The donkey

Antonio Ciseri’s depiction of Pontius Pilate presenting a scourged Christ to the people Ecce homo! (Behold the man!). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Go ye over against the village, and bring the donkey and its mother, said the Lord Jesus, that the scripture might be fulfilled: ‘Jerusalem, thy King cometh unto thee, meek and having salvation.’

Zechariah spoke of this day, and Zion the city of the great King did not know the time of visitation, but lo, the donkey knew its maker, for the wild animal was immediately made tame.

How strange that the Lord of glory, the Saviour, and King of the Jews would further humble himself by arriving into Jerusalem not by a procession of royal pageantry, but upon a common beast of burden; a work animal.

With each successive step taken by the donkey leading closer to Jerusalem, the Lord was en route to the location of the greatest humility: the place of the Skull.

The moral glory of the Lord Jesus Christ could not be hidden here,  for he came not in the splendor of King Solomon, but in the triumph of quiet dignity. Such is the worth of the redeemer.

As expected, soon the Jews would utter that they did not want this King. They would be happy with Caesar. Meek & lowly was not their idea of greatness, and God confounded the wisdom of the world. ‘Hosanna’ was the shout from a few, and the rocks were quiet.

The Lord wept over the city of the great King, knowing that centuries would encompass the people in misery because of unbelief. Condemned by Herod, mocked by Pilate, made sport by the soldiers, railed by the malefactors, and denied by Peter (I do not know the man,) rejected by man, thus the Lord of glory was lifted up, and  forsaken by God.

The pinnacle of history was understood by none as he who knew no sin was made sin, did you hear that? He was MADE sin, thus as the light of the world was dimming, the earth was darkened; but not before a common criminal reached out in simple faith to the great shepherd, and was brought from darkness to light, while the other dies in his sins.

And, mark this well, because all were silent, the rocks cried out.  Nature received her King, not in birth, but in death.

The beast of burden speaks of work; and there was One who came to finish the work given Him to complete. ‘It is finished!’

And God spoke from heaven as the veil of the temple was rent in two. May you appreciate the testimony of heaven and earth as Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.

 

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