FBC Morning Light (12/23/2023)

Good Saturday morning, people of faith. I'm going to read for you Zechariah chapter 9 and verse 9, and I think right away you're going to see what this is about. 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. Very clearly, this is talking about the triumphal entry of our Lord Jesus Christ, and when I read this verse, I expected this verse to be quoted in all four Gospels.

Zechariah 9:9 and the Triumphal Entry in the Gospels

However, it is not. It is only quoted in the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of John. Let me read to you from the Gospel of Matthew, and I think we'll see why this was used in the Gospel of Matthew. It says in the Gospel of Matthew, starting in, let's go ahead and start in verse 2, saying to them, this is Jesus, go into the village opposite you and immediately you will find a donkey tied and a colt with her.

Loose them and bring them to me, and if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, the Lord has need of them, and immediately he will send them. All this was done that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the prophets, saying, tell the daughter of Zion, behold, your King is coming to you, lowly and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Matthew’s Gospel and Messianic Fulfillment

Matthew's purpose in writing the book of Matthew was to show the Jewish people that Jesus is the Messiah, and by showing that he was fulfilling the prophecy found in Zechariah chapter 9 and verse 9, he was fulfilling that purpose.

So, it makes perfect sense for Matthew to quote Zechariah chapter 9 and verse 9. The next place that this verse is quoted is in John chapter 12, and it is for the triumphal entry again, but the triumphal entry in John has a surprising situation, a surprising context to it, and I'm going to try and give you that surprising context.

It says here, now a great many of the Jews knew that he, that Jesus, was there, and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him, many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.

This is from John chapter 12, and so we're getting some of the context about the triumphal entry here. This is right after Jesus has raised Lazarus from the dead, and so there's all sorts of people that are coming to see Jesus and to see Lazarus, and the chief priests are plotting and scheming all the while, and so then it continues in John chapter 12, down in verse 14.

John 12 and the Raising of Lazarus

Then Jesus, when he had found a young donkey, sat on it as it is written, Fear not, daughter of Zion, behold your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt. His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about him, and that they had done these things to him.

And then finally, verses 17 through 19, Therefore the people who were with him, when he called Lazarus out of his tomb, and raised him from the dead, bore witness. For this reason the people also met him, because they heard that he had done this sign, what sign?

That he, the triumphal entry, was a sign of fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, you see that you are accomplishing nothing, look the world has gone after him.

I was just taken aback by the context of the triumphal entry in John, as I read through this, and to see the scheming, and the plotting, and the evil hearts of the Pharisees here. How they were so concerned about their power, about their maintaining control, that they would not open their eyes to the amazing miracles that God was performing in their midst, and the fulfilling of scripture that was happening in their midst.

Not Missing What God Is Doing

And lest we be like any of the Pharisees, that we not recognize what God is doing through his word in people's lives, and convicting through the Holy Spirit, and let us not neglect to understand that God is at work even in our day in bringing people to himself as he was during the time of the triumphal entry.

Let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for your word. Thank you that you fulfill your promises. Let us be a people that responds to what you are doing, that you are alive and at work through your word, through the power of your Holy Spirit, and convicting the world of sin, and righteousness, and judgment.

May you be glorified in us and through us this day. It's in your son's name, Jesus, we pray. Amen. Have an excellent day, people of faith.