When Jesus rode into Jerusalem, the crowd wanted a political rescue. They wanted Rome gone. But Zechariah promised a king who was righteous, saved, and humble. This king did not ride a warhorse. He rode a donkey to show he came in peace. He possessed the perfect righteousness needed to stand before God on our behalf to satisfy justice.

A Kingdom of Shalom

God promised to dismantle the chariots and war horses. His kingdom does not advance by military force. Instead, the King speaks peace or "shalom" to the nations. Shalom is not just the absence of conflict. It is the presence of everything good. It is like the deep rest you experience when a difficult ordeal is finally over.

The Friend in the Hole

How does the king rescue his people from the pit?. He does it through the blood of the covenant. Palm Sunday leads directly to Good Friday because the rescue required a sacrifice. There is a famous story from the television show The West Wing. A man falls into a deep hole. A doctor throws down a prescription. A priest throws down a prayer. Finally, a friend jumps into the hole with him. The friend says he knows the way out because he has been down there before. Advice and programs cannot reach the bottom of our spiritual pit. Jesus is the friend who climbed all the way down to pull us out.