As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’ ” They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it.
--Parallel verses:
Zechariah 9:9-10 AMP
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O Daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King (Messianic King) is coming to you; He is righteous and endowed with salvation, Humble and unassuming [in submission to the will of the Father] and riding on a donkey, Upon a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will cut off the [war] chariot from Ephraim And the [war] horse from Jerusalem, And the bow of war will be cut off. And He will speak [words of] peace to the nations, And His dominion shall be from sea to sea [absolutely endless], And from the River [Euphrates] to the ends of the earth. [Ps 72:8]
What an amazing turn of events for all those around Jesus, his disciples and followers. They had plans for him to enter Jerusalem victorious and to free them from the captivity of the Roman Empire. He had the power of God on his side. The same power that caused the plagues in Egypt, parted the Red Sea, and went before them as a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day. The power that went before them in battle, when they fought the Amalekites at Rephidim in Exodus 17, where as long as Moses’ arms were lifted up, or held up by Aaron and Hur, the Israelites won the battle. This power also showed up when the walls of Jericho fell.
So the followers of Jesus, seeing his great power — to command the wind and waves, cast out demons, create food for 5,000 and then again for 4,000 men (plus women and children) out of one person’s lunch, and heal hundreds (if not thousands) of people — they saw him mainly as a King or Ruler of power.
But God’s plan was much different than this … it was far greater than they could ever have imagined. What was the reason God allowed them to be judged over and over again and fall into captivity? Was it not their falling away from him and into this world’s pattern of sin? So his rescue and their redemption has to be bigger than their “sin problem”.
Jesus came to free them forever from their “sin problem”. He came in peace, on a donkey; not in war, on a war horse. He came to bring peace with God, not temporary peace with man and the world’s ruling systems. He came to call a people to himself that would live in victory through his sacrifice and be at peace with God throughout eternity.
What peace am I seeking in life? Is it the removal of my challenges or the obstacles in front of me? Or is it the peace that comes from full dependence on and obedience to the Almighty God?
Lord, thank you for being the Prince of Peace! You came to give yourself up for me as a ransom, to give me peace with God. Help me to hold this sacrifice in high regard. May I live in a strong relationship with you. May I be sold out to share your truth, love, and power to a world in desperate need of your salvation!
Jesus came the first time as Savior to redeem us from our sins. His next coming will be for a different reason. see as a supplement to this TruthBurst Jeremiah 16:14-15. There is a new thing that is coming...see Isaiah 42:9 & 43:18-19. I believe He is coming a second time as the Prince of Peace who will not be the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, but as a mighty warrior and as a man of war (Isaiah 43:13 & Revelation 1:16) this Warrior will create peace not just to our spirits and our individual lives, but peace to all nations...what a day...glorious day that will be.