Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

 ¹⁴  Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it;  as it is written,

 ¹⁵  “FEAR NOT, DAUGHTER OF ZION;  BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SEATED ON A DONKEY’S COLT.”

 ¹⁶  These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him.”  John 12:12-16.

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Jesus quoted the prophecy about Himself in Zechariah 9:9.

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
         Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem!
         Behold, your king is coming to you;
         He is just and endowed with salvation,
         Humble, and mounted on a donkey,
         Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”  Zechariah 9:9.

It is important that this prophecy be fulfilled and be proven to be true.  It is also important that we understand Jesus’ attribute of humility by His use of a donkey to sit on it.  We will focus on this second point.

In America, we have little knowledge about kings, and we have even less knowledge of the fear that typically strikes the hearts of those confronted by the presence of a king.  But, infinitely beyond the power and penetrating wisdom of a king, here is Almighty God!  There is good reason that Jesus states:  “FEAR NOT, DAUGHTER OF ZION;  BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SEATED ON A DONKEY’S COLT.”

Kings took everything that they wanted.  But here is Jesus who is “just and endowed with salvation”.  In other words, Jesus is first of all “just”;  Unlike typical kings, Jesus would not steal or enslave.  But, second of all, when Zechariah states that he is “endowed with salvation”, Zechariah prophesied that Jesus would come bringing and giving gifts of salvation.  And even those kings who would give gifts, those kings often stole those gifts from some to give to others.  Kings would not bow down to pick up anything.  But, here is Jesus Who bowed down to come to earth to pay for those gifts of salvation by His own blood.  “Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”  Philippians 2:8

Matthew 11:29 ties it together:
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.”

Isaiah 42:3
“A bruised reed He will not break And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish;  He will faithfully bring forth justice.”

We rejoice greatly and shout in triumph!