I am sure I have been around a donkey or two at a zoo or other wildlife preserve.
But I have never ridden one. Nor have I had to lead one anywhere.
In the last year of my earthly father’s life, he shared a story with me I had never heard before about a time he handled two donkeys.
He shared he was responsible for getting these two donkeys from one location to where his father was waiting for him.
At one point, the donkey he was riding stopped and refused to move forward. The other donkey also stopped. My dad said he did everything he could think of to get those donkeys moving again.
Donkeys have a reputation for being stubborn, which my father experienced firsthand.
What does this have to do with Matthew 21:1-11?
A Study on Matthew 21:1-11
21 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,
5 “Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ ” [1]
How is the colt described?
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. 8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”[2]
Write out Zechariah 9:9.
What part of Zechariah 9:9 is happening in Matthew 21:6-9?
10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.” [3]
Who did the people in the city think Jesus was?
Based on both Matthew and Zechariah, what was the point of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey?
What is the value of Jesus’ humble and gentle leadership?
Have You Ridden a Donkey?
Donkeys are described as a beast of burden.
My earthly father experienced the strong-willed nature of these creatures.
Jesus, however, did not have that experience.
He rode a beast of burden into Jerusalem while the crowds cut branches from trees to spread on the road before him while shouting hosanna.
The crowds were asking Jesus to save them.
As the days unfolded after this incredible welcome into Jerusalem, these same crowds would yell “crucify him” instead of “please save us”. (See Matthew 27:22-23)
The problem was that the crowds wanted Jesus to be what they thought was most important in that moment. They wanted a political conqueror.
But that was not on Jesus’ agenda at that moment.
Instead, Jesus was focused on the long-range plan of spiritual salvation for our eternity.
Jesus entered Jerusalem knowing he was going to be crucified on our behalf.
He humbly rode a beast of burden known for its tendency towards stubbornness to enter a city that would turn in a matter of days from celebration of him to murderous hatred.
The colt proved obedient to Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem.
But the very people Jesus came to serve proved by the end of that week that they were the stubborn ones.
Jesus had awed the crowds with miraculous healings and insightful teaching about the kingdom of God. Yet, most of their hearts still turned bitterly cold when he did not do what they expected him to do.
Take a moment to write about a time when you struggled to understand what the Lord was doing when things did not happen as you expected.
Did this experience stir praise or stubbornness in your heart towards him?
I encourage you to spend time in the week to come reading the rest of the book of Matthew to reflect on Jesus’ humble obedience in comparison with our human tendency to be more stubborn than even a donkey.
Are you willing to ride your beast of burden with the same humble mindset as Jesus? Why or why not?
Blessings,
Barbara Lynn
p.s. I am taking a week off to spend time with family over Easter. My next post will be April 27, 2025.
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mt 21:1–5.
[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mt 21:6–9.
[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mt 21:10–11.