They wanted a warrior king who would lead them in clashing arms against arms with their enemies. They wanted a king who in the name of God and freedom would spill the blood of their oppressors, break the Roman yoke, and tear down the Roman standard that stood over their land. They wanted a king who would wrestle Israel out of the hands of Caesar and his forces so that their nation might once again determine its own destiny. Certainly these desires are understandable enough.

But Jesus had no intention of being a political rival of Casar, at least not in terms of what we normally think of as political. For Jesus did not endeavor to create for Himself an imperial power like that of Rome, nor would He offer His leadership or support to those who longed to confront their enemies on the battlefield in a contest of strength against strength. Yes, if the people would have paid closer attention to how Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah they would not have been so disappointed with Jesus later.

For He did not enter Jerusalem on a prancing war-horse. Rather, He came clip-clopping along on a donkey, thus symbolizing His kingship as one of peace. It was not naked force, blood and steel that characterized this king but the willingness to serve those who were in need.

Those who believe that power politics are the only effective way of making an impact upon the world look upon the way of Jesus with scorn. I'm sure it was with a laugh that Pilate asked Jesus a few days later, "Are you the king of the Jews?" You, you ragged and dusty little man, you who have no weapons, you who have no army, are you the king of the Jews? What a joke!

The soldiers who tormented Jesus on the night after he was betrayed by Judas also viewed His kingship as something funny. And so with cruel humor they shoved a crown of thorns upon His head and in mockery bowed before Him. A clown king, this Jesus.

I'm sure Pilate and Caesar, along with most of the political leaders throughout the ages would agree with Bismarck, "Those with God on their side have the biggest battalions." Jesus knew that those with God on their side have no use for battalions. But their conviction is laughable to those who do not see the world through the eyes of faith as Jesus did.

What Jesus did on that first Palm Sunday was to demonstrate that the quality of His rule stands in sharp contrast to that of Caesar. Jesus came as a king of peace. Of course, everyone wants peace as an end. But for Jesus it was not only an end but a means to the end. Peace was not just a goal to be attained somewhere down the road. It was the way He walked down the road of life.

The Pax Romana, the peace of Rome, was maintained by force of arms. It was a security built upon superior military might. But it was the sort of security and the sort of strength that Jesus rejected. Unfortunately, His followers didn't.

On the very night on which He was betrayed, after Jesus had His last supper with them, the apostles began to argue with each other about which of them was to be considered the greatest. They still imagined that Jesus would be a power-wielding king and each of them wanted to be His right-hand man with all the authority and glory that would accompany the position.