What about the donkey?
“He sent two of the disciples, saying, ‘Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’’ So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, ‘Why are you untying the colt?” And they said, “The Lord has need of it.’ And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. ”
There are so many interesting details about the last week of Jesus’ life. From the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead and how Mary broke her alabaster box to anoint Jesus with precious oils to the triumphal entry into Jerusalem throughout the entire week, there is just so much happening that it’s easy to lose sight of some simple elements of the week. A lot of the small details may at first glance seem insignificant and irrelevant, but when you dig into the culture and tradition of the time, you can find deep-seeded messages hidden in plain sight.
One of those small details is the donkey that Jesus rode into Jerusalem. You might be asking yourself, “What about the donkey?” Jesus was poor, so of course He wouldn’t have a white stallion to ride into town on. And even if He did have a white stallion, it’s unlikely Jesus would have ridden on it anyway. But then, He could have just walked into Jerusalem just like He had done so many times before. So… What is the deal about the donkey?
I did some research into donkeys as it piqued my interested this week. I thought I would share some of the facts I discovered in hopes we all can see just how much that little donkey added to Jesus’ historical entrance into Jerusalem that started off a week that ended with the greatest event in history.
Sign of Purity: Jesus rode on a colt which is a young, uncastrated male horse/donkey, typically under four years old. Jesus instructed the disciples to get a donkey “on which no one has ever yet sat,” so Jesus knew He would be riding an unbroken donkey. One that was pure and never ridden by any other person or improperly trained instilling inappropriate behaviors donkeys are notorious for having.
Sign of Trust: Any stress that is caused by the environment or changes of normal routine will be reflected in the donkey’s behavior. Wherever possible, the owner of a donkey (especially a colt) will ease the animal into environmental changes slowly that is planned carefully to allow the donkey to adjust to changes without becoming stressed. Imagine how overwhelmed this colt may have felt carrying a human man on his back for the first time ever into the chaos, noise, and excitement of the triumphal entry. Then, imagine just how much that donkey trusted Jesus during the ride.
Sign of Humility: On that day, Jesus did not present Himself as a great military leader and king. He rode on the back of this simple animal to deliver a profound message to His disciples and the people participating in the Jerusalem parade. Jesus cared deeply about the spiritual needs in people's hearts and lives. He came as a humble servant-leader and offered peace for their souls.
Sign of Fulfillment: A 400-year-old+ prophesy was fulfilled with Jesus riding on a donkey…. even more specifically, a colt, a foal of a donkey. See Zechariah 9:9 below.
“ Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is He, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. ”
Sign of Redemption: Remember way back in Exodus when God commanded Moses and the Israelites to consecrate the firstborn male that opened the womb? The firstborn of clean animals were to be sacrificed. Firstborn male children were to be redeemed with a payment to the temple. It is interesting to note that the donkey was the only unclean animal that was to be redeemed. What was to be sacrificed to redeem this colt? A lamb.
“When the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and your fathers, and shall give it to you, you shall set apart to the LORD all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your animals that are males shall be the LORD’s. Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. Every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem.”
In biblical contexts, donkeys held significant cultural importance. The animal appears over 140 times in Scripture, owned by both wealthy figures like Job and poor families. Israelite law protected donkeys extensively, requiring compensation for injury or death, mandating aid for straying or overburdened animals regardless of ownership, and guaranteeing them Sabbath rest alongside human workers. Donkeys are critical elements of a lot of stories throughout the Bible as well. One carried the firewood for the fire when Abraham was instructed to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22). Samson used the jawbone of a donkey to kill a thousand men (Judges 15). Other than the serpent in the Garden of Eden, the donkey is the only animal recorded in the Bible to have spoken audibly to a man (Numbers 22).
So…. What about the donkey? Evidently God had plans for donkeys all along. Perhaps preparing for that strong and stout beast of burden who would carry our Lord and Savior - the Lam of God - into Jerusalem for the last time for the greatest sacrifice ever made.
