Matthew 21:4-5 states that Jesus fulfilled Zechariah 9:9 concerning the King of Israel riding into Jerusalem upon a colt (a donkey). Skeptics say anyone could have ridden into Jerusalem upon a donkey claiming to be the King of Israel. They state the true significance of Zechariah 9:9 is found in Zechariah 9:10-17. They claim that because Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in 70AD, this proved that Jesus was not the King of Israel coming to Jerusalem who would save them from their enemies as Zechariah 9:10-17 describes. However, this accusation fails to take into account biblical principles found in passages such as Jeremiah 18:5-11.
Jeremiah 18:5-11
“Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘Am I not able, house of Israel, to deal with you as this potter does?‘ declares the LORD. ‘Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, house of Israel. At one moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to uproot it, to tear it down, or to destroy it; if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I planned to bring on it. Or at another moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to build up or to plant it; if it does evil in My sight by not obeying My voice, then I will relent of the good with which I said that I would bless it. So now, speak to the men of Judah and against the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, ‘This is what the LORD says: ‘Behold, I am forming a disaster against you and devising a plan against you. Now turn back, each of you from his evil way, and correct your ways and your deeds!'”
God revealed through Jeremiah that the salvation or destruction of a nation was dependent upon their obedience to His commandments. If God spoke prosperity and protection for a nation but they afterward rebelled against Him, He would not fulfill His promise of prosperity. Likewise, if God spoke destruction for a nation but they afterward repented and obeyed Him, He would not fulfill His promise of destruction.
The Jews who were destroyed in Jerusalem in 70AD by the Romans were those who rejected Jesus as the Messiah. The Jews had about 37-40 years after Jesus had died and resurrected to place trust in Him as their Messiah. If they had obeyed Jesus, they would have been spared from the destruction. Jesus provided His disciples the way of escape from the destruction coming upon Jerusalem.
Luke 21:20-24
“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near. Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are inside the city must leave, and those who are in the country must not enter the city; because these are days of punishment, so that all things which have been written will be fulfilled. Woe to those women who are pregnant, and to those who are nursing babies in those days; for there will be great distress upon the land, and wrath to this people; and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”
Besides this, the principle of Zechariah 9:10-17 was the preservation of Jerusalem and Ephraim against the Grecians (Zechariah 9:13). The Greeks conquered Medo-Persia in 331BC and reigned until they were conquered by Rome in 146BC. The Jews are pictured as being victorious over their Grecian enemies. It was prophesied through Daniel that the Messiah would arrive within the days of the Roman kingdom (Daniel 2:44; Daniel 7). Therefore, Zechariah 9:10-17 serves as a promise of preservation for the nation of Israel until the King of Israel (the Messiah) would come.
Jesus could have protected the Jews from destruction coming from the Romans. If He gave His disciples instructions how to avoid the confrontation and desolation, then surely His instructions could have protected the nation as a whole. After all, the instructions which come from Jesus say to be subject to the governing authorities (Romans 13:1-7). The reason the Jews were destroyed by the Romans was due to their rebellion against the governing authorities.
In conclusion, we can clearly see that Jerusalem being destroyed by Rome in 70AD was not a lack of power in Jesus to protect Jerusalem. The destruction that came upon the city was the direct result of the Jews’ failure to obey the instructions that came from their King.