The King Comes to Save
Zechariah 9:9-12
Thursday— December 1st
No one traveled quite like a king. Chariots, armed guards, and horses all accompanied the king when he traveled. The king would even ride on the horse to signal to everyone his power and importance. But not the king to whom Zechariah pointed. When the people looked forward to this king’ s arrival, they should do it looking for a king on a donkey. They would be looking for a humble king.
Humility rarely impresses. The power position, parades of followers on social media, glamour, fame. These impress us. However, humility doesn’ t necessarily mean a lack of power. It just means that power isn’ t on display. Humility doesn’ t mean a lack of care for oneself. It means considering others more important. Humility doesn’ t flaunt success or status. Humility willingly takes the lower position. Because of this, humility isn’ t always attractive to us. Shamefully, the humble and weak are often ignored by us.
Humility would be the sign that the promised King had arrived. The people were to rejoice when they saw the humble coming king. He would come to observe human history, not from above, but by actually getting into it. He would come fully righteous, perfect before, God. He wouldn’ t wait for people to come to him. He would restore his people to a right relationship with their God.
On Palm Sunday, the king came into Jerusalem. Zechariah is talking about that event. But his words can just as well apply to the arrival of the king to this world. Jesus entered human history. Jesus came perfect and righteous. He didn’ t wait for you to come to him. In love Jesus came to you. He restored you to God. When Jesus arrived in Bethlehem he already was the kind, humble yet victorious King. He was weak, yet completely strong. Jesus arrived bringing peace between you and God, peace because Jesus, the king, came to save.
PRAYER:
King Jesus, prepare our hearts to once again receive you as king even as you come as a little baby. Give us faith to trust that, although you looked humble, weak, and dependent on others, you were in fact the victorious king. We praise you for your humility and the peace that comes because of you. Amen.
ACTIVITY:
Consider the peace you have with God. Make a list of friends and family members who don’ t know that peace like you do. What could you do to share with them how that peace makes you feel?
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