On a Donkey?

By James Hoffman

Matthew 21:1-11 (NASB95)

1 When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me. 3 “If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold your King is coming to you, Gentle, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ ” 6 The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them, 7 and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their coats on them; and He sat on the coats. 8 Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road. 9 The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!” 10 When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.” 

Devotional

On Palm Sunday we remember what we call the Triumphal Entry. Jesus finally enters into Jerusalem, a city He will not leave before His task is accomplished. Jesus decides that now, only a mile or two from the city, to get a donkey to ride into the city. This choice creates a rather vivid vision of what Jesus’ real task is here.

On one hand, Jesus is possibly alluding to David’s return to the throne after Absalom’s rebellion. In 2 Sam 15:30 we see David leaving his throne at the start of the rebellion by the Mount of Olives, presumably the same way he returns later on in 16:1-2 riding a donkey. David, the rightful king, was now returning after his own child rebelled against him. Jesus likely was relating to David in this moment. Jesus, the rightful king, is now returning to Jerusalem. Jesus has two claims to return to here. First is that Jesus is the rightful king by lineage, He is the descendant of David, the royal line. Second is that Jesus is God incarnate. The Temple is meant to contain God’s presence in the Holy of Holies. In all reality Jesus is the rightful ruler of the world, a world that has rebelled against Him and is now afflicted with death. Now Jesus is returning to His throne, getting ready to reclaim His ownership of rebellious humanity from Satan. 

On the other hand, we also see an interesting parallel here. Jesus is certainly entering this city as a king. Everyone is expecting Jesus to come reclaim His rightful throne from Rome, not from Satan and even death itself. Everyone is expecting Jesus to come riding in on a grand stallion with an army at His heels. Yet we see Jesus riding on a donkey, wearing very ordinary clothes, accompanied by very ordinary people. Instead of a grand show of power and awe, Jesus chooses humility and meekness, living out the very ethic we see Him teach in places like Matthew 5. Jesus is truly about to conquer an enemy greater than the people could imagine, and yet these would be the same people crying out for Jesus to be crucified in just five days.

Prayer

Lord my God, please help focus my mind, my heart, and my body towards your entry into Jerusalem. Help me remain focused on you as I embark on this week of remembrance. Thank you God for what you have done for us. Thank you for entering in despite knowing what would come. Thank you for choosing that cross for my sake. Thank you for conquering sin and death, freeing me from the shackles that once bound me. In the name of Jesus, my rightful king, amen.

Bibliography

Turner, David L. Matthew. Cornerstone Biblical Commentary 11. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2005.

France, R. T. Matthew: An Introduction and Commentary. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries 1. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985.