Jesus and the Donkey

Featured writer-Ryan Burchett

“ 1As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”  4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go.”
-Mark 11:1-6

​What do you know about donkeys?  Generally, we know that donkeys, especially when compared to their relatives, the horse, they are pretty ugly animals.  They aren’t the most graceful of animals and they certainly aren’t the smartest.  They are very humble animals in terms of appearance, stature, and ability.

​When we read this short account, just before Jesus’ triumphal entry into town, we see that the preparation for that entry was well thought out and it was crucial.  Jesus knew long beforehand what He needed and here He executes the plan.

​What I’d like for us to get from this account is a very different way of looking at it; however, it’s still an important example nonetheless – we are that donkey!

​How so?  Without this colt, prepared for the Lord by the Lord, Jesus could not have entered into town the way He intended.  This same concept applies to us as Christians today.  God uses the humble at heart to glorify His kingdom through the sharing of the gospel.  He won’t use the proud or self-exalting, the ‘stallions’ if you will; rather he uses the humble, the servant-hearted, the ‘donkeys.’

​This colt was prepared especially to bring Jesus to the people.  It could have very well bucked and kicked and acted stubborn when the disciples showed up, but it didn’t.  It fulfilled its purpose.

​We, my Christian friend, are the donkeys prepared for Christ by Christ to carry His message to the people.  Won’t you be willing to do so?