Prophecy XV

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.  (Zechariah 9:9, NASB)

When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 

“Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold your King is coming to you, Gentle, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ ”

The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them, and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their coats on them; and He sat on the coats. Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road. The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting,

“Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!”

When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.”  (Matthew 21:1-11, NASB)

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday.  People in churches across the earth will gather to commemorate Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  This also marks the beginning of Holy Week, during which Jesus was betrayed, arrested, tried, beaten, tortured, crucified, died, laid out in the tomb, and finally raised to new life.  Jesus endured all the humiliation and horrific pain and suffering willingly, and He did so for you and for me, all so we could have freedom over sin and death and spend eternity in fellowship with God the Father. 

Prophet Zechariah predicted a king coming to his people triumphantly and mounted on a donkey.  Our King fulfilled that promise on Palm Sunday in Jerusalem.  Jesus was either mounted on a donkey or a colt.  His instructions to the disciples whom He sent to fetch the animals were to bring back both the donkey and the colt.  Zechariah’s prophecies describing Messiah were accurate as well:  “He is just and endowed with salvation, [and] humble . . . “

“Hosanna! Blessed is He Who Comes in the name of the Lord!”  Found at St. Joseph Church, Rockdale, IL.   https://fsspjoliet.wordpress.com/2020/04/05/hosanna-blessed-is-he-who-comes-in-the-name-of-the-lord-palm-sunday/

In ancient times, there were two reasons kings would ride a donkey into a city.  One is to let the citizens know that his army had just conquered them.  The donkey was a symbol meaning that city was no longer a threat to him.  The second instance a king would ride a donkey into a city was as a gesture of peace.  As a non-threat (as opposed to a horse, a weapon of war), the people would see that this king meant no harm.  In Jesus’ case, I like to think His entry into Jerusalem embodied a little of both cases.  The conquering King whose weapons were peace and love.  And He came in peace.  Jesus conquered Jerusalem that Palm Sunday, only to give up control to become a sacrifice so we could live free from sin. 

Apostle Matthew’s account of the triumphal entry foreshadows another prophecy yet to take place.  During Holy Week, Jesus said that people would not see Him again until they say “Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord.”  The crowds proclaimed this during His triumphal entry.  Could there be a second triumphal entry in the future when Jesus comes back for His people?