“Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout, daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King comes to you! He is righteous, and having salvation; lowly, and riding on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
Conquering kings rode horses. A war horse was the tank of the ancient world, and a king coming home victorious rode one through the gate so everyone understood exactly who had won.
Zechariah says the king is coming on a donkey.
It would have sounded almost like a joke. And centuries later Jesus deliberately did it, rode into Jerusalem on a borrowed colt while people waved branches, and anyone who knew this verse understood he was making a claim. He was saying, I am that king, and I am the kind of king that verse describes.
The words are righteous, having salvation, and lowly. Strong enough to save, gentle enough to approach. Most of us have never met that combination in a person with power. Usually strength comes with a hard edge, and gentleness comes from people who cannot do much for you.
That matters for how you come to him. If you have been keeping God at arm's length until you get yourself sorted out, you have the wrong picture in your head. You are bracing for the war horse. He came on a donkey.
It also sets the standard for anyone who has any authority at all, and most of us have some. Parent, boss, teacher, older sibling, the loudest voice in the house. The question is not whether you have power. It is what kind of king you are with it.
Talk About It Together
Be willing to hear something a little uncomfortable here.
- Do you picture God as approachable or as someone you have to brace for?
- Where do you hold some authority, and are you gentle with it?
- What keeps you from coming to God as you actually are?
Tonight’s Challenge
Apologize to someone you were sharp with, or go gentle in the one place you usually push hard.
Prayer
Jesus, You are strong enough to save us and gentle enough that we can come close. Forgive us for expecting a harshness in You that is not there. Where we hold power over others, make us gentle with it. Thank You for a King who came low to reach us. Amen.