Chapter 63—“Thy King Cometh”
This chapter is based on
Matthew 21:1-11
;
Mark 11:1-10
;
Luke
19:29-44
;
John 12:12-19
.
“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
.
Five hundred years before the birth of Christ, the prophet Zechariah
thus foretold the coming of the King to Israel. This prophecy is now
to be fulfilled. He who has so long refused royal honors now comes to
Jerusalem as the promised heir to David’s throne.
It was on the first day of the week that Christ made His triumphal
entry into Jerusalem. Multitudes who had flocked to see Him at
Bethany now accompanied Him, eager to witness His reception. Many
people were on their way to the city to keep the Passover, and these
joined the multitude attending Jesus. All nature seemed to rejoice. The
trees were clothed with verdure, and their blossoms shed a delicate
fragrance on the air. A new life and joy animated the people. The hope
of the new kingdom was again springing up.
Purposing to ride into Jerusalem, Jesus had sent two of His dis-
ciples to bring to Him an ass and its colt. At His birth the Saviour
was dependent upon the hospitality of strangers. The manger in which
He lay was a borrowed resting place. Now, although the cattle on a
thousand hills are His, He is dependent on a stranger’s kindness for an
animal on which to enter Jerusalem as its King. But again His divinity
[570]
is revealed, even in the minute directions given His disciples for this
errand. As He foretold, the plea, “The Lord hath need of them,” was
readily granted. Jesus chose for His use the colt on which never man
had sat. The disciples, with glad enthusiasm, spread their garments
on the beast, and seated their Master upon it. Heretofore Jesus had
always traveled on foot, and the disciples had at first wondered that He
should now choose to ride. But hope brightened in their hearts with
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