Theology 19: Real Strength

Real Strength

Zechariah 9:9, “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

What is strength? A massive NFL lineman? A wealthy CEO? A famous actress? Physical strength, money, and fame can go a long way. But is that real strength? Do they give lasting happiness? Contentment? Hope? No, they don’t.

On Palm Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. The crowds shouted his praises. It was the height of his fame. But just one week later, they shouted for his death and crucifixion. Did that stop Jesus? No. He rode on in glory and majesty. He rode on to die.

On Psalm Sunday, we see real strength. Jesus was God almighty, yet he set aside that power and glory. He rode towards death. Why? Because he loved you. Because he wanted to save us. Through his death and resurrection, our sins are forgiven. We have eternal life. That’s strength. Real strength. Jesus’ strength gives us happiness, contentment, hope.

Now we also can be strong. What does that look like in our lives? It means loving others and serving them, being kind, considerate, compassionate, even when it’s inconvenient, annoying, or difficult. “We love because he first loved us.” Only through Jesus’ strength do we have real strength ourselves.