by Zach Roll

The triumphal entry of Jesus.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“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 English Standard Version

These words were written around a half century before Christ’s life on earth. What exciting words these must have been for their readers. Our king is finally coming! With him comes the salvation that we have longed for all our lives!

In their lifetime, however, the ultimate fulfillment of this prophecy did not occur. I wonder how generation after generation of the people of Israel felt? I wonder what their thinking was when they heard all these prophesies of a coming Messiah…a Savior?

Generation after generation heard that the Messiah had yet to come. Some remained faithful, some lost hope, but then we see what happens when Jesus rides into Jerusalem.

“The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’ And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, ‘Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!'”
John 12:12-15 English Standard Version

I can imagine how spectacular that scene was. Their king surely had arrived! Soon he would hang on a cross, and he would die. Some people again lost hope…but, He is alive! Generation after generation waited for the Messiah, he came and accomplished His work. Now generation after generation eagerly awaits the return of the Messiah.

Do not lose hope. He is coming back.

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people… waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ”
Titus 2:11 and 13 English Standard Version

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, CO