Thoughts on the Gospel of John (109) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

Then Jesus, when he had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written, Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt. His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, they remembered that these things were written about him and that they had done these things to him.
John 12:14-16.

Thoughts on the Gospel of John (109)
Many came to see Lazarus, because Jesus had raised him from the dead. Lazarus was alive; therefore they concluded that this Jesus was the long promised Son of David. They welcomed Him heartily, quoting from Psalm 118. But who could have imagined that a few days later, "Away with him! Crucify him! We have no king but Caesar" would be heard (cf. ch. 19¨15).

The Lord took a young donkey, thus fulfilling Zechariah's prophecy, which states: "Rejoice greatly, o daughter of Zion! Shout, o daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; he is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey" (ch. 9:9).

It is remarkable that no evangelist quotes the text from Zechariah completely. The command to rejoice at the beginning is found in none of the four gospels. The reason is clear: the people should first have repented and received the Messiah by faith. They failed to do so. When Christ returns, they will mourn first, before joyfully receiving Him (Zechariah 12:10).

When at a future date Christ appears on this earth in glory, He will first deliver the people of Israel from the hand of their enemies. But today He is still ready to save people from their sins.

(to be continued next Sunday)

Today's reading: Ruth 1:1-22 · Psalms 77:11-20