Here He Comes!

The announcement that the Lord is coming is good news. How many can use some good news? This year seems like we have been in exile. Forced to stay home or shelter in place. Last year the church was shut down for Palm Sunday and Resurrection Sunday (Easter).

We can use an announcement like:

9  Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!

Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold, your king is coming to you;

righteous and having salvation is he,

humble and mounted on a donkey,

on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zec 9:9).

This quarter we are being introduced to Prophets. Zachariah is one to get to know! As Haggai encouraged the returned Jewish exiles to rebuild the temple, Zechariah encouraged them to repent and renew their covenant with God. Such spiritual renewal would be necessary for the people to be ready to worship God once the temple was rebuilt (about 516 B.C.).

We need spiritual renewal as we prepare to return to church like we use to know it! We need a refreshing! Some have become complacent. Some don’t even want to come back. Some have forgot Psalm 122:1

I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD. Ps 122:1).

Zechariah accused them of doing the very things their ancestors had done before the exile. He was concerned about social justice for widows, orphans, and foreigners. Its easy to forget what we are to be focused on As last year theme reminded us: He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; And what doth the LORD require of thee, But to do justly, and to love mercy, And to walk humbly with thy God? (Mic 6:8).

But as the people endured opposition from the non-Jewish inhabitants of Judea, Zechariah reassured them of God’s abiding comfort and care. God would continue his covenant with Israel.

Messianic hope was rekindled during Zechariah’s ministry, He opens his book in chapter one Reassuring the Children of Israel When this is over we here the Lord say, 17 Cry out again, Thus says the LORD of hosts: My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.’ ” (Zec 1:17). and the book ends with the promise that the Lord would establish his rule over all the earth (14:9). 9 And the LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day the LORD will be one and his name one. (Zec 14:9).

So on this Palm Sunday as we prepare for Holy week what stands out for you?

John 12 describes this way 12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,

15  “Fear not, daughter of Zion;

behold, your king is coming,

sitting on a donkey’s colt!” (Jn 12:12–15).

As John refers to the prophecy of Zechariah when he tells of Jesus Triumphant Entry. We know from Matthew Its Jesus who instructs his disciples to go and get the tied up colt. Again to fulfil the prophecy:

Say to the daughter of Zion,

‘Behold, your king is coming to you,

humble, and mounted on a donkey,

on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ ” (Mt 21:5).

So Zachariah gives us some instruction as we receive the King Jesus

First he said:

Rejoice Greatly!

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! There should be a level of excitement about the coming of Jesus! Make a joyful noise unto the Lord all ye land Serve the LORD with gladness: Come before his presence with singing. (Ps 100:2).

We have an obligation to Rejoice! Psalm 2:11 says Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. We have so many reason to rejoice. God is good and he gives us cause to rejoice!

What is rejoicing? Lemma in Hebrew Literally means Shriek ecstatically! Shout with joy! SHOUT EXULTATION! So as the crowd did at Jesus entry shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” (Mk 11:9–10). The crowd was so loud that Luke said the Pharisees asked Jesus to rebuke his disciples Jesus said, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. ( Lk 19:40).

Secondly we must recognize why Jesus Came

He is coming for our salvation

English Standard Version Chapter 49

and to bring back the preserved of Israel;

I will make you as a light for the nations,

that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

English Standard Version Chapter 2

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

Thirdly we see how he came

Humble

humble and mounted on a donkey,

on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zec 9:9)

bv Philippians 2:5-11 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. 2 cor 8:9