Today, we read the prophecy that we see fulfilled on Palm Sunday. Jesus, humble, riding a donkey. But we often misread this. We see this as only Jesus being humble, which He was. This wasn’t just Jesus being humble; this was also declaring who He was for all the world to see. He is declaring here that He is Messiah, that He is Lord, that He is king. Now, of course, as we see with Pilate, His kingdom is not of the world. Seeing this also teaches us how to understand the Bible. We read all the Bible through Jesus, He is the Word (John 1). We understand the Old Testament in light of the New Testament, and we interpret the passages that are harder to understand through the ones that are easier to understand.

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Good morning! It’s great to gather together again on this wonderful Friday to continue our journey through Zechariah. Today, we will be reading Zechariah chapter 9. Before we dive into the text, here are a few housekeeping notes: Next week will be a bit different due to the 4th of July holiday. The office will be closed on the 4th and 5th, so there won’t be any Rooted sessions on those days. The following week, starting on the 8th, I’ll be out of town for the Southeast jurisdiction, so after Wednesday, we won’t have another session until around July 15th. Also, towards the end of the month, I’ll be out of town for a revival, so it might be a bit sporadic then. We’ll meet as often as we can, depending on our schedule and technology.

This chapter is divided into two parts: judgment against the enemies of God (verses 1-8) and the coming of the righteous King.  The first part outlines the judgment against Israel’s historical enemies: Hadrach, Damascus, Hamath, Tyre, Sidon, Ashkelon, Gaza, and Ekron. These nations, which have often opposed Israel, will face God’s retribution. This is a reminder of God’s sovereignty and justice over all nations.

The second part introduces the famous prophecy of a coming King: “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” This verse is famously referenced on Palm Sunday when Jesus entered Jerusalem. It highlights the humility and peace of the Messiah, contrasting with the expected earthly king.

As Christians, we understand this passage to be pointing directly to Jesus. His entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday was a declaration of His Messiahship. Though He came in humility, He is the victorious King. His victory, however, is not over earthly enemies but over sin, death, and the grave.

The prophecy continues with the promise of peace and restoration. The Messiah will proclaim peace to the nations, and His rule will extend from sea to sea. This speaks of the universal reign of Christ, bringing peace and restoration not just to Israel but to the entire world.

This passage reminds us of the grand narrative of God’s salvation plan. It points us to Jesus, the humble yet victorious King, who brings peace and restoration. As we reflect on this, let’s be encouraged by the hope and victory we have in Christ.

Thank you for joining today. Have a blessed weekend, and we’ll meet again soon to continue our journey through Zechariah.