“This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 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’ ” (Matthew 21:4-5).
The religious rulers misunderstood Jesus’ mission and that’s one reason they rejected Him. They were looking for a military Messiah who would throw off the yoke of the Roman Empire and restore Israel to a position of national greatness. He did come as a King but He came to establish a Kingdom that would embrace the whole world, Jews and Gentiles alike.
What His contemporaries struggled to understand was that He came to establish His Kingdom by what would occur that weekend—His death and resurrection.
He rode on a donkey, not a warhorse, a sign of peace. He came with gentleness to submit to a cruel death followed by His miraculous resurrection. He did come as a King and He did bring a Kingdom but it had to be preceded by His death for the sins of the world. He came as a Savior/King.
He will come as a Warrior when He returns because His Kingdom comes in two stages. First, He came in the most necessary way. He came to save us from our sins. When He comes again He will come to overthrow every evil power that enslaves His creation. Thank God that when He came that day, riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, He came gently to bring life to everyone who believes in Him.
