Theme: The ‘King Messiah’ and the two Donkeys

Sunday
He comes in the name of the LORD: Psalm 118:26
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you.

Monday
Christ Prophesied: Isaiah 62:11
The Lord has made proclamation to the ends of the earth: “Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your Saviour comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.’”

Tuesday
The coming of a King: Zechariah 9:9
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Wednesday
The Triumphal Entry: Matthew 21:1-5
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”
This took place to fulfil what was spoken through the prophet:
“Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, the foal of a donkey.’””

Thursday
Spot-Lighting
Mark 11:1-2; Luke 19:29-30; John 12:14.
In the Gospels of Mark, Luke and John there is only one donkey mentioned! Contrast the narrative in Matthew where two donkeys are mentioned: mother and young male donkey.

Friday
Peace: Luke 19:38.
“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Peace in the heaven and glory in the highest!”

Saturday
The Rider on the White Horse: Revelation 19:11.
I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war.

Conclusion
(A) Riding on a donkey: In the Bible donkeys are symbolic of humility, peace, suffering and survice.
Matthew was present at the Triumphal Entry of Jesus and in his narrative he stated that the two disciples sent by Jesus brought back a donkey and a colt to Jesus, and, that Jesus rode a colt ‘saddled’ with cloaks into Jerusalem.
Mark and Luke were not eyewitnesses, unlike Matthew, and it could be said that they were both spot-lighting, in other words, they mentioned that Jesus rode on a colt, the essence of the narrative, covered with ‘clothing’ for a saddle. The prophecies of Zachariah and Isiah are thus fulfilled: Jesus, the King and Messiah, heir to the throne of David has triumphantly entered Jerusalem as prophesied on a colt.

(B) Riding on a horse: Jesus, the faithful believers’ Commanding Chief, rides on a white horse as He returns to earth. This description of Christ riding a horse, instead of a donkey/colt emphasises Jesus’ absolute divine majesty, power and victory.
Amen.