The Week That Changed The World Devotional March 25
by David Joynt on March 25, 2024
Stress Test Devotional April 27
April 27, 2024
ZECHARIAH 9:9 | 9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
The donkey verses are highlighted for a second reason. Jesus used the donkey as a deliberate symbol, a way to counter the prevailing nationalist view of a warrior Messiah. Conquerors rode war horses in Roman triumphs after their victories in battle. Jewish patriots remembered the victory over Pharoh at the Red Sea, dreaming at Passover of a new leader who would defeat Israel enemies and bring political liberation. One temptation for Jesus in the desert, and at several points in His ministry, including this one, was to leverage His popularity to engineer a violent rebellion, becoming a political figure who would lead Israel against the Roman oppressor. Zechariah envisioned a peaceful king, humble and riding on a young donkey. Jesus was countering expectations.
Are you ever tempted to use power coercively?
Gracious God,
You are the most powerful being imaginable. Yet in the person of Jesus, You were humble and never coercive. Help me use my power in healthy ways.
Amen.
