“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zechariah 9:9)

The time for Passover was nearing. Word had come that Jesus would be there. Jesus had arrived at Bethany and was in the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. The people were excited that Jesus was coming. He sent two of His disciples into town where they would find a donkey which they were to bring to Jesus. As He rode into town the people declared. “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” (Matthew 21:9)

God has promised David his kingdom would last forever. “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.” (2 Samuel 7:16) A Son of David would be the King forever. He would be the promised Messiah. It was the prophecy of Zechariah, which would give one action in order to show the people who that Messiah would be. He prophesied, “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zechariah 9:9)

While the prophecy pointed to an event, it also expressed the character of the Messiah. He says the coming king would be righteous. Jesus lived without committing a sin. He was righteous. John called Him, “Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” (1 John 2:1) It was His righteousness which made it possible for us to be forgiven and through Him become righteous. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

The coming king would also be victorious. Jesus came to gain for us victory over sin and death. This was accomplished as Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead. This would cause Paul to declare, “’Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)

The coming king would also be humble. Most kings are not humble. Yet the king promised in Zechariah’s prophecy shows his humility as he would ride on a donkey. In the battle described in the Revelation, Jesus is called “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:16) This King humbled Himself to become a man, that He may win victory over sin and death. To become one of us, He humbled Himself. Paul describes Jesus, “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:6-8)

When we understand who Jesus is and what He has done, we can join with Zechariah and those on Palm Sunday and rejoice! “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4) Walking with the Living Word of God, we live with the King who is righteous, victorious, and humble. He has come to us that we may live with Him for all eternity!

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block