Jesus Uses A Donkey

As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, Go to the village ahead of you, and 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 untying it? say, The Lord needs it. Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, Why are you untying the colt? They replied, The Lord needs it. They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. Luke 19: 29 – 36.      

Jesus is on His final leg of the journey before His Crucifixion. He has walked all the way to this point, where He must enter Jerusalem. He has chosen to go this final leg, on the legs of a donkey. In other words, Jesus is not using His legs for this final leg.   He rides upon a young donkey. We shall be meditating on the donkey and this will be based on four facts about the donkey.

The donkey was Chosen.  Here is a donkey that has been tied up, never yet ridden by anyone.  No one has sat on its back to take it anywhere.  In other words, it had never carried the weight of anyone before. Jesus would be the first weight it would carry. But note this fact, it was chosen beforehand, for this specific work.  It was kept tied for this purpose, to take the Saviour of the World on the final leg of His journey, before crucifixion. All prior plans had already been made, so that untying this young donkey, was not a problem.  The two disciples just untied it, using these words to its owners, The Lord needs it.  

What do you own that the Lord has need of today?  What does your Lord require of you?  He requires you as His chosen vessel.  He requires your members - hands, feet, lips, eyes, ears - all of you, so that He can make them fit and ready for Him.

The donkey was Collected. We are told that this chosen vessel, was brought to Jesus. It is interesting to note also, that this donkey did not offer itself up to Jesus. It did not volunteer to do this mission. It was sent for, and collected by the two disciples. They collected it and brought it straight to Jesus. That animal never asked where it was being taken, what kind of road it would have to travel, nor the purpose for which it was being collected. 

What work has your Saviour collected you to do? What have you not volunteered for, yet you have been literally taken, to do?  Is He using your voice, your hands, your feet, your special talent, today?  He has collected you from the place where you were tied, not to run wild, but to be taken to Him.

The donkey’s back was Clothed. The two disciples whom Jesus sent to collect it, put their garments on the donkey, then put Jesus on it.  Pause for a moment, think about it. The clothes that were put on that donkey’s back, were for Jesus, but the only way for Jesus to receive this honour, was for the donkey to accept this new experience, and not resist it. The donkey showed the same submission and humility, as when it was first untied. He never grumbled, found excuses, nor did he ask any questions in disbelief, or anger. This vessel, this chosen servant, had never experienced such clothing on its back before, yet, in pure submission, he accepted the clothes on his back, so that Jesus might ride comfortably on it.

What clothes, being offered to Jesus, are you being called to wear?  Is someone draping you with the clothing of confidence, reliability, strength, trust and deep faith? Will you resist, saying you are not good enough, and that never before has anyone put such faith in you? But is it really you, or the Jesus you are carrying within you?

The donkey’s way was Carpeted. The donkey’s hooves are walking on a carpeted road.  This donkey has been given another experience, which fully brings out its humility, surrender, and submission to Jesus. As the donkey walks the rough, rocky path to Jerusalem, the crowd following, line the road with their garments.  Have you ever seriously seen this picture? These are people’s cloaks, their protection from the vicious weather. These followers of Jesus, on that first Palm Sunday, laid their garments on the dirty road. Don’t these people see, don’t they know that the feet of Jesus would never touch those clothes?  But Jesus is being carried by the donkey, and it is the feet of the donkey, that must walk on these garments. It is the cushion for his feet, the carpeted walk that the donkey must walk, not because he sees himself as the one being honoured, or to whom homage is being paid. No! That donkey walks on the garments for this one reason only.   He knows whom he is carrying.

What must your feet walk on, that is given for Jesus? Are you humble and submitted enough, to walk on the carpet of honour, homage, and praise, laid out for your Lord and Saviour, knowing that it is the only way that He will accept it all?  

Will you view the donkey as the humble, silent, surrendered servant, whom Jesus uses in this His final leg of the Journey?  Like that serving donkey, will you too surrender yourself this hour? Will you, in this time, be the servant the Lord chooses to use for His work?

Know that you are His Chosen vessel, to take Him into this path.

Believe that you are Collected, for this is no volunteer work, but one of obedience and submission.

Accept that you are Clothed with garments given to Him.    

Receive that the rocky path has been Carpeted for Jesus, as homage is paid to Him, but it is your feet that touch the carpet of clothes.