Context – Zechariah writes in the 6th century BC after the Babylonian captivity, but before the rebuilding of Nehemiah. After calling Judah to repentance, justice, and mercy, pronouncing future blessings on Jerusalem, and announcing judgment for enemy nations, he also voices God’s promise about the King to come:

Zechariah 9:9,10b – Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey… 10b 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.

Context – Jesus has just raised Lazarus from the dead, and the word has spread. As He enters into Jerusalem, a large crowd gathers to see this miracle worker for themselves:

John 12:12-15 – The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, 15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!”

Context – The same Jesus that humbly mounted a donkey will one day come back gloriously mounting a white horse and leading the final battle of victory over the Beast and the kings of the earth at the end of the age:

Revelation 19:11-16 – Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

• It was common at that time to view a king riding on a horse as coming to bring war.
• If the king came riding on a donkey instead, they were seen as coming to bring peace.

• In what manner was the messiah going to come?
• How is Jesus’ second equine entry different from His first?
• What do we learn about Jesus from His many names listed in Revelation?