King on Mount Zion!

King on Mount Zion!

“Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.” John 12:15. “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” Matt. 21:5.

This must be one of the most amazing things written in the Scriptures. The disciples only realized the significance of it after Jesus was glorified. The people who paid homage to Him and waved the palm branches obviously understood nothing of all this. They rejoiced and went out to meet Him because they had heard that He had raised Lazarus from the dead. John 12:17-18.

We can also be certain that very few people since that time have understood anything about this. He said: Fear not! But now the conquering King who was to liberate them came riding on the lowliest animal that could be found—the lowliest of the lowly and the most stupid of all. Who could understand that in this state He was a King and a conqueror? The disciples understood it afterwards, and we can understand the King in His humiliation only by the anointing of the Spirit and with enlightened eyes. He sat on a donkey’s foal, the weakest and most inferior animal. He humbled Himself deeply in order to save everyone. “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are . . . .” 1 Cor. 1:27-28.

The law said that everyone who sins must die, and everyone had come under the law of sin and death. Jesus came as King and conqueror to set free all those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Heb. 2:15. In verse 14 we read that Jesus likewise partook of flesh and blood as the children, and in this flesh He destroyed him who had the power of death, that is, the devil. Even though everyone who came before Him had suffered defeat, He became King and conqueror in a flesh like ours. The law said to people that they should do things a certain way, but the flesh with all its demands was stronger, and the law was powerless. Everyone was lost, without hope of being saved. However, Jesus came with the same flesh and gloriously overcame in all trials. Joseph overcame in his trial when he said, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Jesus’ purity was even greater. There is no condemnation for having a flesh, but there is for living according to its desires. Rom. 8:13; Gal. 5:24. Therefore the one who lives in pleasure is dead while he lives. 1 Tim. 5:6.

Jesus is King on Mount Zion where a flock has gathered and chosen Him to be their King and Lord. They have been elected to be kings and lords together with Him and to overcome just as He overcame. 1 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 3:21. Among this glorious flock Jesus bears the name King of kings and Lord of lords. Rev. 19:16. He has entered into an eternal life-fellowship with them because they are dead to sin and alive to God. Rom. 6:11; 2 Tim. 2:11-12.

Jesus, the King on Mount Zion, has saved them from the law of sin and death, and thus from the fear of bondage. “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” John 15:14. They have nothing to fear. Because Jesus humbled Himself and was obedient to the point of death, God highly exalted Him and gave Him a name that is above all names. Phil. 2:8-9.

If we are to have a name together with Christ, then we must follow Him in His humiliation. In His humiliation Jesus overcame all “greatness” and every spirit of pride which, to some degree or other, has ruled over mankind.

On the day of Pentecost Jesus appeared as the King on Mount Zion and gathered His disciples who wanted to learn from Him and live as He had lived—meek and humble of heart. Jesus has overcome the power of the devil, and now He equips His followers with the power of the Spirit to overcome as He overcame. He was tempted and tried as we are, in order to help us when we are being tempted and tried. The prince of this world had no part in Him.

The religious world is violently opposed to the truth that Jesus had a flesh like we do, and that He was tempted and tried as we are. They base their opposition on their own lives, how they have lived in all kinds of sins and were bothered in their thought life with it all long after they were converted.

Jesus was never tried because of living in sin. We can follow Jesus’ first steps after we have been baptized with one Spirit to be one body with Him. 1 Cor. 12:13. He is the author and finisher of our faith. He was perfectly faithful to His heavenly Father from when He was a little boy, and He learned to discern between good and evil. Jesus’ Spirit-filled, wholehearted followers are tempted and tried like He was, in order to be conformed to Him in glory by overcoming as He overcame. They are greatly comforted by the fact that Jesus had a flesh as we do and was tempted as we are. It would not have been any comfort for us if Jesus had been like the angels—but now He is much greater than they are.

Many people want to have Jesus as someone who forgives their sins and heals their sicknesses, but they do not want to have Him as their King and Lord in everything they say and do. Only the few believe that it is fully possible, in flesh and blood, to follow Jesus’ steps. “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ‘Who committed no sin, nor was guile found in His mouth’; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously . . . .” 1 Pet. 2:21-23. “He who says He abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” 1 John 2:6.

It is this elect flock that stands as overcomers on Mount Zion together with their King. They follow Him wherever He goes. Rev. 14. It is this glorious flock that follows their King on white horses. Rev. 19. That indicates purity and power. Jesus is the everlasting King on Mount Zion. He said to Pilate, “I am a king.” He was the King of truth, and His kingdom was not of this world. He is the King of righteousness and the King of peace. Heb. 7:2. The government is on His shoulders. Read Isaiah 9:6-7.

“For the Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Lawgiver, the Lord is our King; He will save us.” Isa. 33:22. On Mount Zion we will always see the King in His beauty. V. 17.