Day 35: On A Donkey
“Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ “
Matthew 21:5
Lent is a time when we deliberately deny ourselves other pleasures and more consciously wait in hope for the coming king. It’s an echo of this verse in that finally, after a long and painful wait, God’s people, symbolised here as the daughter of Zion (Zion being Jerusalem, the city of God), would receive her true king – Jesus, the Christ.
What is this king like?
Though this king is infinitely glorious, he is gentle and humble of heart (Matthew 11:29). He comes not on horseback with displays of might and glory, but on a donkey, a symbol of work and service. This king delights to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.
Though this king is the Lion from the tribe of Judah, (Genesis 49:8-11), he enters Jerusalem as the Passover Lamb. Just as the Jews were commanded in Exodus 12:3-6 to take in their sacrificial lambs four days before the Passover festival, so Jesus, the true Passover lamb, is taken into Jerusalem, the house of Judah, four days before Passover, four days before he is sacrificed for the life of the world.
And although one day this king will ride out victoriously from the heavenly Jerusalem to judge the world in righteousness and justice (Revelation 19:11-16), for now he comes with a judgement of mercy and compassion on all.
Behold the saviour, Jesus Christ. He comes to you today gloriously humble, mightily self-sacrificial and righteously merciful. As you go about today, what does this king inspire in you?
Richard Walker