|
Matthew 21:1-6 NIV
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
21 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”
4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
5 “Say to Daughter Zion,
‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them.
|
|
To elevate the king's noble status and power, many external decorations are required. Their attire must be very striking, and the crowns they wear are adorned with jewels, extremely expensive. The coronation ceremony must be extraordinary. In China, the emperor is even referred to as the "Son of Heaven," elevating human status to the heavens. Wherever they go, preparations must be made in advance, and even the roads must be paved for them. The Roman Empire during Jesus' time was no different. Not only the emperor but also the officials would appear with high stature. However, the Lord Jesus, the true eternal King of kings and Lord of lords, entered the Holy City of Jerusalem with a completely humble posture. This is because His kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). He also wanted His disciples to change their worldview to prepare them to face a world that opposed Jesus after His departure. He fully knew the suffering, humiliation, and death He would face, yet He actively planned how He would enter the city. He was not forced, nor was He left with no choice; He deliberately chose to submit. Throughout the entire journey to the cross, He was in control of everything that happened. He knew where to find the donkey, He knew that the mother donkey would not resist the young donkey being taken, and He knew that the owner would not refuse. He also knew how the people in the city would react after He entered because He knew that the prophecy of the prophet would certainly be fulfilled (Zechariah 9:9). But for the disciples, why did they need to fetch a donkey? Why not a horse? At that time, they surely did not understand, nor did they know how the donkey's owner would respond. But they did not doubt or ask many questions. Their faith made them follow the instructions completely. The Lord Jesus submitted because He knew all the details. The disciples, although they did not fully understand and even thought it unreasonable, still obeyed the instructions because of their faith. Obedience in faith is an indispensable step in spiritual growth. The Apostle Paul said, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:2). This means that obeying God is the first step in knowing Him. Even though it may seem completely contrary to what we see, holding onto God’s promises will surely lead believers to know God more deeply and to trust and obey Him more willingly. Let us make every decision in life by faith, following God’s instructions!
|