John 12:14-19 "And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, (15) Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt. (16) These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him. (17) The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record. (18) For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle. (19) The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him."
Jesus was making His final trip into Jerusalem. He was fulfilling prophecy as
He went. Some of the people had been the beneficiary of His healing
mercies. Some of them had been with Him when He raised Lazarus from the dead.
Others had heard of His marvelous power and grace and had come to watch Him
upon His arrival. They were definitely caught up in the moment and were
celebrating for they thought Jesus had come to sit upon a throne in Jerusalem.
They thought He had come to overthrow the Roman government and restore the
kingdom to Israel.
They were so caught up in the moment that they overlooked something.
"Behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt." A king
would never ride upon the colt of a donkey during a battle. Jesus did not come
to be king; rather, He came as the suffering servant Isaiah had written about
some 700 years prior to this. He did come to reign, but not over an
earthly kingdom. He came to reign over sin and death. How would He defeat this
great enemy? "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the
angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by
the grace of God should taste death for every man." (Hebrews 2:9)
"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also
himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him
that had the power of death, that is, the devil; (15) And deliver
them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to
bondage." (Hebrews 2:14-15) How did He defeat death? By dying!
The people saw His death as His defeat; but, the Lord God Almighty reigns in
truth and righteousness!! Death shall not take the victory; rather shall
be utterly defeated by our Redeemer Jesus the Christ! We will see this in
a few days. Because Jesus lives, we can - "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)
O Victory in Jesus My Saviour, forever!
He sought me and bought me
with His redeeming blood.
He loved me e'er I knew Him
And all my love is due Him
He plunged me to Victory
beneath His cleansing blood.