Triumphal Entry (1)
As far as the Jews were concerned Jesus was an "unexpected" Messiah. They were longing for a political figure who would chase the Romans into the sea and establish an earthly throne in Jerusalem and set up a kingdom that the likes of David would only have dreamed about.Then Jesus came and established a heavenly kingdom: a kingdom that Jesus told Pilate was "not of this world" (Jn18:36). Many expectations were disappointed! Some commentators have even suggested that Judas betrayed Jesus to try to force Him to show His power and reveal His majesty.
But the idea of Jesus being a different kind of Messiah is not completely unexpected... There are Old Testament prophecies that portray this aspect of Jesus coming: Isaiah portrays the Messiah as a suffering servant, bruised and broken for our iniquities. The Psalms portray a Messiah who suffers and rises from the dead. And in Zechariah we have another example of an unexpected Messiah...
What animal would one expect a coming Messiah to ride? We'd imagine great white stallion - a symbol of power, strength, and war. So one can imagine the very different message that is conveyed by riding a donkey's foal!!
The foal of the donkey is the mode of transport for the elderly or children. It would be the mount chosen by a soothsaying prophet or a wise hermit. It was also the chosen mount of a victorious king. He would ride it into the city he had conquered. The message was clear: "The fight is over - I am victorious!"
Riding a donkey was not the declaration of war. It was a statement of the certainty of peace. Palm Sunday was a week before Passover, Jerusalem was full of pilgrims, they were remembering the miraculous Exodus from Egypt and nationalistic fervour ran high... But Jesus chose a specific mode of transport on Palm Sunday as He entered Jerusalem. He was sending a crystal clear message on that day: His kingdom was not an earthly kingdom. He was not willing to go to military war to obtain peace. He came not as a Military General but as a Sacrificial Hero and He would obtain salvation by giving Himself. And in His mind the outcome and victory was certain!
This prophecy of Zechariah, made some 500 before Jesus' coming, makes it clear the Jesus was not unexpected but misunderstood. It was always His plan to bring us peace.
| Rejoice greatly O Daughter of Zion! Shout, daughter of Jerusalem! See, Your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah9:9) |
