Sometimes our eyes can play little tricks on us, like an optical illusion. Our mind misinterprets what we are seeing. When we look at something, we perceive it one way, when in reality it is different. One example of this is when driving and we see a couple of mountains in the distance. Being many miles away, they look like they are right next to each other. But as we get closer and closer, we see that is not the case. The one mountain is in the front, but the other is miles and miles further behind. Our distance from them made it appear as if they were both together. This is similar to the way some people looked at some prophecies, particularly prophecies regarding the coming Messiah. They perceived all of the prophecies of the Messiah as happening at the same time, just like perceiving the mountains being together, whereas in reality some would happen at one time and others at another. One example is in our Scripture today.
Our Scripture comes from the Old Testament prophet Zechariah. His ministry was in the years following the Babylonian exile, and he encouraged the returned remnant to rebuild the Temple and to renew their covenant loyalty to Yahweh. This portion of the Old Testament book reveals the Lord Jesus Christ’s identity, His character, His mission, and His future restoration of Israel. It speaks of the coming of the Messiah, who arrives in humility, bringing salvation, establishing peace, and ultimately restoring His covenant people, calling them to return to Him.
As we begin, we read a verse that is often associated with Palm Sunday. That is because Zechariah prophesied of the coming Messiah arriving humbly, riding upon a donkey (vs. 9). The prophet speaks of the people’s king arriving. Israel’s rightful king was not a foreign ruler, but the promised Messiah, the Son of David. They had recently been under the rule of the Babylonian emperor, and now, though they were allowed to return to their homeland, they were under Persian rule. In the near future they would be under Greek rule, and then Roman rule. However, one day their Messiah would come, and free them from oppression. His rule would be just, morally perfect, and with divine righteousness.
This verse speaks of Jesus’ first coming, which is marked by humility, not political triumph. He is humble, riding upon a lowly donkey, not a military war horse. Matthew 21:1-9 and John 12:14-16 record Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, which explicitly fulfills this prophecy. His first coming is characterized by humility, not conquest. Jesus comes first to save before He comes to reign.
Verse 10 shifts from Jesus’ first coming to His second coming and His millennial reign. At this time, the Messiah will end warfare, abolishing the instruments of war. His dominion will be universal, and He will bring global peace to all nations. This is where many of the Jewish people at the time of Jesus were confused. They read this verse, along with other prophecies in Scripture, where the Messiah would restore Israel, and bring peace to God’s people. Jesus fulfilled many prophecies, but why not these? This is why many people wanted to make Him a king and urge Him to overthrow Rome. However, this was not to be fulfilled in the Messiah’s first coming, but instead in His second. This is like the second mountain, miles behind the first one. Though we don’t know when His second coming will be, it is many years following the first. These events await Christ’s return when He establishes His kingdom.
In verse 11 we see God’s covenant faithfulness and deliverance. God’s faithfulness to Israel is grounded in His covenant promises. That covenant is still in effect. God will literally restore them because He is faithful to His promises. Verse 12 is a call for His people to return and a promise for their restoration and future blessings. Israel’s hope is grounded in God’s covenant faithfulness and the coming Messianic King. These promises of restoration are literal. God is not finished with His people of Israel.
As we see in verse 12, when we place our hurts, our broken dreams, dissolved relationships, and shattered hopes into God’s hands, and stay close to Him through Bible reading and prayer, He will replace doubly the losses in our life with rich blessings.
The Messiah Jesus brings deliverance from spiritual bondage, which was fulfilled in His first coming, and deliverance from national oppression, which will be fulfilled in His second coming. This is a powerful Messianic prophecy that anchors both Israel’s future and the Church’s hope in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
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