More than 500 years before Jesus was born, the prophet Zechariah spoke of exactly how Christ would arrive as king, to Jerusalem and what his mode of transportation would be!
“Rejoice greatly, people of Jerusalem! Shout for joy, people of Jerusalem! Your king is coming to you. He does what is right, and he saves. He is gentle and riding on a donkey, on the colt of a donkey.” Zechariah 9:9
Every time I think of this, I am overwhelmed with God’s great planning and of his love for us.
Have you ever decided to arrive “fashionably late?” This is a window of fifteen minutes when you plan arrival at an event that is not too early and not too late. Many have turned this into an art wanting to give the impression that they are busy and popular.
One of the definitions of ARRIVE is “when something is brought to you or becomes available.” When Jesus arrived on the donkey, he wanted the people in Jerusalem to know he was available! Fast forward 500 years to the instructions given specifically by Jesus to his disciples in Matthew 21.
“As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet. . .”
The people of Jerusalem expected the arrival of their King with grandeur, pomp and majesty. But God held up on the majesty just a bit. Maybe he knew there would be some that were put off by a humble man; some that would not accept out of trust and pureness of heart. Maybe he was trying to build faith when the actual didn’t meet expectations. The unexpected will happen, but God has the plan.
We have all experienced triumphs in life. I can’t think of too many personal triumphs, but once in grade school I sold more cases of citrus fruit than any student in the school. I won a 10-speed bicycle. This shy girl had triumphed. What about the opposite of triumph? I would call it failure. Those I can remember even better than triumphs.
Now, let’s look into the future! I get even more overwhelmed when I read in Revelation 19:11-16 the vision shown to John of Jesus.
‘Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS
THIS is a description of a triumphal King that is coming for us!
Written by Kristi Amparan, Resurrection Pageant Director
