The Lowliness of the King

The Lord Jesus rode into Jerusalem upon a lowly colt, just like Zechariah prophesied. This mode of His appearing bespeaks a different sort of king with a different sort of power.

It shows Christ does not depend upon the usual powers and methods of traditional kings. Like all kings, His job is to defend and rescue His people. The lowliness that He displayed telegraphs His lowly method of redemption.

Given His eternal and infinite power as Creator, riding the colt seemed out of place for Him. But it was in perfect keeping with His incarnation and ministry, for He was always meek and lowly of heart. Thus the colt is a fitting means of transportation for the Savior.

That lowly entrance seemed out of place even in the prophecy. The people were to rejoice when they saw His lowly entrance, because He is just and He brings Salvation!

The people might have wondered, how can He save being so lowly? What does it say about His strength to bring salvation?

But that lowliness was perfectly adapted to the manner of His salvation - which was His meekly submitting to the awful judgment of the Cross in He people's place!

He rode in lowliness because He would save us in lowliness at Calvary. He needed no mighty armies or wealth or earthly power to save His people. All He needed was His lowly self, a pure and holy body to offer up as God's Lamb in the place of sinners.

Israel rebelled against the prophecy's command to rejoice in the Savior's coming in lowliness.

His salvation depends upon no coercion or force, because He directed all the force of judgment we should have received upon Himself.

He was and remains gentle to save us.