I am spending Lent exploring how vast the story of the time and events leading us up to the story of the cross and the Resurrection of our Lord is more than a one day thing. Last week we included in “The Rest Of The Story’ a quick look at Resurrection Day, also known as Easter. We acknowledged some of the church rituals or holidays along the way. Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday and here we are now in the season of Lent. Another event I would like to add to “The Rest Of The Story” is about that Donkey. One thing I have learned from the Bible is that God has a plan and He is always in charge. Some of the time, well actually all of the time… like His disciples we miss the significance of Jesus’ instructions or the parables he often used to teach the Fathers’ will. 

Like all good stories this one continues to grow. As the scripture  shares with us Bethany is mentioned frequently in the New Testament. It was the home of Mary and Martha and their brother Lazarus. We know from previous scriptures that Jesus often visited there. It is from this place that Jesus sent his disciples to find a colt upon which he would ride into Jerusalem. The Synoptic Gospels mention it as being close to Bethany, it was here also that the miracle of Lazarus’s resurrection took place, right under his enemies noses. Something that is not mentioned to often is the fact that at this very time Jesus is a wanted man. (John 11:57) I will share this as written in a commentary by William Barclay…  and I quote him:

“It is a breathtaking thing to think of a man with a price upon his head, an outlaw, deliberately riding into a city in such a way that every eye was fixed upon him. It is impossible to exaggerate the sheer courage of Jesus.” 

What About That Donkey?

There is a lot of symbolism and allegory in the Bible, sometimes it can be confusing and sometimes there is a practical reason for it. The best example of this is the frequency and richness of such in  the Book Of Revelation but that is another direction to go and at another time. There is a time and a place for everything a great teacher once said. The Jews had been expecting a warhorse, ridden by a warrior ready to do war. It was a prevailing thought of that time, it was the mount of a King…and the Jews were expecting a Messiah, a king that would make things right again.  

To me this is just another example of a parable which has gone visual. Here is a visual of the description of a king who would be “righteous and having salvation, gentle.” Rather than riding to conquer, this king would enter in peace and in that day and time those who saw and heard this story unfold would understand what was being put before them. There is one other thing…The mention of a donkey in Zechariah 9:9-10  Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey — riding on a donkey’s colt. Bethphage and Bethany were located on the southeastern slope of the Mount of Olives, about two miles from Jerusalem.

God has a plan for his people…all people. Consider this…a Donkey, a two mile ride and a Cross…simple but it changed the world and is still reconciling God with his people to this day.

Life Is Good

jk