DEATH - The promised savior on a donkey

Zechariah 9:9 | Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt.

1. Zechariah was written about 500 years before Jesus’ birth. What does He foretell will happen?
2. What three characteristics does Zechariah use to describe the Promised Savior?
3. How do you see these three traits in Jesus?

Matthew 21:1-11 | As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. “Go into the village over there,” he said. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.” This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said, “Tell the people of Jerusalem, ‘Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt.’” The two disciples did as Jesus commanded. They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it. Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Praise God in highest heaven!” The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. “Who is this?” they asked. And the crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

4. God took great care to foretell and fulfill very specific details through the birth, life, and death of Jesus. Why do you think this is?
5. Why are people celebrating Jesus?
6. This event takes place the week of Jesus’ death. How is it possible that the crowds go from celebrating Jesus to shouting for Him to be crucified?
7. There’s no doubt that there were people in this crowd shouting praise who would later follow a different crowd and celebrate Jesus’ death. Do you struggle with following the crowd, proclaiming Jesus when others do, but hiding your faith when the crowd isn’t “Jesus-friendly?”