Prophecies Fulfilled: Zechariah 9:9
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.” Zechariah 9:9
I have read this piece of scripture before, I have seen this very moment depicted in film, and while I’ve always wondered at why it was a donkey the Messiah rode in on, I never actually did any research or reading to answer my own question.
I suppose I should begin by saying it’s always caught my attention that the One who would save us all rode in on a … donkey. Not a white steed, not a large carriage carried by buff men, but a donkey - an animal also known as an “ass.”
According to www.jewsforjesus.org, in ancient times, dignitaries would ride donkeys in civil processions. A king on a donkey indicated a peaceful mission, not a military conquest. And maybe this, without actually knowing it to be true yet, was what has always grasped my attention about this particular prophecy and moment in history.
It is a rarity to know and love a leader, a king, who lived His life in humility.
We are surrounded by tales of kings who lived their lives in folly, who strayed from the Lord or who worshipped idols their entire lives, but it is a rarity to know and love a leader, a king, who lived His life in humility. Jesus was not a showboater, and maybe this alone is why I’ve always hesitated over this moment.
In Matthew 21:1-7, we see the prophecy laid out in Zechariah come to fruition. Jesus instructs two of His disciples to go into Bethphage to retrieve a donkey and a colt from town and bring them to Him; He then rides them into Jerusalem. What, then, does this tell us about Jesus?
He is a man of humility, and He does what He says He will do.
I don’t know about you, but for a girl who questions a lot, who lives with chronic anxiety, and who has been hurt by a lack of follow-through, these qualities in a human would draw me in, but in a Messiah? I want a front seat, a private audience, a conversation with a Savior who is humble and dependable.
And I can have it. We can have each of those things, and much more.
What most fascinates me, most enthralls me, about Jesus, is His unwavering character across time and space, through world wars and pandemics, over Republican presidents and Democratic ones, in thriving economies and ones that suffer - everything around Him, around us, changes. It is the one thing we can count on in a broken world - nothing stays the same. Except Him. Hebrews 13:8 tells us, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
How do these prophecies fulfilled from thousands of years ago affect us, shape us, teach us today? For me, it all comes back to the aforementioned truth - He does what He says He will do.
If He says He will ride into town on a donkey - declaring peaceful mission and humbling Himself for the people, He will do it.
If we are told He will be born of a virgin, pierced for our transgressions, and die on behalf of our sins, He will do it.
If He says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.(Matthew 11:28)” He gives us rest.
He lifts our burdens, shouldering them Himself. He hurts when we hurt, weeps when we weep.
He shows up, every time.
I will follow a King who brings peace into every unrest - because He has done it before, and He will most certainly do it again, and again, and again.
A humbled Savior who consistently shows up for His people is, I think, what we all need in a world ever changing and ever influenced by brokenness and darkness. I will choose a Father who comes to His kids on an ass over a king brought forth on the backs of others any day; I will choose a Savior who has the character to choose me first, even in my darkest moments, every day. I will follow a King who brings peace into every unrest - because He has done it before, and He will most certainly do it again, and again, and again, because He said He would.
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 . . .
We are instructed to rejoice and behold the Messiah coming to us on a donkey. So, then, let us rejoice.
Steph Duff wants to live in a world where every human, whether small or regular-sized, learns to use their voice and is seen and known. When she's not traveling and story telling with Back2Back Ministries, you'll likely find her drinking excessive cups of coffee, with her nose in a book, or daydreaming about India. Her favorite scripture is Habakkuk 1:5, and she prays for a world in which Jesus is the name on every lip. Learn a little more about her love for semi-colons, what stirs her blood, and the yearnings of her heart over at www.stephaniduff.wordpress.com.