Day 7

The King We Didn’t Expect

Read: John 12

Then & There

Just before Jesus enters Jerusalem, we see a quiet moment in a home.

Mary takes a costly perfume and pours it out at Jesus’ feet.

An act of extravagant worship.

Uninhibited.

Costly.

Deeply personal.

The house is filled with the fragrance.

Not everyone understands.

Some question it.

Some criticize it.

But Mary is not responding to the room.

She is responding to Jesus.

She sees Him.

She honors Him.

Soon after, Jesus enters Jerusalem.

A crowd gathers.

They wave palm branches and cry out:

“Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! The King of Israel!” (John 12:13)

There is excitement.

Expectation.

Hope.

They believe the King has come.

And He has.

But not in the way they expected.

Not on a war horse.

But on a donkey.

Humble.

Peaceful.

Different.

They celebrate Him…

But they don’t yet fully understand Him.

As the moment unfolds, Jesus begins to speak of what is coming.

“Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” (John 12:24)

The path ahead is not what they imagined.

Notice About God

God invites us to see Him rightly.

Not only for what we hope He will do…

but for who He truly is.

Jesus is the King.

Not defined by power or position,

but by humility, love, and purpose.

Here & Now Reflection

Mary responded to Jesus with worship.

The crowd responded with expectation.

Both were near.

But not the same.

It’s possible to be close to Jesus…

and still misunderstand Him.

How might Jesus be inviting you to see Him more clearly?

What would it look like to respond to Him… not just with hope for what He will do… but with honor for who He is?

Prayer

Jesus, You are worthy of my worship.

Help me to see You clearly. Not through my expectations, but for who You truly are.

Teach me to honor You with my life, with my attention, and with my love.

Amen.