December 26
Zech 9:1-17 | PS 145:1-21 | Prov 30:32 | Rev 17:1-18
Probably one of the best-known prophecies surrounding Jesus' first coming is seen here in Zechariah 9:9, "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey." Five hundred years later when Jesus entered Jerusalem in triumph, being declared their Messiah openly on that Palm Sunday (Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-44, John 12:12-19), this Scripture was fulfilled even down to the fact that He rode in on "a colt, the foal of a donkey". Many wonder why Jesus entered on a donkey, rather than a war horse. Realize leaders would ride horses when entering for war, but if coming in peace, they would ride a donkey (King Solomon in 1 Kings 1:33). The people understood what was happening, as they quoted Psalm 118:36, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" The people knew it but would soon turn their backs on Him. The rulers understood what was happening as we read in Luke 19:39, "And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." Sadly, the leaders recognized then, they even recognized all the way back to the birth of Jesus, when they correctly quoted Micah 5:2, as to the Messiah being born in Bethlehem. Their King was in their midst, yet they were blinded to Him, filled with their own pre-conceived ideas of what He should look and be like.
This same Jesus will one day soon ride again. This time He will be on a warhorse, as we read in Revelation 19:11-13, "Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God." Where we are at this time will depend upon what we decided about this same King who came on a donkey. If we made a decision to accept our Messiah, and surrender our lives to Him, then we will be seen in 19:14, "And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses." Those who have accepted are already victorious in Christ. But sadly, most will reject, this humble King who came "just and having salvation", as we see them assembled before Him in Revelation 17:13-14, "These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”
We must stop this mindset of feigning neutrality. It simply is not possible. Accepting Jesus means you make a choice. Rejecting Jesus means you also made a choice. You are either aligned with Jesus or Satan, for we really are in the midst of an unseen spiritual battle, as depicted in Ephesians 6:12, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." Pushing off making a decision means for the time being you have chosen to be in the enemy’s camp. Prophecy shows us that God's word is always fulfilled. Some, like Zechariah 9:9, have already been fulfilled. Every prophecy looking into the future will also be fulfilled just as precisely. So, please ask yourself where you will be at the time of Jesus' second coming: on horseback following your King or standing before Him receiving the consequences of rejecting your King. Either way, He is indeed the only Rightful King of Kings.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: