WHY A DONKEY AND NOT ANOTHER ANIMAL?

Matthew 21:9 (ESV)

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” — 

Blessed be the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Welcome, beloved, as we explore the Word of God together.

Just before entering Jerusalem, Jesus sent two of His disciples to fetch a young donkey for Him to ride into the city. This was no random act — it fulfilled an ancient prophecy spoken hundreds of years earlier:

Matthew 21:5 (ESV); cf. Zechariah 9:9

“Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’” — 

There was a divine purpose behind this humble choice. Why a donkey and not a horse, camel, or any other animal? What message was God revealing through this symbol of lowliness?

1. JESUS FULFILLED PROPHECY THROUGH HUMILITY

Every detail in Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem was a deliberate fulfillment of Scripture. The prophet Zechariah foretold that Israel’s King would not come riding a warhorse like earthly rulers but on a donkey — the animal of peace.

In ancient Israel, kings would ride horses during times of war but donkeys during times of peace. By riding a donkey, Jesus was declaring that He was the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), not a conquering general. He came not to overthrow Rome, but to reconcile humanity to God.

Matthew 11:29 (ESV)

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” — 

Christ’s humility contrasts sharply with the pride of worldly power. The donkey was the perfect vehicle for the One who said, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).

2. THE DONKEY’S UNIQUE NATURE: SENSITIVE AND OBEDIENT

Among all animals, the donkey possesses a remarkable sensitivity — an ability to sense danger or discern what lies ahead. While often mocked as stubborn, its “stubbornness” is often discernment; it refuses to walk into what it perceives as danger.

The Bible compares this awareness to that of the horse in Job 39:19–25, which “smells the battle from afar.” If even the horse can sense conflict, how much more the donkey, which represents the humble but spiritually alert soul — one that senses the movement of God.

This mirrors the believer’s call to spiritual discernment:

Hebrews 5:14 (ESV)

“But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” — 

The donkey that carried Jesus was obedient — it did not resist. This obedience contrasts sharply with Balaam’s donkey, which once refused to move because it saw the angel of the Lord standing in its path (Numbers 22:21–34). Balaam, though a prophet, was blind to God’s warning, but his donkey perceived it.

That donkey saved Balaam’s life by stopping. Likewise, the donkeys that carried Jesus moved forward joyfully because they saw not death, but salvation approaching Jerusalem.

3. A PERSONAL REFLECTION: CHRIST IN OUR MIDST

I recall an experience from October 14, 2015. A friend and I were walking in a rural area, sharing the Word of God. Ahead of us were men hauling hay on a cart pulled by three donkeys yoked together — something I had never seen before.

As we watched, the middle donkey suddenly disappeared before our eyes, though the others continued pulling the heavy load effortlessly. The men didn’t notice anything strange, but the Holy Spirit immediately revealed something to us.

It was a vision — a divine lesson that even among beasts of burden, the Lord is present to help them. And the Spirit reminded us of His promise:

Matthew 18:20 (ESV)

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” — 

Though only two donkeys seemed visible, we saw in the Spirit that there was indeed a third among them — symbolic of Christ Himself carrying their burden. What a powerful image of His promise to be with us, to bear our weight and pain as we walk through this life.

4. THE DONKEY THAT SAW SALVATION

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the crowd shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” (Matthew 21:9). The word Hosanna means “Save us, we pray.” The people were crying for deliverance — and the donkey bore upon its back the very embodiment of salvation.

Imagine what that donkey perceived as it stepped through the streets of Jerusalem. Horses might sense battle; camels might sense the desert; but that donkey sensed peace and redemption. It carried not a soldier, but the Savior of the world.

Paul wrote that all creation longs for redemption:

Romans 8:19–21 (ESV)

“For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God… that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption.” — 

If even creation — including animals — could perceive salvation approaching, how much more should we, who are made in God’s image, recognize it?

If the donkey submitted to be used by the Lord, why not you?
If the donkey could sense the presence of Christ, why can’t we?
Many today still serve the world and its fleeting pleasures — yet its wages remain death (Romans 6:23).

5. THE SYMBOLISM OF THE DONKEY: A SHADOW OF REDEMPTION

The donkey also symbolizes burden and service — qualities Christ came to redeem. In the Law of Moses, the firstborn donkey was considered unclean, yet could be redeemed by a lamb (Exodus 13:13). How striking that the Lamb of God (John 1:29) would one day ride upon an unclean donkey — a prophetic picture of redemption itself!

The unclean creature was redeemed by bearing the sinless Lamb who came to take away the sins of the world. The donkey’s back became a throne of grace — a place where heaven and earth met in humility.

6. THE CALL TO REPENTANCE AND NEW LIFE

The lesson of the donkey is not to glorify animals, but to magnify the glory of Christ revealed through all creation. Every living thing bears witness to Him — the trees, the stars, the seas, the very stones cry out (Luke 19:40). The donkey reminds us that no vessel is too lowly to carry the presence of the King.

Jesus still calls today:

Matthew 11:28 (ESV)

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” — 

The door of grace is still open, but it will not remain open forever. Now is the time to repent — to turn from sin and surrender your life completely to Christ. Confess your sins to Him; ask His forgiveness; promise to walk in newness of life.

If you have not yet been baptized, do so soon. True baptism, according to Scripture, is by immersion in water (John 3:23) and in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38). There, your old self dies, and you rise to new life in Him.

7. CHRIST: THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE

At the heart of it all stands Jesus — humble yet exalted, meek yet mighty.
He alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).
No one comes to the Father except through Him.

The donkey’s quiet obedience foreshadows the kind of discipleship Christ calls us to — not power or pride, but humility, service, and faithfulness.

May we, like that donkey, be willing vessels to carry the presence of our King wherever He leads.

Zechariah 9:9 (ESV)

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” — 

Maranatha — 

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