Jesus did not fulfill Zech. 9:9 because a significant part of the verse speaks about the person riding as the “victorious king of Israel”. The passage explains that at that time, universal peace will be established. This is a key feature of the Messianic age, as we see in passages like Isa. 2:4; 11:1-9 and Hos. 2:18. However, Jesus was never anointed king of Israel and never reigned for one day as Israel’s king. And he certainly did not inaugurate a utopian world of universal peace.  Your response?

This comment represents a misunderstanding, both of Zechariah 9:9 and the ministry of Jesus the king.  Of course, the misunderstanding above represents the misunderstanding that many of the Jews had about their Messiah.  They expected that the Messiah would come to rout their enemies on the battlefield and to establish a powerful political kingdom. But this, like I said, is a misunderstanding of the Old Testament prophecies such as Zechariah 9:9.  We have to take all of the messianic prophecies as a whold.    Let us look at Zechariah 9:9.  Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.  Jews at the time of Jesus may have interpreted this as describing a militarily successful king, but if we look at the passage, there is no military victor implied by the text.  Generals ride into Jerusalem on a horse, not on a donkey.  Victorious military generals and kings may be described as victorious, but certainly not as lowly, and probably not as righteous.  Jesus was a gentle, lowly victorious king, but not an earthly king.  He is a spiritual king.  His conquest was not over the Roman armies.  His conquest was over Satan and the forces of evil.  He conquered through dying.  He conquered through living a perfect life.  The placard on Jesus’ cross was Jesus of Nazareth, king of the Jews.  Jesus is the greatest king who ever lived.  He triumphed over all the spiritual forces of evil, and he is the king of the greatest kingdom of all time—the kingdom of God.  Daniel 2:44 and Daniel 7:27 predicts this kind of kingdom.

You mention Isaiah 2:4.  This passage predicts, not an earthly kingdom, but a king of peace—one who will not fight wars, but who will end wars.  In the church male, female, rich, poor, Jew, Gentile and barbarian all come together in peace and harmony.  You mention Isaiah 11:1-9.  Again, this is not a military king, but one who conquers by his righteous words.  In his kingdom the wolf lives with the lamb and, metaphorically, the child plays near the viper.  This is a king who causes the earth to be filled with the knowledge of the Lord (11:9).  This is exactly what Jesus did!  You also mention Hosea 2:18. This passage is also consistent with a righteous spiritual king, not a conquering general.  Until Jesus comes back, this world will continue to be ruled by the forces of evil, but in Jesus’ triumphant church, bow and sword are put away, and peace reigns.

You say that Jesus was not anointed king, but this is certainly not true!  He was anointed by Martha at Bethany in John 12:1-8.  He was anointed just before his triumphal death and resurrection.  Jesus was certainly anointed king at Bethany. In John 19:14 Pilate presented Jesus to the people as their king.  The Romans killed the king of the Jews, but he was triumphantly raised from the dead on the third day.

John Oakes