Zechariah
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9:9
Let’s go back 500 years before the time of Zechariah. King David had expanded Israel’s military might. He had conquered the neighboring countries and made God’s people a world power. But what was the reality of the situation in Zechariah’s day? Israel was ruled by the Babylonians and then the Medes and Persians. There was no king from David’s descendants. Their leader was a puppet governor.
How did the people of Zechariah’s day understand his promise of a coming king? I think that they were looking for God’s salvation in the form of an earthly king like David or Solomon. They looked for their salvation in the reestablishment of David’s earthly kingdom. During the next 500 years, these longings grew more intense. Fast forward to the days when Herod, an Edomite, was the puppet king of the Romans and Pontius Pilate was governor. As the Passover grew near, a ragged Rabbi named Jesus led a procession of followers riding on a donkey. Matthew tells us that, “This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: Tell the daughter of Zion: Look, your King comes to you, humble, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” The people shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” Five days later, the mob shouted, “Crucify him.”
What kind of a king are you looking for? Zechariah, the Prophet of the Passion, tells you today, “Rejoice greatly! Look! Your King is coming to you. He is righteous and brings salvation!” Jesus came and established an everlasting kingdom as prophesied by Zechariah. He is your Savior-King.
Ride on, ride on, in majesty!
In lowly pomp ride on to die.
Bow Thy meek head to mortal pain,
Then take, O Christ, Thy power and reign.
The Lutheran Hymnal 162:5