Midweek Lent 1 - The Humble King - February 26, 2020

Yahweh Remembers: The Humble King

1. Wields a different type of power

2. Earns of different type of fear

Dear fellow redeemed,

Our midweek Lenten series this year comes from the book of Zechariah. Zechariah was a prophet who spoke to God’s people near the end of the Old Testament period. He ministered to the remnant of people who came back to Jerusalem following the Babylonian and Persian captivity. He encouraged them to rebuild the city and the Temple, working with leaders like Zerubbabel, Nehemiah, and Ezra. But most importantly, Zechariah led the people to their Savior, Jesus, who, in the grand picture of history, was soon to be born.

Zechariah’s prophecy provides many vivid and pointed Messianic pictures of the work of Jesus, especially concerning His suffering and death. To guide our Lenten journey this year, we take a look at some of those prophecies, their place in history and Scripture, and the enduring lessons of hope and forgiveness they continue to impart to our lives.

The title of our series this year is called, Yahweh Remembers, which is exactly what the name Zechariah means. These messages from God’s Word tell us how God remembered His promise of salvation throughout the Old Testament; and how He continues to heal the afflictions of believers today in Gospel Word and Sacrament. Our first image of the Savior, given by Zechariah, is that of the humble King. We read Zechariah 9:9-11: 

Zechariah 9:9-11 "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. 10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim And the horse from Jerusalem; The battle bow shall be cut off. He shall speak peace to the nations; His dominion shall be ‘from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth.' 11 "As for you also, Because of the blood of your covenant, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.

Through these holy Words of God this evening, we see that Jesus, the Humble King, wields a different type of power, and earns a different type of fear.

We’re familiar with this prophecy of Jesus. It’s connection to Lent is clear, as it speak of the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. When Jesus made a point to ride on a baby donkey it was done with the intent to fulfill this very prophecy. Sometimes, these words are also applied to and used around Advent, when we consider the lowly Child born in Bethlehem who was also the King of heaven and earth.

But this chapter also makes reference to another powerful king in prophetic fashion. In the earlier verses of the chapter, Zechariah spoke of the mighty nation of Tyre, which was a political force to the north of Judea. Tyre is spoken of by other prophets in the Bible too. Their history is intertwined with Israel’s at times. At this current juncture, Tyre was not an ally to Israel. They did not want Israel to resume its role as a geographical power. Along with Syria to the north, and Philistia to the south, Tyre would attempt to thwart the renewal of God’s people in Jerusalem. But God had a plan to protect His people and provide an opening in history for His Son to be born as He had promised.

This is where the first king of Zechariah 9 comes in and it’s not fulfilled in Jesus. In response to Tyre’s aggression against Israel, the LORD promises a day of judgment for the coastal power – a day when their kingdom would fall into ruin. Verse 3 reads: Tyre has built herself a rampart and heaped up silver like dust, and fine gold like the mud of the streets. 4 But behold, the Lord will strip her of her possessions and strike down her power on the sea, and she shall be devoured by fire.

Tyre trusted in their wealth and strategic position. And why shouldn’t they have? Even the great Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar had attempted to sack Tyre without success. Their island fortification and naval power gave them an impenetrable position on the Mediterranean, with capabilities to reach to Greece, Italy, and North Africa. Tyre had the strongest economy and most advanced technology of the day. To many, it was a foregone conclusion that they would hold power in the region over Israel.

Zechariah was no doubt demeaned as a crazy hermit for suggesting that Tyre would be conquered. Yet, once again, as Proverbs says, Proverbs 16:9 A man's heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. In 332 BC the great Macedonian king, Alexander the Great, led his armies into the northern reaches of the middle east. Alexander had heard of Tyre’s might as well, and he knew he couldn’t really control the area without bringing them under subjection to his rule. So he made his way to coastal metropolis but like Nebuchadnezzar before him, he couldn’t penetrate the island stronghold. Undeterred, Alexander began building a 60-foot-wide causeway out into the sea to bridge the half mile channel between the mainland and Tyre. It took a while, 6 months in all, but finally Alexander’s forces breached the city walls and burned it to the ground. Today, Alexander’s causeway still exists, a present reminder of this ancient battle. More importantly, and more impressively, the LORD’s Word, promised 200 years before by the mouth of His prophet, was proven true.

The impending approach a king is certainly a sight to behold. But that fact alone doesn’t guarantee a good reaction. For the residents of Tyre, Alexander’s magnificent march across the channel meant death, destruction, and slavery. Yes, the first king of the chapter did not come on joyous or welcome terms. He wielded great power and terror over his foes. He choked out all literal and metaphorical hope. He instilled a deep sense of dread. Unmistakable, but not with a pleasant ending.

The second King of Zechariah 9 was vastly different. First of all, He came with a different type of power. Zechariah tells us, 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. Israel knew even more than Tyre what it was like to suffer at the hands of an enemy force. Being able to rejoice at the sight of a deliverer granting salvation was certainly something they longed for as well. A King wielding justice and salvation was not uncommon, even in earthly terms. But, it’s how He achieved that power and how He uses it that astonished us – in lowliness.

So Jesus, the King, the arbiter of justice and salvation, would ride a baby donkey into battle. There was obviously no literal purpose behind this – it was a message of His willingness to serve, to suffer, and to give of Himself for others. This prophecy was fulfilled on Palm Sunday, as Jesus rode the foal of the donkey into Jerusalem to conquer to greatest enemy that humanity has ever faced. Paul reminds us what that enemy is: For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. How can sinful, fallen, people ever hope to mount any resistance to this foe, let alone achieve total victory? But the humble King did.

Because He fought in a way even more amazing than Alexander the Great. He gave His life in place of those whom He loved. Paul again explains, 5 Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. 7 Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, 8 He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death-- even to death on a cross. 9 For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow-- of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth-- 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Because of this unique power that gained an impossible victory, Jesus also earns a different type of fear. He is not a king who paralyzes His enemies with intimidation – though He could certainly do that. Rather, Jesus is interested in a much deeper and more fulfilling relationship with His subjects than a Master among servants. As Zechariah writes, Jesus speaks peace. Jesus demolishes the tools of human warfare. Jesus’ kingdom unites mankind – not under strict rules and feudal obligations – but the bond of faith. Jesus desires to build a trusting relationship with you, a relationship in which you come to learn of and believe in the matchless love that He displays in being willing to go through anything to redeem you. This trust builds respect in the believer’s heart – the type of fear that honors the Master, but in deep admiration and thankfulness, and not in threat of punishment.

In that same spirit, Zechariah continues the rest of the chapter by declaring the LORD’s promises through this humble King:

Zechariah 9:12 Return to the stronghold, You prisoners of hope. Even today I declare That I will restore double to you.

Zechariah 9:16-17 The LORD their God will save them in that day, As the flock of His people. For they shall be like the jewels of a crown, Lifted like a banner over His land-- 17 For how great is its goodness And how great its beauty!

To the world, a King riding on a donkey is punchline or a joke. To us who know Christ’s purpose, it’s a perfect picture of His loving attitude toward undeserving believers. In the midst of political chaos and danger, God first gave this picture to His prophet, Zechariah, as one of many markers of His Son’s mission on earth. We rejoice in that sign today as we remember Yahweh’s mercy and faithfulness by willingly suffering for and securing salvation for us.

As we continue following Jesus this Lenten season and beyond, let us take His attitude of service as our own – not that people would see our piety, but that our Lord’s light would shine through our thoughts, words, and actions – that others may know what kind of King is theirs by faith. God grant it in His Son’s name, Amen.