Matthew 21:5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy king cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt, the foal of an ass. John 12:15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: Behold, thy king cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.
On Palm Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and on the the clothes and branches and praises of the people. Both Matthew and John quote Zechariah’s promise as being fulfilled by this Event: “Your king is coming to you.” According to God’s promise, your King has come into your world, your earth, your history, your city, your heart, your life. According to God’s promise, your King is continually and habitually coming into your life during your lifetime, bringing the gospel of life, forgiving sins, and hearing prayers. According to God’s promise, your King will come again one day for the Final Battle and the Judgment Day.
The king is coming to take over our life. But is it good news or bad news that the king is coming? Is He coming to take over for good or for ill? Is He coming for mercy or judgment? If you see God as good, kind, loving, gracious, and merciful, then the promise that He is coming to take over your life is a good thing. He is coming to fix up the mess you made of your life. If you see God as angry, mean, vindictive, threatening, and judgmental, then the promise is a bad thing.
We know how He came: He came meek, lowly, gentle, humble, and riding on a donkey. He came for blessing and salvation through loving, humble service. This is also how He comes into our daily lives: He comes with grace, mercy, peace, love forgiveness, life, and answers to prayer. But when He comes again at the Last Day He will come on a great white stallion leading the armies of God against all Evil, and Sin, and Death, and Satan, and False Prophet, and Antichrist, and utterly destroy them forever. [Revelation 19]. This coming is also for our good, eternal blessing. We look at the cross, and we know how the King is coming for us.