ODJ: meekness and majesty

March 29, 2015 

READ: Mark 11:1-11 

This took place to fulfil the prophecy that said, “Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt” (Matthew 21:4-5).

Bible scholars disagree on the exact number, but most believe that Jesus has fulfilled some 350 Old Testament prophecies—stretching from Genesis to Malachi. And hundreds more will be fulfilled in the future. In his book Evidence That Demands a Verdict, Josh McDowell shared a study that shows that the probability of a person fulfilling just one prophecy is 1 in 300,000; and for 8 fulfilled prophecies, the odds are an astronomical 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000!

Five days before His death, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a young donkey to fulfil one Old Testament prophecy. Five hundred years earlier, Zechariah predicted that Jerusalem would hail the Messiah as their king, “righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9). After entering the city of Bethany, Jesus sent two disciples ahead to collect the colt (Mark 11:1-6). Clearly, Jesus purposefully rode into Jerusalem on a donkey to fulfil what had been written long before (Matthew 21:4-5).

But Jesus also did it to reveal the kind of king He really is! “Your king . . . is humble . . . . riding on a donkey’s colt” (Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:5). King Jesus came in meekness and lowliness.

In fact, instructing the two disciples to get the donkey was an exercise in humility. Hours before this, the disciples had fought for positions of power and prominence (Mark 10:35-43). Going to get an animal was a lowly assignment—the work of a servant. Jesus revealed that any mission, any task, however small, is important if it means obedience to God and if it fulfils His will. No task is too small or insignificant in His service.

Today, Jesus asks us to serve in humility and lowliness of spirit. Let’s follow Him in humble obedience, for that’s the way to God’s will. —K.T. Sim

365-day plan: 1 Samuel 18:1-30