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1. Jesus’ Entrance into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-9)
MATTHEW 21:1-5
1 When they drew near to Jerusalem, and came to Bethsphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village that is opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them, and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and immediately he will send them.” 4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, 5 “Tell the daughter of Zion, behold, your King comes to you, humble, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Mark 11:1-10, Luke 19:29-38, John 12:12-19)
The life of Jesus was based on Spirit-led insight, which resulted in the fulfillment of prophecy. He lived in full harmony with His Father, and He knew beforehand what was going to happen.
Before Jesus entered Jerusalem, He made a comment to his disciples that expressed His lowliness, “The Lord has need.” The Son of God, the Almighty, humbled Himself and put on the image of a weak man. He became needy and poor, having nothing, not even a donkey. Today, we have nice cars and luxury houses, but Jesus walked from place to place and had nowhere to lay his head.
The promise of a coming King in Zechariah 9:9 involved a donkey and her colt. These animals played a role in three wonderful prophetic truths: First, that the Son of God was not proud, but gentle and lowly, without political plans or violence. Second, that He was the spiritual King and the Messiah who had been promised long ago. Third, that He was worthy of great rejoicing and shouts of triumph.
In the time of Jesus, donkeys were used for travel a great deal; horses were owned only by great men and were usually used for war. Donkeys, on the other hand, were used in lowly services such as carrying loads. Although Christ, Immanuel (God with us), could have summoned a cherub to carry Him (Psalm 18:10), He embraced humility and rode upon a donkey.
Some people think Jesus was adhering to a certain custom in Israel for judges to ride upon white donkeys (Judges 5:10), and their sons to ride on donkey-colts (Judges 12:14). Christ would thus enter, not as a conqueror, but as the Judge of Israel, “who for judgment came into this world.”
The scribes in the Old Testament expressed two images of Christ’s coming; first on a donkey; and second, on a cloud of heaven. They explained this difference saying that He would come on an donkey if the people of the Old Testament did not keep all the commandments with faithfulness (like keeping the Sabbath holy), but that He would come on a cloud of heaven if the people were worthy. Those educated scribes did not comprehend that Christ would come on a donkey and that He would come again on a cloud of heaven.
In commanding the donkey and its foal into His service, Christ gives us an example of justice and honesty. He assured the donkeys’ owner that the animals were merely being borrowed. He told his disciples, “You shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately He will send them”, i.e. send them back to the owner as soon as he was finished with them.
PRAYER: Holy Father, we rejoice with a shout, for Your promise to the prophet, Zechariah commands us to rejoice when the King of Heaven comes to take possession of His spiritual government and establish His kingdom on the truth after his atonement. We thank You Father because Your meek Son came as One who was humble and needy so that He could feel with those that live in tribulation to bless them with the blessing of His Holy Spirit.
QUESTION:
- What can you understand from the prophecy of Zechariah?