It was now time for Jesus to return to Jerusalem, but this time, He returned riding on a colt. Jesus had to fulfill what the prophet Zechariah prophecied regarding Him, "Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey" (Zechariah 9:9). In addition to the prophet Zechariah's prophecy, the prophet Daniel also prophecied the time when the King would enter Jerusalem (Daniel 9:24-26). And because of these two prophecies, people anticipated this important event to welcome their King. However, no one knew that it would be Jesus.
Jesus instructed two of His disciples to get the colt in the village, and when they got it, Jesus rode the colt down into Jerusalem. While He was on the colt, the people were spreading their garments on the road, waving leafy branches they had cut from the field, and singing, "Hosanna! (Save now) Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD; Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David; Hosanna in the highest!" (Mark 11:9-10). It was a very festive day for the Jewish people, but they didn't realize that it would be Jesus who was coming as their King. Jesus entered the temple, and afterward, He and the disciples went to Bethany, for it was already late. (Mark 11:1-11).
When Jesus arrived in Jerusalem as the King, He used a donkey which symbolizes that He did not come to conquer but to serve. Normally, when the king arrives in his kingdom, he rides on the most powerful horse, which symbolizes prestige and power. But not so with Jesus. He arrived with a colt, which was used for forced labor. Colt was used by the servants to carry things and plow fields. Jesus, who created the heavens and the earth and everything in it, could have come with the most powerful horse in the world, but He chose a colt so that we could understand that He came to serve and die for us.
Ask yourself these questions: Why did Jesus ride on a colt and not a horse to enter Jerusalem? Do I believe that Jesus came to serve and die for my sin? How should I live knowing that Jesus came to serve and die on my behalf?
Write down all the worries you are facing today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, thank you for sending Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Thank you, Jesus, for coming to serve and die for my sin. You could have come with a beautiful and powerful horse, but you chose to ride on a colt to show that you came to serve and save me. I am forever grateful for what you have done in my life. Thank you for loving me. In your name Jesus, I pray. Amen.