Horses, and Donkeys, and Kings, Oh My!

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!

Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!

See, your king comes to you,

righteous and victorious,

lowly and riding on a donkey,

on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

—Zechariah 9:9

The Greek islands that make up Santorini were formed thousands of years ago by massive volcanic eruptions that caused the center of the ancient island to collapse and the outer crescent-shaped islands to emerge. It’s a stunning place to visit, but it’s not easily accessible. Tourists arriving by boat can reach the cities and villages perched 1000 feet above the ocean in three ways: stone steps, cable car, or donkey.   

  When my husband and I visited many years ago, we decided to ascend the steep cliffs by cable car and descend by donkey. However, when we reached the top of the island and got a clear view of the donkeys’ journey down, we decided to take the cable car back. The road was narrow, and the donkeys appeared to enjoy hugging the edge of the steps where there was no guardrail.

  To be sure, donkeys are sure-footed, which makes them the perfect animal for navigating steep and rocky terrain. In addition, their wide-set eyes allow them to keep all four of their hooves in sight at all times. Despite the advantages, I was not about to chance getting a blind or suicidal donkey.

  Jesus appears to have had no such concerns when he sent two of his disciples to find him a donkey and its colt. Maybe that’s because the hills leading to Jerusalem though rocky are not steep. But why didn’t Jesus mount a horse instead? A horse would have been a more appropriate choice for the Messiah.

JESUS ON THE DONKEY, Andrei Medvedev

  The Pharisees and Sadducees expected the Messiah to be a military leader in the image of King David, one who would free the Jewish people from Roman rule. Had Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a horse, the Jewish leaders might have had more respect for his authority. But Jesus was not about to give them what they wanted. He was concerned only with fulfilling his father’s will. Hence the donkey.

  Five-hundred years prior, following the return of the Jews from their exile in Babylon, the prophet Zechariah wrote:

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!    

Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!

See, your king comes to you,    

righteous and victorious,

lowly and riding on a donkey,    

on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

I will take away the chariots from Ephraim    

and the warhorses from Jerusalem,    

and the battle bow will be broken.

He will proclaim peace to the nations.    

His rule will extend from sea to sea    

and from the River [Euphrates]

to the ends of the earth. (Zechariah 9:9–10)

Zechariah's prophesy portrays the coming Messiah as a powerful yet humble king who would focus on peace rather than war, who would sit upon a donkey rather than a warhorse.

  By riding into Jerusalem rather than walking, Jesus claimed to be a king. By riding on a donkey rather than a horse, he not only called for peace instead of war, but he also proclaimed to be the humble Messiah that Zechariah had written about. 

  The common people responded by laying down palm branches and their cloaks for him to ride upon, which signified that they recognized Jesus as a king. So, why did the Jewish leaders not respond in kind?

  Because, like many of us, they chose to see what they wanted to see.

  They didn’t want a gentle king riding a donkey. They wanted a strong leader to charge in on a stallion. They didn’t want a king who challenged their authority. They wanted a leader who would allow them to maintain their status in society. They didn’t want a Messiah who elevated love above war. They wanted a leader who would fight to the death against the Romans.

  The Jewish leaders didn’t get what they wanted, and neither did we. Instead, we all got what we needed: a Savior. 

Happy Easter!

THE SONG THAT COMES TO MIND IS: Love of God by Brandon Lake & Phil Wickham

Favorite lyric: “What leads a king to pay so great a cost? All my life, my heart will sing the answer: Only the love of God.”