GREAT LENT: DAY 38
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; He is triumphant and victorious, 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.” (Zachariah 9:9-10)
These two short verses in the prophecy of Zachariah summarize for us our Lord Jesus Christ’s first and second coming. His first coming is described as one through meekness and humbleness when Jesus Christ through His sacrifice granted humanity the gift of salvation and restored divine justice. His Second Coming will be with glory and might. Christ will destroy all the weapons of war between the nations, and will establish His peace over the entire universe, as described by the prophet: “His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.”
In the Gospel of Matthew, our Lord Jesus Christ describes His Second Coming which will take place with glory and might. (Matthew 24:30; 26:64) And already in the Book of Revelations, the Apostle tells us, that we witness our Lord Jesus Christ who returns to earth, not on a donkey but sited on a white horse ready to war against all His enemies. (Revelation 19:11-16) And at that time, all of humanity will stand before Him, in the words of the Apostle, for He is “King of Kings, and Lord of Lord.” (Revelation 19:16)
The first coming of Jesus Christ was a joyful and celebratory event for those who believed and trusted in their God. In the same way, His Second Coming will be celebratory for us all Christians, for we will finally meet our Savior and God. However, those who in this life rejected or renounced Jesus Christ, they will stand before Him as the Judge who is described in Revelation: “He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.” (Revelation 19:15)
Therefore, come and let us trust in God’s Word, let us live according to His commandments, and dwell in His presence. Being empowered through our faith and inspired through our spiritual joy, let us wait for the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with this awaited hope: “[W]hen these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:28)
