Lo, Your King Comes to You

This meditation is based on a passage for March 28, 2010 in the Daily Lectionary Year 2 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).

Text: Zechariah 9:9-12

Reflection and Question: This passage from the prophet, Zechariah, who worked with the Jews returning from exile in Babylon to rebuild the Temple and the city of Jerusalem, is quoted by the Gospel writers to explain the events of Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week. From our vantage point so much later in time, we tend to emphasize the humility of the king, Jesus, riding on a donkey. But the highlight for the first listeners of Zechariah in ruined Jerusalem and for the first listeners to the Gospels was instead the almighty power of God. When has a sign of God’s power given you hope and strength?

Prayer: Find us rejoicing, Eternal God, like your servants in ancient Jerusalem, because we have known Your power and Your love. We trust Your promise to restore to sufferers double as You did for Job. Sustain our faith in times of trouble, we pray. Amen.