“…Look, your king is coming to you…he is humble, riding on a donkey…” Zechariah 9:9
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 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. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’ ” They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
Mark 11:1-4.
Everything about Jesus coming and his ministry were preordained right to the Donkey. In a time when so many felt like what they needed was a warrior they ended up with a gentle and merciful King. Some days all you want is for Jesus to be the type of King who would come with through with his sword, beheading our enemies and setting us free. But that has never been Jesus’s character. Jesus doesn’t want to lose a single soul, so he comes riding on a donkey. For the sake of us, he would set aside his great power and die by human hands. In the final hour Jesus Will Come and he will destroy the enemy! Wielding a sword and killing all evil. But till that day comes we have to remain as occupiers, not taking up battle arms against people but against the devil who works through people. We don’t always want to go to the World on the back of a donkey, but until Jesus returns to Vanquish the enemy, we must ride out on animals of burden and peace, with our sword of the Spirit ready by our side. Jesus will come again, and when He does He will come as a warrior king with His army to defeat the true enemy- the devil will fall. But He wants to take back as many souls from the devil as possible before the final hour strikes, so he comes in peace because He chooses not to be our enemy even when we kill Him, because He loves us and wants us. What a sad and terrible day this must have been as Jesus saw people who should have loved Him, praising Him only while it was convinient. When He was no longer popular they shouted to crucify Him and to set the false Jesus free- they chose Barabas.
Still He comes in peace to a world full of lost and wandering souls who desperately need Him.