The Dim Light of Prophecy

Introduction

Sometimes things happen to us or around us and we don't even realize its importance until the whole thing is past. Then, suddenly, we realize this was Divinely planned, prophesied, and performed all along. The "Wow" factor goes up exponentially at that point.

What would it be like to be part of just that sort of thing? And even better, not have to wait until after the fact for us to see the importance of it? That is possible. But it takes some faith, prayer, and study - lots of all of it.

One of the biggest things that amazes me about skeptics (and it shouldn't - because I'm the same way sometimes) is that they disregard the whole Christian story flatly, without investigation, based on their own solidly entrenched beliefs. They're simply not open to even investigate. The truth might get in the way of their comfortable outlook. If you are like that, I invite you to be a different skeptic today and examine the story, let the facts take you wherever they take you. And you don't have to just take my word for it. Research it yourself!

Today, we are going to see that the narrative of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey was foretold - every part! Those who participated (a huge crowd) did so unknowingly - meaning they had no idea who this man on the donkey really was. They discovered that prophecy is often only a dim light into future events. When Jesus shines the full light of His glory upon prophecy, however, it all becomes very clear! Until that time, how mistaken we can be. We'll just have to trust Him to bring it about as He promises, and to reveal to us the whole thing when He chooses. We might not even see Him bringing about prophecy until after He has finished it!

Moses Ordered Palm Tree Branches to Be Used to Honor the Lord

Leviticus 23:40, it says, “And you shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days.”

This tells us that the Jews, before the passover, were to do this, and to do this every day for a week before. There isn’t even a hint that this would be done for the Son of God. But it WAS done for the Son of God. It was prophecy and didn’t even look like prophecy!

This also tells us that the Law of Moses, the feasts, their traditions, were all a form of prophecy, foreshadowing the coming of the Lord.

Now, in the light of hindsight, the New Testament, and the illumination of the Holy Spirit in the believing heart, we see that it was fulfilled in Jesus Christ! We CAN be awe-inspired by our Lord’s careful attention to every detail in human history. What will His second coming be like? We may not know for sure, but we can know that it will be just as His Word has foretold!

David Proclaimed the Praise Phrase to Be Used to Honor the Lord

The second thing John brings out is the phrases of honor given to Jesus. These were actually quotes from David.

Psalm 118:25-26 says, “Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.”

Ever since, the Jews have been singing this praise song to the Lord. Little did they know that this “king” they wanted to overthrow the Romans was actually the Son of God, the Messiah, the Christ, whom they were looking for.

It is curious, that when we worship the Lord in our hearts, we intend for Him to be glorified then and there. However, we may actually be fulfilling a prophecy for which we know nothing about. Let’s not stop worshiping the Lord as He instructs.

Isaiah and Zechariah Prophesied that a Donkey Be Used to Honor the Lord

Even the donkey was foretold.

Isaiah 40:9 - O Zion, You who bring good tidings, Get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, You who bring good tidings, Lift up your voice with strength, Lift it up, be not afraid; Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”

Coupled with Zechariah 9:9 - “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.”

While the crowd understood Jesus to likely be the Conquering King they expected from prophecy, they certainly were dismayed just a few days later when they found out He wasn’t. He was also prophesied to be the Suffering Servant - and this is the King they honored unwittingly!

Everyone Forgot All This Until Jesus Rose From the Dead

John did a great job of telling the story. He lets us know right here that the disciples were not “in the know” until much later - after Jesus rose from the dead, arriving in His glory, and pointing these things out. To some at a meal. To others on the road to Emmaus. Yes, the disciples were confused by it all. They walked into Jerusalem beside Jesus, hoping for a place in His kingdom, expecting, like the crowd, that Jesus would overthrow the Romans. But then He was crucified a week later - as the Passover Lamb for all time! What heartbreak, disillusionment, and depression overtook them - until He returned as promised. They could have known, if they had understood the prophecies. But how can they do that? The Word of God, the Words of Jesus, these were all spiritually understood. Until the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, and the Light of the Glory of Christ converge on the event, understanding cannot come. But that doesn’t mean there is no hope. Our hope is always in Christ, His Word, and we trust He will reveal it all in His due time.

Conclusion

Even when we study the prophecies, we often don't quite understand how they will be fulfilled. We imagine great and glorious literal fulfillments. But, as this story shows us, often enough there is a humble literal fulfillment in God's mind. So, when it happens, we miss it. "It's just too natural an event to be fulfillment of a Divine prophecy," we say. "It can't be what God wrote in His Word." When we enter into the presence of His glory, we'll see that it was Him all along!

Therefore, we should take this lesson and learn the following:

1. Study - the Prophecies with Faith

2. Trust - the Lord to be working even when we don't see it

1000 Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching Lord, Take My Hand!

Ralph Sockman told the story of a New York lawyer who, when he first came to the city, would take his young son on long walks. In order to keep up, the small fellow would hold his father’s little finger. By and by the lad would grow weary, and his steps would lag. At last he looked into the benign face of his father and asked, “You’ll have to take hold of my hand now, Daddy, for I can’t hold on much longer.”

Is not this a picture of ourselves? We have been holding onto the little fingers of security so long that we are losing our grip on things that matter. Now we must ask God to take our hand and lead us. “Thou dost keep him in perfect peace,/whose mind is stayed on thee” (Isa. 26:3).

3. Persevere - in your discipleship - and eventually, He'll show you

So, today, right now, will you make a commitment to the Lord - not to me or anyone else to do this? And will you make this commitment before me and everyone else that you are going to do it? We want to support you in this commitment. We want to help you keep your commitment. We want you to finish well in your commitment. So we will pray for you, inquire as to how it’s going, and even pull you along if we must.