Daily Devotion 24 November 2025

Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!  John 12: 13

READING: Isaiah 9: 6-7 + Jeremiah 23: 5-6 + Luke 4: 18-19

Jesus is the King of Israel!  Hallelujah!  Yesterday we celebrated the Kingship of Jesus.  The Jews were expecting an all-powerful King who would rule over them with might and majesty.  But Jesus  came as a quite different kind of king who came to rule with love, peace, and justice, who sought out the poor and the needy.  Isaiah prophesizes a child would be born who would be a wonderful Councilor, a Father and a Prince of peace.  In the Jeremiah reading he foretells  Jesus as a king who will reign wisely and who will do what is just and right in the land.  In Luke we read that Jesus says, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me.” He said He would preach the Good News to the poor, freedom to prisoners, healing to the blind and comfort for those who mourn.  He was referring to Isaiah 61 : 1- 2.  In Luke 1 : 76   Zechariah declares that his son John will be a prophet of the Most High who will bring knowledge of salvation to the Lord’s people, who will also bring forgiveness for the sins of the people.  John the Baptist sees Jesus coming towards him and he declares, “Look the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”  In Luke 10 : 7 Jesus says he is the gate for the sheep, a job of the shepherd.  In vs.11 He says, “ I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”  In vs. 14 Jesus says that He knows His sheep and they know Him.  All these descriptions of Jesus do not paint a picture of what is commonly thought of as the characteristics of a king!  Then we have the description of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem when He enters riding on a colt of a donkey!  A King riding on a donkey!  The people shout out, “Blessed is the King of Israel!”  This was prophesized by Zechariah in chapter 9 : 9b, “See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey.”  The final unkinglike thing Jesus did was to voluntary die by crucifixion for His people’s sin.  But that is not the end of the story because He rose from the dead on the third day, triumphantly!  Praise the Lord!  Hallelujah!

Prayer

“Blessed be Your glorious Name and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise.  You alone are Lord.” (Nehemiah 9 : 5)  Lord Jesus we praise and worship You as a different kind of king, a Holy One from God for all people.  Amen.