Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, thy king cometh unto thee. He is just, having salvation, lowly, and riding on an ass, and upon a colt, the foal of an ass.”
Zechariah 9:9
Jesus was born in a stable, and Christianity has been trying to check him into a Marriot Hotel ever since.
Jesus said, “I am meek and lowly” (Mt. 11:29). We can’t change him. It’s Jesus’ nature to be humble. When he rode triumphantly into Jerusalem, he rode meekly on an ass, doing only what his Father ordained for him to do. The meekness that he consistently demonstrated when he was here on earth was not just for show, nor was it a temporary spiritual condition. He was the way he was because the Father is the way He is, and He is unchangeable. In Him, James tells us, “is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (1:17).
It is true that Jesus will reign in righteousness as king over this earth for a thousand years, but he will reign only because his Father will send Him to do it. He will not reign in pride. He will humble himself to his Father’s will to reign - and to reign as his Father wants him to reign; that is, “with a rod of iron”. He will meekly grind the nations to powder.
We are told by the apostles to follow Jesus’ example. Our heavenly Father expects us to live as His Son showed us to live while he was here on the earth: with a meek and lowly spirit. It is the only kind of life that the gospel teaches us to live. The gospel is good just the way Jesus gives it to us. Don’t follow after those who try to dress it up to attract the world. When men try to “new-and-improve” the gospel in order to market it to the world, they change it, and a changed gospel is no gospel at all.
If we want to be among those who will follow Jesus as he rides his white stallion from heaven to begin his millennial reign, we will have to love him while he is still riding meekly on a donkey. And he is still on it.