Have you ever been in a conversation with somebody where you felt like you were just “talking past each other”? Do you know what I mean? It’s like you’re saying something … but they’re hearing something else … and they say something, but you don’t understand—it happens a lot when people are trying to give directions.
Or have you ever just gotten to the place where you said: “Do you want me to draw you a picture?”
I reckon Jesus was at that point when He rode into Jerusalem on a colt of a donkey—I reckon He felt like he had done all he could do. He had healed the sick … He had made the blind see again … He had fed hungry multitudes … He had touched lepers and cast out demons—isn’t that what the Messiah was all about? Healing and restoration and deliverance? And yet the disciples and the crowds had their eyes open for a warrior … a rebel … somebody to lead the revolt against those hated Romans. I reckon Jesus had gotten to the point where he just wanted to say: “Do you want me to draw you a picture of why I’m here?”—and He actually did.
And so … dramatically … and visibly … and clearly, Jesus arranged for the words of the prophet Zechariah to be fulfilled Zechariah, who many years before had said: “Rejoice, O daughter of Zion! Shout! Your king comes to you – triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” It was a dramatic message—it was a visible message—it was Jesus drawing a picture of why he had come to the world!