From Zechariah 8-14
Zechariah predicts the coming of the king. Otherwise known as the messiah or Christ. He will be righteous and will bring salvation. To a nation that is besieged by foreigners this was a greatly desired. He will ride on a donkey. How do Kings normally travel?
This post is part of my bible in a year series.
Passage and Comments
There are quite a number of prophecies looking forward in Zechariah. The last section in the overview above is interesting because Gentile Christians do not observe the feast of Booths. Or is there a spiritual meaning? Homework.
Today’s passage is a picture of hope. Zechariah predicts;
9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
and the war horse from Jerusalem;
and the battle bow shall be cut off,
and he shall speak peace to the nations;
his rule shall be from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
11 As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you,
I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.
12 Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope;
today I declare that I will restore to you double. (Zec 9.9-12)
Zechariah predicts the coming of the king. Otherwise known as the messiah or Christ. He will be righteous and will bring salvation. To a nation that is besieged by foreigners this was a greatly desired.
He will ride on a donkey… Which seems strange for a conquering king that they may have been hoping for. But this hope is corrected. He will not bring war but peace to the nations. Because of the blood of the covenant, people will be freed and restored.
Story of Israel
Israel waited for this prophecy to be fulfilled. After they returned from exile they waited. Some tried to free Israel by force claiming to be the messiah. They fought battles. They all died.
Story of Jesus
It wasn’t until Jesus came riding into Jerusalem that we see this prophecy fulfilled. But in an unexpected way.
21 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village in front of 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 he will send them at once.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,
5 “Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ ”
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. 8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.” (Mt 21.1-11)
This is Jesus, the Christ. The king you have been waiting for.
Copyright © Joshua Washington and thescripturesays, 2014. All Rights Reserved.
