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A journey through Lent - 2016
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Day Twenty Seven - The Coming King.
In Zechariah's time, when a loved king came to visit a city he would ride into the city on a donkey. This was in marked cotrast to a king seeking to stamp his authority, especially following conquest, where he would ride in on a magnificent warhorse, a symbol of his power and willingness to crush dissent or rebellion.
In our passage today Zechariah speaks of the day when Jerusalem's king would return. A conquering king bringing salvation. Establishing a reign of peace for the whole world.
This prophecy of the true king, riding on a donkey, leads to the shouts of the crowd on Palm Sunday when they called: "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!".
What a magnificent vision.
Yet we know the crowd soon turned their cry of acclamation to one of condemnation: "Crucify Him!".
We believe that Jesus was aware this was going to happen, yet he still came riding a donkey, entering the city in peace.
What could have been seen as weakness was strength. What could have been seen as foolishness was wisdom. What could have been seen as a needless loss of life was an extravagant gift of life. What could have been seen as defeat was victory.
The one decisive victory over our violence, lack of love, fear and unbelief.
His battle was with and for us. The cost of victory his death and he was prepared to make that extravagant sacrifice for us.
For you and for me.
We should indeed "Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion. Shout Daughter Jerusalem!" for we do see our king, righteous and victorious. Hallelujah!
Bible Passage: - Zechariah 9:9-10 (NIV)
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.
I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the war-horses from Jerusalem, and the battle-bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.
Contemplation Saying.
"See your king comes to you"
Contemplative Prayer.
Think of the saying in order to understand context and meaning,
Feel the meaning of the saying with and in your heart,
Pray, using the saying, for yourself or others. With only a name and without explaining the reasons or pre-defining any answers.
Listen for God's voice in the quiet of your prayers.
Pray using your own prayers or one of those which have been prepared below.
Hymn: Singing the Faith - "Make Way, Make Way for Christ the King"
Let us pray together.
Twitter Prayer
Lord, you come to us, offering us a path to peace, help us, today, to walk it. Amen
Facebook Prayer
Lord, you come to us, offering us a path to peace, if only we would walk it.
You are our king, inspire us with your love and service.
Help us to follow in the way you have walked before us, ready to come into your kingdom.
May we be ever full of praise and worship for you, our king forever. Amen.
Full Prayer
Lord, we rejoice and shout, with loud and confident voices, that you are our king of love.
We declare that you are the one long awaited by the world and longed for by our own hearts and souls.
We pray that you will forever reign in our hearts, lives and fellowships.
We know that you have promised to be with us forever, give us the faith to place our whole trust in you.
In your name, our king, Jesus we pray. Amen.
Lord, we pray for your peace to come in our broken world.
A world where there is so much conflict, opression and injustice.
You come to us, offering us a path to peace, if only we would walk it.
You are our king, inspire us with your love and service.
Help us to follow in the way you have walked before us.
Make us ready to come into your kingdom.
Ever full of praise and worship for you our king forever. Amen.