NOT JUST A DOG-WHISTLE

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This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, "Say to the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.'" And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"
Matthew 21:4‭-‬5‭, ‬9 ESV

¶We are grateful to Matthew the author for explaining this prophecy in its fulfillment here, but, in a community steeped in messianic expectation, the meaning was clear. Jesus was sending a message, not with His words, but by His deeds. The king was coming. Use of the donkey, however, was not just secret code for His true identity. It was a sign upon the way to the cross of the true humility of our champion, and a call to repentance, a call not for pride, but for humility and contrition.

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