Friday 9th August
Read John 12:14-15
“Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written:
15 ‘Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;
see, your king is coming,
seated on a donkey’s colt.’” (NIVUK)
It is instructive to read the context of passages cited by New Testament authors as often the chosen excerpts are designed as marker flags of prophetic fulfilment, the riches often found in the wider context. Zechariah 9, cited here by John, and by the other gospel authors, is perhaps no exception.
“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
10 I will take away the chariots from Ephraim
and the war-horses from Jerusalem,
and the battle-bow will be broken.
He will proclaim peace to the nations.
His rule will extend from sea to sea
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
11 As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you,
I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit.” (Zechariah 9:9-11) (NIVUK)
The gentle, humble King foreseen by Zechariah is associated with peace. The instruments of war will be worthless, yet peace will flow from his words and extend throughout the earth. The gentle, humble king will release those held captive through the blood of the covenant. A truth more poignant as the gentle, humble king enters Jerusalem before Passover. Even Jesus’ entry looks forward to the cross.
