The King is Coming

Matthew was bored. There was nothing more to it. He was bored. You would think there would be a lot to do in a city the size of Jerusalem, and usually there was, but he couldn't think of a thing he wanted to do. He sat in front of his house and watched the people walking past, wishing he had someplace to go.

What was all the yelling coming from the area of the city gate, he wondered. Maybe that would offer something to do. He followed the sound and it led him to a crowd of people standing along the street.

"What's all the excitement? Why is everyone yelling?" he asked.

"The king is coming!" they told him.

"King Herod is in Jerusalem?" Matthew asked.

"No, not king Herod, king Jesus. He's the Messiah, the king of the Jews. He will bring the kingdom back to Israel," they told him.

Matthew had heard Jesus say that he was the king, and many of his followers believed that he was. All the people lining the street were praising Jesus. "Hosanna! Glory to God in the highest!" they said. "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!"

Jesus was riding on a young donkey. People were taking off their coats and laying them on the road. Others cut branches off the palm trees and laid them on the road for the donkey he was riding to walk on.

Matthew joined in with them. "Hosanna!" he said. "Blessed be the name of the Lord."

Then, just as Jesus passed in front of where Matthew was standing He stopped, looked right at Matthew and smiled. Then Matthew knew for sure that Jesus was happy when the people praise Him.

Why don't YOU praise Jesus right now? It would make Him very happy.