Perspectives

The Foal of a Donkey

  • Peter Friesen, Author
  • Retired Minister

Zechariah 9:9… 9) 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. (NIV)

Life is full of surprises. We meet people we have heard about, and we find them to be different than we thought they would be. Meetings at church – work – gatherings with friends does not unfold as we had envisioned it beforehand. Sometimes God surprises us as well. At times, we may have desired a lightening bolt or at least handwriting on a wall. But while we might have expected God to come to us through a dramatic event, He may come in a quiet way, almost unnoticed and without fanfare.

No incident so shows the sheer courage of Jesus as this Scripture lesson does. One might expect Jesus to enter Jerusalem secretly and to keep hidden from the authorities who were out to destroy him. Instead, Christ enters in such a way that the attention of every person fixated on him. One of the most precarious things a person can do is to go to people and tell them that all their accepted ideas are wrong. Any person who tries to tear up by the roots a people’s nationalistic dream is in for trouble. But that is what Jesus deliberately was doing. Here Jesus is making the last appeal of love and making it with a courage that is heroic.

Jesus Christ rode into Jerusalem on an unused colt. Was it merely to fulfill prophecy that Jesus did this, though that would have been sufficient? Jesus rode in on a colt, the foal of a donkey, to reveal that character of His coming and of His Kingdom. This we must remember was an unusual way for a king to approach a city. The king had to maintain his image of a mighty warrior. Mighty warriors of that day rode on mighty stallions. But there was no war horse here. Jesus had come proclaiming the Kingdom of God, not the kingdom of man. He had come, not for war, but for peace.

So, we see Jesus coming in humility and gentleness. And this is also a symbol of that fact that Jesus comes now in humility and gentleness. We may want God to speak in thunderous tones, but God chooses to speak to us often in the still, small voice. It is strange that amid the clamour of the world God comes to us in a still, small voice. The world shouts, “Listen to me!” But to hear God, we must really listen. We must quiet all other voices, and in stillness and seclusion hear the Master speak…

Should you and I suffer for our Christian faith; that is always a crucial moment; it is the great occasion; it is the clash between the world and Christ. It is the calm before the storm. To have a share in such a moment is not a penalty but a glory. “Rejoice at such a moment,” says Jesus, “and be glad in it.”

This is the message that Jesus brought to Jerusalem that day. It is the same message He brings to us today. He does not come with strong-arm tactics. It is not time for that. One day He will come as a mighty warrior. He will trade the submissive colt for a mighty war horse, the great white steed we see Him upon the pages of the book of Revelation. One day, He will lead the armies of Heaven to make war. One day, He will come to judge all humanity. But until that day, we live in the age of grace. Jesus comes to us, not with bullying, but with conviction. He speaks to our heart to woo us to Himself. But we must hear and respond.

Are we able to hear Christ’s voice today? As He whispers to our heart, “Follow Me.” Follow Me to the Cross where our sins can be forgiven.” “Follow me in sharing the Good News with those for whom He died.” “Follow me in sacrifice.” “Follow me in surrender.” To God Be the Glory Great Things He Has Done.

Would you pray this prayer with me… “Lord Jesus, come into my heart? Forgive my sins. I want my life to change. My thoughts and my attitude need to change. I do not have the peace in my heart that I yearn for. I really want that Peace, joy and happiness that will fulfill my heart’s desire. Please let the Holy Spirit help me be the kind of Christian that will honour Your Name.” Amen.