During this holy week, we will observe how the prophet Zechariah described the coming king who would save and deliver God's people. God, through Zechariah, said,
"[9] Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
[10] I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
and the war horse from Jerusalem;
and the battle bow shall be cut off,
and he shall speak peace to the nations;
his rule shall be from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth."
HAVING SALVATION IS HE
Today, we zoom in on the second part of the statement, "Righteous and having salvation is he."
This coming king will possess salvation.
Often in the Bible, we find righteousness and salvation paired together (Isaiah 45:8; 46;13; 51:4-5). When righteousness is brought near, so too is salvation. When salvation is brought near, so too is righteousness. They're two sides to the same coin. Salvation resides only in the hands of the one who is righteous, and the Righteous One is the only one who possesses the ability to save.
This is the beautiful reality of the gospel: those who have been saved by the hands of the Righteous One have been declared righteous because they are now found in the Righteous One. Jesus came to usher in salvation for his people, and in him alone will salvation be found.
John 3:17-18 says, "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God."
So, God showed his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Through the finished work of the cross, we have been saved from the wrath of God, and we have been reconciled to God.
To some, the message of the cross is a stumbling block. To others, the message of the cross is foolish and weak. But, to those who are called, the message of the cross is a message of wisdom and power. For us, it’s a message of hope!
PRAY:
"God, a broken and contrite heart, you will not despise. So, I humbly ask that you restore to me the joy of your salvation. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Help me sing aloud of your righteousness today! O LORD, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise!"