As Easter, the day of resurrection, approaches we take a look back long before Jesus made his debut on Earth. A prophet by the name of Zechariah displays a vision of what will come of God’s people - or more specifically, WHO will come and WHY he will come.
At this moment in time, a portion of the Jewish people remained in Babylonian exile and imprisonment. The Lord declares that He will free the prisoners, bring them back home, and restore to them double of what they originally had. Instead of being prisoners of Babylon, they will be prisoners of hope! This hope is displayed in Zechariah’s vision: the king is coming to proclaim and fulfill peace for the nations.

[Zechariah 9.9-12]

9.9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!

Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold, your king is coming to you;

righteous and having salvation is he,

humble and mounted on a donkey,

on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim

and the war horse from Jerusalem;

and the battle bow shall be cut off,

and he shall speak peace to the nations;

his rule shall be from sea to sea,

and from the River to the ends of the earth.

11 As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you,

I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.

12 Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope;

today I declare that I will restore to you double.

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ What is the significance of the king being mounted on a donkey? Perhaps compared to a horse?

+ What is a prisoner of hope?

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ Why is this crucial for faith in Christ?

+ What does it mean for us as believers?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?

+ Rejoice and shout for your king has come with peace. How might you extend this peace to your neighbors, coworkers, or friends?