Riding on a Donkey
Zechariah 9
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| I pray blessings on you as you read. |
(v. 9) "Rejoice with all your heart, people of Zion! Shout in triumph, people of Jerusalem! Look! your King is coming to you: He is righteous and victorious. He is humble and rids on a donkey, on a colt, a young pack animal."
My Thoughts
This is a prophecy spoken by the prophet Zechariah about Jesus. It was specific that Jesus would be riding on a donkey. Why did that matter though? Couldn't anyone ride on a donkey? Well, they could yes, but unless they were a king, it wouldn't matter.
For a king to enter a city riding on a donkey meant the he was entering in peace and with the intention of peace. When a king rode a horse, he was going to war. It would not have been a very good feeling for the residents of a city if a king came riding in on a horse. They would have been frightened.
Jesus did fulfill this prophecy, like every other, but I want to focus on Zechariah's passage since that's where this comes from. Since this is before Jesus was even born yet, and it was I think hundreds of years before, that probably meant that the culture would have changed by the time Jesus was physically around. I don't know one hundred percent if that symbolism of riding a donkey meant the same thing in Jesus time as it did when Zechariah spoke.
So how do we apply what is written here in Zechariah to our own lives? We already know that Jesus is peaceful, so what more does this mean for us? Well, we can do the same thing. Be peaceful. Show people that we are not out to win arguments or be the best Christian or to convert as many people as we possibly can. Because we should not be doing those things.
I will probably say these same things when I get around to the part where we read about Jesus actually fulfilling this prophecy, but that may be a long time off, so it'll be a refresher. Anyway, that aside. What we should be focusing on is sharing the love Jesus has for us and for this world and making that known. Teaching is fine, and in fact good. Trying to be your best is also good. Just don't do these things without your heart being in the right place.
If someone has their information wrong about Jesus, by all means, correct them. Lovingly. Don't argue, but correct them. It may even open a door to talk more. Always try to be your best, stay far away from sin and do what is good and right. Do so because you want to and because you love God. Do not do so because you have to or for hopes of getting something out of it. Don't focus on converting people or changing their beliefs, but rather on relationships with them and loving them and sharing God's love. That way if they change, it is their own choice and not yours.
For a king to enter a city riding on a donkey meant the he was entering in peace and with the intention of peace. When a king rode a horse, he was going to war. It would not have been a very good feeling for the residents of a city if a king came riding in on a horse. They would have been frightened.
Jesus did fulfill this prophecy, like every other, but I want to focus on Zechariah's passage since that's where this comes from. Since this is before Jesus was even born yet, and it was I think hundreds of years before, that probably meant that the culture would have changed by the time Jesus was physically around. I don't know one hundred percent if that symbolism of riding a donkey meant the same thing in Jesus time as it did when Zechariah spoke.
So how do we apply what is written here in Zechariah to our own lives? We already know that Jesus is peaceful, so what more does this mean for us? Well, we can do the same thing. Be peaceful. Show people that we are not out to win arguments or be the best Christian or to convert as many people as we possibly can. Because we should not be doing those things.
I will probably say these same things when I get around to the part where we read about Jesus actually fulfilling this prophecy, but that may be a long time off, so it'll be a refresher. Anyway, that aside. What we should be focusing on is sharing the love Jesus has for us and for this world and making that known. Teaching is fine, and in fact good. Trying to be your best is also good. Just don't do these things without your heart being in the right place.
If someone has their information wrong about Jesus, by all means, correct them. Lovingly. Don't argue, but correct them. It may even open a door to talk more. Always try to be your best, stay far away from sin and do what is good and right. Do so because you want to and because you love God. Do not do so because you have to or for hopes of getting something out of it. Don't focus on converting people or changing their beliefs, but rather on relationships with them and loving them and sharing God's love. That way if they change, it is their own choice and not yours.
Prayer Time
Now you talk to God about what you read, and you can even read this chapter of the Bible for yourself before you do.
Let me know your thoughts on this reading as well.
Thank you for taking the time to read, I pray that what you have read blesses and inspires you! Godbless!
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