Jesus came into the city riding on a donkey—which was an intentional symbolic action that Jesus was the Messiah King who came to bring lasting peace + fulfill the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9.
“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous + victorious, lowly + riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” —Zechariah 9:9 NIV
Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem gets described in ways that are very similar to the way King Solomon entered Jerusalem when he was crowned king of Israel centuries before (1 Kings 1:32-40). Solomon came into the city riding on David’s donkey.
Then King David ordered, “Call Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet + Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” When they came into the king’s presence, 33 the king said to them, “Take Solomon + my officials down to Gihon Spring. Solomon is to ride on my own mule. 34 There Zadok the priest + Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. Blow the ram’s horn + shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ 35 Then escort him back here + he will sit on my throne. He will succeed me as king, for I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel + Judah.”
36 “Amen!” Benaiah son of Jehoiada replied. “May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, decree that it happen. 37 + may the Lord be with Solomon as he has been with you, my lord the king + may he make Solomon’s reign even greater than yours!”
38 So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada + the king’s bodyguard took Solomon down to Gihon Spring, with Solomon riding on King David’s own mule.
39 There Zadok the priest took the flask of olive oil from the sacred tent + anointed Solomon with the oil. Then they sounded the ram’s horn + all the people shouted,
“Long live King Solomon!” 40 + all the people followed Solomon into Jerusalem, playing flutes + shouting for joy. The celebration was so joyous + noisy that the earth shook with the sound. —1 Kings 1:32-40 NLT
Matthew mentions two animals—a donkey + its colt (Matthew 21:7).
They brought the donkey + the colt to him + threw their garments over the colt + he sat on it. —Matthew 21:7 NLT
Jesus entered Jerusalem riding the colt, riding a young donkey. The gospels of Mark + Luke only mention the colt + the fact that it had “never been ridden before” (Mark 11:2; Luke 19:30).
“Go into that village over there,” he told them. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it + bring it here.” —Mark 11:2 NLT
“Go into that village over there,” he told them. “As you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it + bring it here”. —Luke 19:30 NLT
They’re pointing out the fact that this colt had not been broken or trained. If you’ve never been around farm animals, it’s important to point out that you can’t ride an unbroken young donkey or colt, especially around crowds of screaming + cheering people unless you want your ride to be really, really interesting, to say the least.
However, Jesus is sovereign, so this young donkey or colt submits to the authority of the one who created it.
Every action in this story is an indication that Jesus is King + that Jesus is Sovereign!
Again, all of this happened to fulfill a prophecy found in Zechariah 9:9.
Today’s Verse: “Go into that village over there,” he told them. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it + bring it here.” —Mark 11:2 NLT
Today’s Prompt: Do you obey Jesus when He asks you to do things that might not make sense?
Today’s Gratitude: I am grateful that Jesus loves me so much, that He guides me + instructs me.
Today’s Prayer: Father, help me to listen for Your voice when You guide me + lead me. Help me to not question Your instruction, but to have enough faith + trust in You to know You would not steer me in the wrong direction.
