Zechariah's Messianic Prophecies

Studying the Old Testament this school year has strengthened our testimonies on listening more closely to what prophets say!

Zechariah 9:9 "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly [humble], and riding upon an ass [symbolic of submission and humility--Messiah's submission to will of the Father, and to Jewish leaders and Roman soldiers who would crucify him], and upon a colt* the foal of an ass.

Yet another Messianic prophesy by an Old Testament prophet: Israel's king will ride a donkey. Taken out of context, the less spiritual would view this as contradiction. Those with ears to hear [listen to the prophets] and eyes to see [read the scriptures daily] will understand subtlety. Compare Matthew 21:1-11 and John 12:12-15.

*Did you know that the donkey on which Jesus rode into Jerusalem had never been ridden? Mark tells us that the donkey that Jesus rode was "a colt...whereon never man sat" (Mark 11:2). This is a reminder of the Savior's power and mastery over all things, including the animal kingdom.

Zechariah 9:10-11 And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse [symbolic of military power or war] from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.
11 As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.

Elder Bruce R McConkie explained: "It was of these that Zechariah prophesied when as part of a longer Messianic utterance, he spoke of 'prisoners of hope'; it was of these that he gave assurance that 'the Lord their God shall save them.'  He gives the Messianic message in these words: 'By the blood of the covenant'--that is, because of the gospel covenant, which is efficacious because of the shedding of the blood of Christ--'I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.' (Zechariah 9:11-16) 'Wherein is no water'--how aptly and succinctly this crystallizes the thought that the saving water, which is baptism, is an earthly ordinance and cannot be performed by spirit beings while they dwell in the spirit world. Did not Paul say in this same connection, 'What shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?' (1 Corinthians 15:29)
-The Promised Messiah, p 241