The Conquering King on a Donkey

This past Sunday was Palm Sunday where we remember the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. The Bible says that the people spread their cloaks and tree branches on the road welcoming Jesus. They were also praising God with their loudest voice.

What made this entry more interesting was what Jesus was riding. Jesus came in on a donkey. What? In the eyes of the world that is foolish. A conquering king comes in on a white horse not a donkey.

Jesus riding in a donkey was the fulfillment of prophecy:

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey (Zechariah 9:9).

Riding in a donkey, Jesus showed humility. He was coming as a conquering King but not as one the nation of Israel though of. They were wanting a military leader to overthrow the Roman oppression. They thought their king was a hero. The Conquering King on a donkey was a hero and still is a hero. This Hero did what other man could do. He laid down His life in our place to take the wrath of God in our place for our sins.

This Conquering King died and three days rose for the dead which was God's seal of approval for the death of this King. One day, this King will return, not on a donkey, but on a white horse:

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:11-16).

As Christians, we look forward to the Day when our King returns on a white horse to make everything in the world right because He has already conquered it.