Jesus and the Donkey

There are many passages in the Old Testament that tie into the New Testament, prophecies made in the OT that are fulfilled in the NT.  It is always interesting to note these, knowing that the prophecies were made hundreds of years before the fulfillment.  There are so many examples of this that we could never cite half of them in an article of this type.  But we will look at one here that involved a donkey.

When Jesus was approaching the time of His death, He arranged for the use of a donkey for His entry into Jerusalem.  This was in fulfillment of the passage in Zechariah 9:9: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!  Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!  Behold, your King is coming to you;  He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey."  This is clearly a messianic prophecy and given certainty by the reference to the old scripture in the NT.

We see the events unfolding in Luke 19, starting in verse 28.  This so-called triumphant entry into Jerusalem is often referenced as "Palm Sunday."  Jesus sent two of His disciples into a village and told them that they would find a colt, the foal of a donkey, that had never been ridden.  This brings to mind the perfect sacrifices that the Jews were to make under the Old Law; the animals that were brought to sacrifice to the Lord were to be perfect, the best of the flock.  "Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as He had told them.  As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, 'Why are you untying the colt?'  They replied, 'The Lord needs it.'  They brought it to Jesus...."

Jesus rode the colt into Jerusalem with great acclaim, with people putting down their cloaks for the donkey to walk on, singing and shouting "Hosanna' to the Lord.  But it wouldn't be long before all would disappear, all support, all encouragement.  The Lord went to His trial and death alone; and He did it for you and me.

The story of the donkey shows one more example of how Jesus fulfilled the many prophecies of the OT.  It strengthens our faith to see the perfection and completeness of God's Word.  Let us all learn it.....and follow it.

Have a great week!