SCRIPTURE: Zechariah 9
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. [Zechariah 9:9, Matthew 21:5].
Here we see an anticipation of Jesus’ triumphal entry, riding on a donkey.
We believe that Jesus is the fulfillment of this Messianic promise – that the Lord Himself will come to overcome evil and restore His Kingdom.
And not only for the nation of Israel, but for the whole world.
He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. [Zechariah 9:10]

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” [Matthew 28:18-20]
All authority in heaven and on earth, or from sea to sea, to the ends of the earth.
His message of peace is for all nations – making disciples of all nations!
And that peace is through His death and resurrection on our behalf, symbolized by baptism, whereby His blood sets us free!
As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit. [Zechariah 9:11]

Zechariah is offering hope to a scattered, oppressed people, overwhelmed by the misery of sin in the world.
He promises that God will one day step in to make everything right and good.
We believe that Jesus is the fulfillment of that promise, and that Jesus is the hope for all the world, for all nations, to be restored to God and find God’s perfect kingdom.
In this respect we are utopian – we believe that a time of eternal paradise is coming.
No more tears, no more sorrow, no more sin, no more injustice.
The day is coming when life in this world will not be misery but peace and joy and love!

Are you utopian, that is, do you believe in a future perfect world and life?
If so, on what basis, how will it be accomplished?
If not, then what hope do you have, if any?
“You may say that I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.
I hope one day you’ll join us, and the world will be as one!”
The heart of this dream is Jesus, the One that has done something about sin (by His death) and is sitting on the throne (His rule from sea to sea), ruling with justice and humility (riding on a donkey).
To me, this is a dream worth living for, hoping for, dying for.
Because if He has not come, if He is not on the throne, then there is NO HOPE!

PRAYER:
Lord, thank You that there is hope, and life is more than a brief, meaningless existence. Thank You for the promise of peace, the assurance that one day things will be better!