I was just minding my own business. I pride myself on doing that… minding my own business. What goes on in the world around me is of no concern to me! Besides, it was a hot day and apparently I wasn’t needed for work. I was gratefully dozing under the shade of an olive tree, you know, experiencing that warm feeling that covers you between wakefulness and sleep. Ah! Enjoying an afternoon of blissful anonymity.
Suddenly, two men grabbed me and stole me away! What are they doing? I’m not supposed to go with them! I don’t belong to them! I have the day off! I HAVE THE DAY OFF! Someone threw a blanket or something over me, and before I knew it I was being led out into the street.
That’s when a Man approached me. I have had to deal with my share of men, let me tell you. Loud, forceful, unkind… men. They shout at me and I don’t understand why, and when I fail to please them in the least little way, they are quick to strike me in anger. But, at least, this Man was kind. Smiling and rubbing my head he whispered in my ear, “Today, you are the steed of the King of Kings, my friend.”
After he climbed upon my back, another man took the reins and began to lead me down the crowded road. It was lined with people shouting… not in anger, but in excitement… they were waving branches in the air and cheering in joy. My ears pricked forward… my steps became higher… if a donkey can prance, that is exactly what I was doing for the first time in my life. Something inside of me convinced me that they were praising the One riding on my back. I was proud! Proud to bear the One upon my back. Somehow He was different… somehow He was special.
Don’t tell anyone… but I didn’t mind working that afternoon, after all. It’s not everyday that you are part of a grand parade — and walking over people’s coats is sure a lot better than pulling a plow through hard, dry ground! I wonder what happened to that Man? He was kind… He said He was a King… the King of Kings… and I believe that He was.
Ok… ok… ok… time out… Whoa there, Big Boy! PS, are you trying to say that a simple donkey knew that he was carrying the King of Kings? What the world! No way that is true!
Perhaps not… but then again… don’t be so sure that the created would not recognize its Creator. When Jesus was challenged by the Pharisees to tell the crowd to be quiet, he replied, “I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” (Luke 19:40) So, if stones could “cry out” who is to say that a donkey wouldn’t recognize his Creator — as Jesus — the King of the Jews — entered Jerusalem to finish the work His Father had called Him to do.
Ok, maybe the donkey had no idea…. he was just a dumb beast after all — but the people in the crowd knew! Many had witnessed Lazarus walking out of his tomb at the command of Jesus. The Pharisees should have known… if anyone should have known that the King of Kings was on that donkey it should have been them.
How about you? Do you believe? Would you be in the crowd joyfully cheering or cynically sneering? You see the lesson to learn from the donkey is that whether he knew who Jesus was or not… he did what the King needed him to do.
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