Jesus came in power, or so it seemed. Speculation about Jesus is rampant. He has come to Jerusalem in a season when the rumor mill is high. He has taken off the gloves, so to speak, with the Pharisees and it seems an all-out confrontation is ahead. There is no doubt in the minds of the people who would win that one!

So here comes Jesus and the people go crazy. They prepare the path for him like royalty. Their cloaks are laid on the ground so the donkey would not touch the dirt, along with palm branches. They praised him as the Son of David. Matthew reflects on the words of Zechariah:

“Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you…’”

The city is stirred.

Jesus gets right to work, according to Matthew’s account. He enters the Temple and rips away. He ran out the money changers and declared his house was supposed to be a house of prayer, not a den of thieves!

This is what we’ve been waiting for! Finally! Some REAL action!

We have our expectations. We know what we need. We know how we need deliverance! Our minds have worked those scenarios dozens of times! We see Jesus riding in to save the day. Healing comes. Deliverance comes. The answer arrives just in the nick of time.

The people had their expectations. They wanted Rome overthrown. They wanted false spiritual leaders run out. They wanted Jesus on the throne. And here he came! Coming in like a humble king. Coming in and trashing the seats of thieves who had been spiritually ripping people off for years! Coming in and upsetting the status quo. This is our Man! THIS is a king!

He heals more people. The fever for a king is rising!

Now we’ll get our answers! Now, he will be the King I’ve been looking for all this time!

Expectations.