A Donkey?

Remember I once said there were meanings behind meanings? Well, there are a few things around Jesus entering Jerusalem the last week before his crucifixion that at one point in my life didn't make sense to my modern mind. Like, why ride the colt of a donkey downhill after resting for a short while? And why didn't everyone take seriously the proclamations they made about Jesus when he rode into town on the donkey? For that matter, why didn't the Roman guards take offense when the people laid their cloaks on the ground in front of Jesus as the people proclaimed him a king?

Maybe you've heard the answers before, but I thought I'd review them for those who hadn't heard them.

Bethphage is where Jesus waited for the disciples to return with the donkey and colt. In that day, that was where the city limits of Jerusalem began. And in order to fulfill the prophecy found in Isaiah 62 and Zechariah 9, Jesus as the Messiah king had to arrive into Jerusalem riding the colt. So that's what he did.

And you know what. The people knew that. In fact, part of the Passover season was celebrating and role playing the soon coming Messiah who would bring a peaceful kingdom. In other words, the removal of the Roman occupiers. So, celebrations were happening throughout the city in various ways. In the eyes of the Roman guard, the entrance Jesus made was only one of the many celebrations going on.

The words the people shouted, ". . .Son of David. . .," associated Jesus with Solomon, who also rode in the exact same way when he came into Jerusalem to be made king. And, both of them were fulfilling a prophecy that had been given to David. And since this was part of what the Messiah King would do, the people added to their reception of Jesus the placing of their cloaks on the ground. Which, by the way, was what people did to greet a king. . .it's akin to rolling out the red carpet.

Oh and as far as the palm branches go. . .that's a symbol of the Jewish nation as well as a symbol of peace. Remember they were thinking the Messiah was bringing peace from the Romans.

So if this was all going on, you may wonder why the Romans didn't get alarmed by the crowd around Jesus and what they were yelling and doing. There were several reasons. First, if Jesus wanted to be king and usurp Caesar he would have ridden a horse not the colt of a donkey. And his people would have been armed in some manner other than palm branches. Also, remember there were many people coming into the city shouting praises to God who was bringing them a king. What was one more celebration in the eyes of the Roman guard?


But in the long run Jesus knew more than the people who celebrated his entrance into Jerusalem. Whether they knew or believed him to be the true Messiah, the people fell into the plans of the Almighty. Jesus introduced himself that Passover season as the Messiah who had arrived to be the sacrifice for their sins, their protection from the angel of death. Without their failure to understand who he truly was, or to hold on to the truth that had been presented to them, he would not have been able to die on the cross for me and for you.