12/20/11- The Messiah Prophesied to Enter Jerusalem on a Donkey

12/20- Day 24- Light four candles . The Messiah would Enter Jerusalem on a Donkey- Zechariah 9:9; Luke 19:35-37

⁹ Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9)

  ³⁵ They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. ³⁶ As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. ³⁷ When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
(Luke 19:35-37)

(Palm Sunday procession- James J. Tissot)

Thoughts: A sign that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of David, was how he entered Jerusalem.  He came not on a war horse, but a humble colt.  People were looking for a Messiah who would come on a donkey according to Zechariah's prophecy.  Luke records the miracle of the disciples finding a donkey at the right time and place (Lk. 19).  Jesus rode the colt that no one had ridden before- he tamed the donkey- as He tames us!  When God exalts us, let us seek not to relish in it, but to seek humility in the midst of praise.

Prayer: Lord, give me grace to be gracious and humble even when others want to exalt us.

Here is a great site of messianic prophecies fulfilled in Jesus- listed by book:
http://www.shalach.org/PropheciesTable/prophecieslst1.htm