Zechariah 9

Scripture Reading:  Read Zechariah Chapter 9. 

Triumphal Exit:

Zechariah 9:9 – “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.” (NIV)

I’ll never forget all the Easter dramas I’ve seen growing up in a church. One of the scenes that always seems to make its way into the production is the scene of Jesus' triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. The account can be read in the different Gospels and was even predicted hundreds of years earlier by the prophet Zechariah. 

While the scene of Jesus' triumphal Entry into Jerusalem is often depicted as a joyous moment in His ministry, it is the beginning of His preparation for His ultimate sacrifice. His humility is not merely in riding on a donkey but in His profound obedience to God’s will, leading Him to the cross for the redemption of humanity. His victory over sin and death, a triumph not of political value as many expected but a surprising and awe-inspiring victory, is a true testament to His humility.  

Dr. J Vernon McGee offers some insight for us here: “We have seen that His entry was not meant to be a triumphal entry, but was it an entry at all?  No, actually He was making an exit not an entrance.  He was not arranging to take up residence in Jerusalem and reign as King.  He was not preparing for His reign; He was preparing for His passion, His suffering, His death, and His passing through the portals of death.”  (McGee, J. Vernon)

The triumphal exit of Jesus is not just a historical event but a profound message for our salvation.  We only enter a joyous, life-giving relationship with Jesus through faith in Him and death to our sins.  A personal connection with His crucifixion, a journey of humility, allows Him to produce victory and life within us.