If you're like me, you've viewed many variations of the Christmas story played out on television, book and play. It's good to be reminded of the birth of Jesus for that event marked the first prophetic fulfillment of every written about him in the Old Testament long before he was born.

Zechariah prophesied many things concerning Messiah, none more specific than the one that says He will enter Jerusalem on not just a donkey, but the foal of a donkey. This is strange indeed because nobility would likely use a horse-drawn chariot for such a purpose. For kings however, they were carried in the comfort of a litter. The litter was a couch equipped with an overhead framework that concealed who was sitting on it by virtue of a fine veiled covering. The litter rested on poles which were carried by several men, most often servants. When you saw one, you knew they were nobility even though you may not have been able to see inside.

The irony of Israel's king is that while he deserves to be treated as nobility, he chose humility instead. The Son of God deserved to be carried through those gates on the back of servants, but he elected to do it an entirely different way. He would enter Jerusalem on the back of a lowly donkey foal. This was even lower than a farmer would do, for he would likely use the parent of that foal to pull a cart in which he would ride.

In Matthew 21:1-11, we have the fulfillment of Zechariah's prediction played out in real life. No doubt, everyone knew what Jesus was doing for He executed Zechariah's words exactly. The people placed their garments and tree branches on the path before him like a red carpet rolled out for royalty. After all, for the Jew, you can't be more royal than to be the Son of David for that was another expression for "Messiah".

Those waving branches and crying "Son of David," watched as he entered the gate with their own idea of what he'd do next. Matthew says Jesus went directly into the Temple. The people must have thought, "Ok, he's going in to get the blessing of the priests, scribes and Pharisees." We'll wait her in the courtyard of the temple and wait to be told what to do next.

The people waiting outside the Temple area probably looked up to see Jesus leaving the Temple with his disciples following and looking behind them. Someone who saw what happened inside probably spread the word that Jesus ran the moneychangers out and even quoted the law to them as he turned over tables. "Ok, this is good," some must have thought. "He's probably going to Herod next to straighten him out and then to Pilate to tell him God's people won't be walked on anymore! Spread the word everybody. Jesus is the real deal - the day of our deliverance is here!" But as they followed Jesus and his band of men, they noticed he was leaving the city and not finishing what he started in the Temple.

Those following him must have recalled Moses' words of what happened in Egypt. The more Moses angered Pharoah, the harder life became for the people. Their generation may not have been making bricks without straws for the pyramids, but they knew about subjection and intimidation. They must have wondered what Herod would do to them for their participation in the arrival pageant of Jesus into Jerusalem. They are what we call "fair-weather" followers.

Many of us today are no better than the people who celebrated Jesus entry into Jerusalem one day and cried "crucify him," a few days later. Yesterday we brought gifts to a baby lying in a lowly manger. I'm afraid that today too many of us act like there's now 364 days remaining till we get in line to wave our branches and proclaim him the coming King.

David waved many figurative branches at Messiah's feet, none more than Psalm 145:1-2. "I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name forever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever."

I pray we take David's words to heart and treat today no differently than yesterday - Christmas Day. The wise men sought Jesus. As Lord, Jesus seeks someone to follow Him - every single hour of every single day - 365.25 days a year. Can I count you in or are you a CEO? That stands for worshiping Jesus on Christmas, Easter and Other special days.

1 Developed from Read the Bible Thru ( Ze. 9:1-17 Rv. 17:1-18 Ps. 145:1-21 Pr. 30:32 )
2. Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society

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