The Man On A Donkey
Part of the Holy Week series
Palm Sunday.
Jesus of Nazareth rides into Jerusalem to much applause and adoration. The crowds threw their cloaks on his pathway, cut palm branches and laid them on the ground, and as he enters they shout, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Matthew 21:9)
The scene in the story has all of the elements you need for a 1st century kingly entry…
…except one.
Jesus rides in, not on a war horse, but a donkey.
Kings, rulers and military generals would ride into town in a similar way. After a victorious battle, multiple convoys of soldiers would precede, culminating in the grand entrance of the one who would receive praise. They would be seated on a decorated chariot pulled by multiple war horses.
Make no mistake; the King was still riding in to town. Jesus of Nazareth and his crowds were announcing the inauguration of his kingdom. The title “Son of David” that the crowds chanted is a loaded term that refers to the prophesied Messiah of Israel. Under the oppressive reign of Rome — and before them, Babylon, and before them, Egypt — Jesus’ followers were ready for this moment where they would be liberated.
But this kingdom would be different from the worldly kingdoms that had ruled them. This entry scene of Jesus into Jerusalem on a donkey shows us how The Kingdom of God is “not of this world”, so let’s dive in.
The citizens of the Kingdom
Jesus’ teaching was radical in almost every way possible and his followers are evidence of that. Our modern culture has adapted so much of what Jesus taught about people that we take it for granted. The message of inclusion and equality is the air we breathe and the water we swim in. We only pause when our institutions and surroundings don’t live up to it, not when we uphold Jesus’ teachings successfully.
In the ancient world, the norm was that the disabled, the poor, the weak, women, and children were not prioritized. Only the citizens of Rome had rights, and those could only be men. There were no government programs taking care of it’s elderly, and there were no safety nets for orphans and widows. These are the exact people that Jesus ministered to.
The crowds at Jesus’ entry undoubtedly were filled with these types of people. Widows, children, Gentiles, those who had been healed, outcasts, and people who had nothing to offer him gathered to honor and proclaim the arrival of the Kingdom of God. Not only were these people observers of him; they participated.
Matthew 21 describes that the crowds “went before him and.. followed him”. Where a king or general would have his soldiers and battalions go before him and follow him, Jesus has his followers do the same. Imagine: a parade of nobodies ushering in the Prince of Heaven, on a donkey, no less.
The teachings of the Kingdom
Where the world has adapted the teachings of Jesus on inclusion, equity, and diversity (wink wink), they have outright rejected other teachings he had, and the donkey personifies them.
Consider what the entry of a Roman general or king meant. They just returned from war where blood was shed in an effort to conquer and Hellenize. No doubt they made their conquered enemies into slaves, or at best they were forced to assimilate into the culture. Their celebratory arrivals meant that their kingdom was spreading and their culture was dominating. The towering war horse symbolizes power, swiftness, and, perhaps, a ruthlessness.
The donkey on the other hand might as well represent the complete opposite. Donkeys aren’t fast. They aren’t as powerful — we don’t measure things in “donkeypower” (as opposed to horsepower). They don’t intimidate you.
Jesus riding in on a donkey provides the contrast we need to understand his teaching on God’s Kingdom. Rome expanded by bloodshed and oppression. The Kingdom of God is spread by love, service and power, the power of good news. The kingdoms of this world spread by consolidating and wielding power, but the Kingdom of God spreads by the distribution of divine power to it’s followers.
The Kingdom of God will honor anyone that is lowly and humble, while the world lifts up the boastful and proud. The world loves what is powerful and imposing. Christians need not stay away from power, but we must realize that our source of power is not one of horses and chariots, but from a man on a donkey.
The Man on a Donkey rode into town with a purpose: to complete his ministry and claim his throne. No surprise, he doesn’t do it in the way we expect. Come back Friday for more.
Read Part II of this series on Holy Week: The Man On The Middle Cross
What part of Holy Week is important to you?