1 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.” (Matthew 21:1-11)
This passage talks about the Lord Jesus went to Jerusalem on a donkey. This fulfilled the following prophecy of the Old Testament by prophet Zechariah.
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.(Zechariah 9:9)
This prophecy predicted that the Lord Jesus would enter Jerusalem humbly, riding on a donkey, that is, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. The colt here is a young male donkey up to four years old, and the foal of a donkey is a young male or female donkey up to one year old. The Lord Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords, did not ride on a fine horse into Jerusalem, but rode on a donkey. What does this show? It shows his meekness and humility.
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:28-29)
The Lord Jesus wants us to follow him, walk with him, and learn his meekness and humility.
The Lord Jesus was not born in a palace, but in a manger, a humble environment with animal feed and a floor of dung. John the Baptist should have been baptized by the Lord Jesus, but the Lord Jesus went to John the Baptist to be baptized.
6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:6-8)
The Lord Jesus is the Son of God, being in very nature God. In order to redeem mankind, He humbled Himself and obeyed to the point of death, even death on the cross.
Let us learn from the example of the Lord Jesus and learn from His gentle and humble heart.
May God bless you and your family!
