LEARNING DAILY

Zechariah 9:9, “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.

Pastor Ed Newton said this prophecy was fulfilled on the tenth day of the month of Nissan, when Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley and entered Jerusalem. He mentioned that this tenth day of the month of Nissan was the same day Joshua entered into the Promised land. Interesting! “This day was not an accidental event; it was a day planned by God several hundred years before it took place. It was seen in God’s omniscience as Jesus knew where the colt was. He had already seen this” (EN). He continued, “Jesus was 100% man and 100% God. He had to fulfill every prophecy about Him. If He fails to fulfill one prophecy, He is not Lord.”

Pastor described how the colt had never been ridden before, never been trained for a rider. Yet God’s creation submits to Jesus, the donkey submits and obeys Him. Kings ride war horses riding back into their kingdoms in triumph; Jesus rode a donkey, a burden-bearer. “The one who would bear our burdens to the cross, rode a burden-bearer into the city of Jerusalem” (EN).

The tenth day of the month of Nissan was a day when lambs were being selected to be slain during Passover (EN). The shepherds were taking their sheep into Jerusalen to be selected through the gate known as the Sheep Gate. When Jesus came the people were lined up laying down palm branches and shouting “Hosanna! Hosannah!” Pastor said that the people wanted Him to enter Jerusalem through the Eastern Gate known as the Victor’s Gate – that was what they expected as they were looking for a Messiah who would deliver them from the power of the Roman Empire. He did not meet their expectation as He did not come to deliver the people from the Roman empire but to deliver them from their sins. Instead of the Eastern Gate He entered through the Sheep Gate with the shepherds and their sheep. “These same people who were shouting ‘Hosanna’ on this day would be shouting ‘Crucify Him’ later in the week because of failed expectations” (EN).

The question Pastor brought up relates to the vision of Jesus that people have today. “When we have a vision of Jesus that does not meet our expectations – doing what we want and when – what will you do? The world will never satisfy you!”

The religious leaders demanded that Jesus make those shouting ‘Hosanna’ be quiet. “The Pharisees were the ones who studied and knew Scriptures in that day. Yet, in the presence of Jesus they did not know Him. He always got tangled up with religious people. Opposition always comes from religious people [those with no relationship to Jesus]” (EN). Jesus answered them by saying, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out” (Luke 19:40). Jesus was saying if people will not praise Me, creation will. “Why did He specify rocks? It was because they were used as monuments, memorials, and pillars” (EN). Pastor concluded with Matthew 28:2, “And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.” “Because the stone speaks: nothing can hold Jesus back. He is the forgiveness giver. Nothing is impossible with God. His grace and mercy is for all people. O death where is your sting? There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. If you confess your sins, He is faithful and just to forgive your sins. Because the tomb is empty your life does not need to be empty” (EN).

The closing statement for this message is one to consider. “The people wanted a crown, but Jesus chose a cross.” Jesus knew exactly what was going to take place in the week ahead.