The Rightful King
In J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterpiece, “The Lord of the Rings,” there is a moment early on when young Frodo receives help from an unlikely and unknown ally. Let me set the scene for you. Frodo received the “One Ring” from his uncle Bilbo after Bilbo’s birthday party. Through the help of Gandalf the Grey, Frodo realizes what this ring is, the power it contains, and that it must be destroyed. So, with the help of three other hobbits, Samwise, Merry, and Pippen, they set out to take the ring back to Mordor and cast it into Mount Doom.
Early into this journey, they realize it is not going to be easy at all. Upon arriving in a town called Bree, they were supposed to rendezvous with Gandalf at the Prancing Pony Inn, but Gandalf is not there. Filled with fear, worry, anxiety, and annoyance with the relative glee that his companions have at the moment, Frodo catches the stares of a rough-looking man sitting in a dark corner of the tavern. At this moment, Frodo’s fear, worry, and anxiety act as blinders, and he is unable to realize that the suspicious-looking man is actually the one who will save him that evening and will be one of his closest allies. His name is Strider/Aragorn, and later on in the story, as they are sailing down a river, Frodo will see Aragorn for who he truly is. “’Fear not!’ said a strange voice behind. Frodo turned and saw Strider, and yet not Strider, for the weatherworn Ranger was no longer there. In the stern sat Aragorn son of Arathorn, proud and erect, guiding the boat with skillful strokes; his hood was cast back, and his dark hair was blowing in the wind, a light was in his eyes: a king returning from exile to his own land.”[1] That night at the Prancing Pony, Frodo’s fear prevented him from seeing Aragorn for who he was. He wanted Gandalf, but at that moment, and at the end of the story, he needed Aragorn, the rightful king. There is a truth in this for you and me. Often, what we want is not what we need. And we can walk around with blinders that prevent us from seeing the One who can restore us to peace, wholeness, and joy. In fact, that is what happened 2,000 years ago on Palm Sunday.
The seventeen miles from Jericho up to Jerusalem is a rugged walk, ascending thirty-five hundred feet. Bethany was on the southeastern side of the Mount of Olives, just a couple of miles from Jerusalem. The mountain consisted of three peaks, with the highest at three thousand feet. His presence there shows OT messianic fulfillment, centering on three passages: Zechariah 14:4, which prophesies that Yahweh will stand on the Mount of Olives on the day of Yahweh; Genesis 49:10–11, stating that the lion of the tribe of Judah will tether his donkey and colt to a branch; and 2 Samuel 15:30–31, when David returned to Jerusalem (after Absalom had forced him to flee) on a donkey. The crowds will shout, “Hosanna,” which means, “Save us!” They desperately wanted a different king than those over them. They knew they needed a savior. But they misunderstand the symbols of Jesus’ entrance. He is the King they need, but he will not be the conquering messiah they are expecting who will bring the armies of heaven to destroy Israel’s enemies. Rather, he is the Suffering Servant, who is coming to defeat a different enemy, the sinfulness of humankind, and bring messianic peace, as symbolized by the donkey.[2] The sad reality is that the crowds were half-right. Jesus is the long-promised Messiah and the rightful King. They just didn’t understand that his kingdom is not of this earth. And, what he offered them and offers us today is far greater than anything this age could offer.
We hope that you and your friends and family will join us for our Good Friday and Easter Worship Services.
Good Friday Services – 5 pm & 6:30 pm
Easter Sunday Services – 7:30 am, 9 am, and 10:45 am
Click here for all the details: www.ccames.org
[1] Fellowship of the Ring Book II Chapter 9: “The Great River”
[2] Grant R. Osborne, Luke: Verse by Verse, ed. Jeffrey Reimer, Elliot Ritzema, and Danielle Thevenaz, Awa Sarah, Osborne New Testament Commentaries (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2018), 453.