THY KING COMETH
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.” Zechariah 9:9
Israel was waiting for the Messiah to come. God had promised that He would one day send the Deliverer, the Prophet, the Shepherd, their King. Zechariah confirmed the promise of His coming. He would come humbly into Jerusalem, “riding upon an ass.” It would be a time of great rejoicing and shouting. The New Testament records the jubilation as this prophecy was fulfilled. Jesus entered Jerusalem just as Zechariah foretold. Their King did come, but most did not recognize Him. They did not receive Him. As a matter of fact, it was the Jewish leaders that insisted He be crucified.
Zechariah tells us in our text that when the King would come, he would come “having salvation.” That is why He came. He came to bring salvation. He came to liberate us from spiritual bondage and forgive us of sin. He came “having salvation,” but that salvation would be purchased on the old rugged cross of Calvary. He came into Jerusalem to cheers of rejoicing, but He was led out of Jerusalem with cries of “Crucify him” (Luke 23:21). Israel rejected their King. They did not want Jesus to reign over them. He died for all mankind. He tasted death for every man, and three days later, He rose from the dead.
We are indeed thankful that the King has come. He had a humble birth, lived a humble life, and died a humble death. But He offers eternal life to all who will turn from sin and trust Him as Savior. The Jews did not want Him to reign over them, but we gladly recognize His Lordship in our lives and are willingly subject to Him. Our King has come. He has come to this earth to die for our sins, and He has come to our lives to rule and guide us.
There ought to be much rejoicing in the hearts and homes of the righteous, for the King has come. He has come to set up His kingdom in our hearts. One day, He will come again. Our King will return. He will come to catch His children away. We will be caught up and meet the Lord in the air. We will be ushered into Heaven. Then the King will return again to earth, not as a babe born in a manger, but as King of kings and Lord of lords. He will be riding a white horse and will rule the nations with a rod of iron.