Zechariah 9:9-10
Peace Without Warhorses

Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion!
     Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem!
Lo, your king comes to you;
     triumphant and victorious is he,
humble and riding on a donkey,
     on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
     and the war-horse from Jerusalem;
and the battle bow shall be cut off,
     and he shall command peace to the nations;
his dominion shall be from sea to sea,
     and from the River to the ends of the earth.

New Revised Standard Version

What immediately jumps out from this prophesy in Zechariah is the reference to the Messiah riding on a colt. Of course, this prophesy was fulfilled as Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. He could have easily arranged for a warrior's horse, as was expected, and the people would have been thrilled to see Jesus claim his "rightful place" as the Jewish savior to free Judah from the occupying Roman forces.

Zechariah knew better that that what the Messiah was to be, as we see in this passage. So did Isaiah, calling Jesus the Prince of Peace in Isaiah 9:6. The power of the Messiah would not be shown in his daring courage but in his humility. His power would not be drawn from chariots and bows. Instead his power would be used to rid the world of weapons, so people could turn their swords into plows (Isaiah 2:4). The results would be different as well. Even the mightiest of the past conquerors never subdued the entire world, but the Messiah would rule over everything to the ends of the earth.

As followers of Christ, we, too, are called to be Princes and Princesses of Peace:

We must to cling to humility so that we are open to follow God.

We must avoid drawing attention to us so we can direct attention to God.

We must carry peace as a blessing to everyone, drawing that peace not from earthly methods but from the love of God.

We must keep our goals on spreading God's love to the ends of the earth.

Zechariah foresaw the ministry of Jesus, described in this brief passage. The life of Jesus spoke many volumes that demonstrated the love of God for everyone, and His death and resurrection provided the power for salvation and restoration with God. The story didn't stop with Jesus' ascension back to heaven; we are called to continue the story of God's love and peace with our lives.