Triumphal Entry or Precursor to Agony?
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of
Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is
just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A
colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9:9 NKJV
About 500 years before Christ was born, when the Israelites returned to Israel from the captivity of Persia, Zechariah was the Lord’s prophet to His people Israel. This prophecy was fullfilled when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the donkey. We call it the “triumphal entry.” However, Jesus was not fooled at all. He was fully aware that this was not a triumph, but a precursor to agony.
The ride into Jerusalem gave the Israelites the opportunity to proclaim Jesus as their king and messiah! God does this sort of thing all the time. He allows us the opportunity to do right. When we do not, as He knows our nature and what we will choose, He then makes provision for the fallout of our actions. Even so, as He rode into Jerusalem on the donkey and all the people were shouting hosanna, Jesus knew that they would shortly raise their voices in opposition to Him calling for His death by crucifixion.
Jesus knew this ahead of time. He went anyway. He knew they would crucify Him. He went anyway. He knew that He was going to suffer untold agony for our sins on the cross instead of being installed as the Messiah and King. He went anyway.
Why? Because He loves you and me! If you have not received Him as your Savior and Lord, do so TODAY!