"A King on a Donkey" (Zechariah 9:1-17)

"A King on a Donkey" (Zechariah 9)
Pastor Cameron Jungels
Eastside Baptist Church
Palm Sunday, April 5, 2020

Matthew 21:1–11 (NIV)

21 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, ² saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. ³ If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

⁴ This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

⁵ “Say to Daughter Zion,

‘See, your king comes to you,

gentle and riding on a donkey,

and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ” 

⁶ The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. ⁷ They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. ⁸ A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. ⁹ The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna to the Son of David!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” 

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

¹⁰ When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

¹¹ The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

1. The LORD will triumph in victory over the enemies of his people (Zechariah 9:1-8).

Zechariah 9:1–8 (NIV)

9 A prophecy:

The word of the Lord is against the land of Hadrak

and will come to rest on Damascus—

for the eyes of all people and all the tribes of Israel

are on the Lord—

² and on Hamath too, which borders on it,

and on Tyre and Sidon, though they are very skillful.

³ Tyre has built herself a stronghold;

she has heaped up silver like dust,

and gold like the dirt of the streets.

⁴ But the Lord will take away her possessions

and destroy her power on the sea,

and she will be consumed by fire.

⁵ Ashkelon will see it and fear;

Gaza will writhe in agony,

and Ekron too, for her hope will wither.

Gaza will lose her king

and Ashkelon will be deserted.

⁶ A mongrel people will occupy Ashdod,

and I will put an end to the pride of the Philistines.

⁷ I will take the blood from their mouths,

the forbidden food from between their teeth.

Those who are left will belong to our God

and become a clan in Judah,

and Ekron will be like the Jebusites.

⁸ But I will encamp at my temple

to guard it against marauding forces.

Never again will an oppressor overrun my people,

for now I am keeping watch.

a. The LORD will defeat his foes (vv. 1-6).

b. The LORD will deliver a remnant (v. 7).

Zechariah 9:7 NIV
⁷ I will take the blood from their mouths, the forbidden food from between their teeth. Those who are left will belong to our God and become a clan in Judah, and Ekron will be like the Jebusites.

c. The LORD will defend his people (v. 8).

Zechariah 9:8 NIV
⁸ But I will encamp at my temple to guard it against marauding forces. Never again will an oppressor overrun my people, for now I am keeping watch.

2. The LORD will install his Messianic King in Jerusalem (Zechariah 9:9-10).

Zechariah 9:9–10 NIV
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. ¹⁰ I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the warhorses 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.

3. The LORD will renew and restore his covenant people (Zechariah 9:11-17).

Zechariah 9:11–17 (NIV)

¹¹ As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you,

I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit.

¹² Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope;

even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.

¹³ I will bend Judah as I bend my bow

and fill it with Ephraim.

I will rouse your sons, Zion,

against your sons, Greece,

and make you like a warrior’s sword.

¹⁴ Then the Lord will appear over them;

his arrow will flash like lightning.

The Sovereign Lord will sound the trumpet;

he will march in the storms of the south,

¹⁵ and the Lord Almighty will shield them.

They will destroy

and overcome with slingstones.

They will drink and roar as with wine;

they will be full like a bowl

used for sprinkling the corners of the altar.

¹⁶ The Lord their God will save his people on that day

as a shepherd saves his flock.

They will sparkle in his land

like jewels in a crown.

¹⁷ How attractive and beautiful they will be!

Grain will make the young men thrive,

and new wine the young women.

Matthew 21:1–9 (NIV)

21 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, ² saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. ³ If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

⁴ This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

⁵ “Say to Daughter Zion,

‘See, your king comes to you,

gentle and riding on a donkey,

and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ” 

⁶ The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. ⁷ They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. ⁸ A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. ⁹ The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna to the Son of David!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” 

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

Main Idea: The Triumphal Entry of Christ into Jerusalem marks the dawn of the age of the Messianic King, which will ultimately culminate in the Lord's complete victory and the restoration of his people.