Matthew 21:5 - "Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.'"
Have you ever been in a wedding? I have been a participant in many weddings. I have officiated many weddings with a ring bearer and flower girl as a part of the wedding party. You never know what will happen when these small children are released to come down the aisle. Have you ever seen a town crier as a part of the wedding? On one occasion, just before the bride came down the aisle, a young man dressed as a pastor walked down the aisle saying “hear ye, hear ye, hear ye” announcing that the bride was about to enter. The people sat on the edge of their seats, turned to look, and strained their necks to catch the first glimpse of the bride.
In our text today, Matthew quoted Zachariah predicting the coming of the Messiah King into Jerusalem. Like a town crier announcing a bridal entrance, Zachariah called the people of God to watch for the prophetic entrance. Matthew reminded the people that the Messiah, Jesus, would come in a humble manner without the aid of an army, without force, and riding on a small donkey. Jesus came on the first day of the feast of Passover. The crowds cheered Him as the Messiah and sang “Hosanna.” He would enter the Holy City in the same manner that He would enter the world: lowly. He was placed in a lowly manger. He was raised in lowly Nazareth. He would minister in lowly Galilee. And He eventually died on a lowly cross to redeem us from our sins.
Hosanna!