stands before Pilate. Matthew, Mark and Luke all share a brief exchange between the two men. Pilate asks Jesus if he is the king of the Jews? Jesus replies that he is correct. John however, gives us a bit more of the conversation between these two men (See John18:33-38). After pulling Jesus aside so that they might talk more privately, Pilate asks, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus’ reply is a bit surprising, since until now he has remained mostly silent when spoken to, He responds “Is that your own idea or did some other talk to you about me?” You can almost hear the sarcasm as Pilate says “Am I a Jew? Your own people have handed you over – what have you done?” Jesus takes the time to try to explain and the conversation ends with Pilate asking “What is truth?” 

I often wonder what happened to Pilate later in life. He had gotten to speak to the Son of God, face-to-face, he knew he was sending an innocent man to his death. Pilate aside for watching out for his own interests, played his role in carrying out God’s will. Did his interaction with the King of Kings affect his life later, after he was no longer Governor and responsible for keeping the peace at all cost? Did he and his wife become believers?  

We all have had or will have a – the time has come moment when we will need to talk of the King. If we are on the side of truth, if we desire truth then we will surrender to His Kingship, bowing before Him and then accepting His hand as He lifts us up, made new by His touch.

The time has come my friends to talk of other things: Of forgiveness & compassion, mercy & grace, of light and power, of the cross & the tomb and of the King.    

A Prayer
Father – Thank you for “the time has come” moments you give us. Open our hearts and our eyes to the need around us, to others who need one of those moments with Your Son. Thank you that the truth of who you are and what you have done, makes us new. May we often talk of other things and especially of the King. In the name of Jesus, Our King – Amen.