BEHOLD YOUR KING COMETH! (ZECHARIAH 9:9)

Dear Members in Christ,

Behold your king cometh! (Zechariah 9:9) 

As we enter into the month of April, this month will see several days of significance which are celebrated and observed as holy days by churches throughout the centuries. As a reformed church, we observe services on Good Friday, and Resurrection Sunday. The biblical timeline for this very important week centers around the crucifixion, the burial and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The week culminating in the death and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus begins with the triumphal entry of the King of kings into the city of Jerusalem. It was an entry which was so significant that it is recorded in all four gospels (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:9-12; Luke 19:30-38 and John 12:12-15). Why does this event merit this much attention in the Scriptures? The reason is that it is a fulfilment of God’s promise to His people concerning the coming of the Messiah. This is the Word of God given through the ministry of the prophet Zechariah when he prophesied,

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.” Zechariah 9:9

The prophet Zechariah ministered to a people who were beaten and down trodden. His message was that of the restoration of their beloved city, and God’s judgement for the enemies of His people. In the midst of the message of hope and restoration, Zechariah foretold of the coming of the Messiah. He gave them a clear picture of the triumphal entry of the Messiah into the city of Jerusalem. No doubt, such a message would bring much joy and hope to an audience who would know about the persecution during the captivity. But what is it to us? The triumphal entry of the Lord Jesus into Jerusalem speaks to us of the faithfulness of God and the virtue of our Saviour.

A. The faithfulness of God’s Word

In an era ruled by the Great Roman Empire, everyone in those days were quite familiar with the ostentatious show of authority and power. Roman governors rode about in war horses, decked with all kinds of accoutrements and finery. But, when the Lord Jesus was preparing to enter the city of Jerusalem, the animal of choice was a lowly ass. The Lord Jesus had instructed His disciples:  

“Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.” Matthew 21:2,3

The Gospel of Matthew records the particular choice as a fulfilment of the prophecy of Zechariah, citing the passage from the book of Zechariah the minor prophet. “All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them.” (Matthew 21:4-6).

Dearly beloved, the entry of a king into His domain is a highly lauded event. As Zechariah said, “O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee.” God’s Word gave due attention to this event, especially because it also shows God’s faithfulness in sending the Messiah, the Saviour of the world. Let us thank God for His grace in sending His Son as our Saviour to save us from our sins. Let His praise be always on our minds and lips, for God is ever faithful.

B. The humility of the Son of God, the King of kings

What is an ass? It is an animal of the equine family, a group of animals which includes horses, zebras and donkeys. In the language of the gospel, the word for an ass is “onos” which means a donkey. It is a beast of burden, much smaller in stature and of much less grandeur than the war horses used by the Roman overlords. But still, the Lord Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem was celebrated by the people.

“And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. … And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.” Matthew 21:7 & 9

This meek and humble entry was especially noted in Matthew’s Gospel which reads, “Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.” (Matthew 21:5). An echo of Zechariah’s prophecy which said of the Kingly Messiah that, “he is just, and having salvation, lowly, and riding upon an ass” (Zechariah 9:9).

In this month, as we remember the death and the Resurrection of Christ, we are reminded by Scripture of the humility and meekness of Lord Jesus our Saviour. And in recounting the Lord’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, we see the virtue of our Lord and Saviour, His lowliness and meekness. Let us pray that we will prepare for His return as the King of kings and Lord of lords. May our lives bring glory to God. Amen.

In His Service,
Rev. Lim Seh Beng, Pastor