22 August | Teens
«Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey. » Zechariah 9:9
Do you know when we see in the movies those kings and queens arriving at big parties, riding beautiful horses or shiny carriages? You think, “Wow, they must be super important!” But the Bible tells the story of a King unlike any other. His name – I believe you already know it – is Jesus! He chose to arrive in Jerusalem in a very simple way, riding on a colt. That’s right! Rather than choosing a big, strong horse or a chariot full of gold, Jesus showed that being a king is about much more than looking powerful or having many things.
Zechariah, this prophet who wrote parts of the Bible long before Jesus was born, had already told, prophesied that this would happen. He said, “Rejoice, folks, because your King is coming, humble, riding on a donkey.” He wrote this to show everyone that Jesus was a different king. He was born in a simple place, lived with simple people, and even His “coronation” was simple. Jesus wanted to teach us that true great-ness does not come from power or wealth, but from serving others and bringing God’s love to the earth. He came to start a new kind of kingdom, the Kingdom of God, which is about caring for and loving people, not about dominating or impressing with riches and power.
Take Action
How about drawing a picture of Jesus arriving in Jerusalem on a colt? As you draw, think about how we can be humble and care for one another, just as Jesus did.