On A Donkey?
FROM THE DESK OF IELA GALIANO-WILLIAMS
Is there somewhere in your life where you are expecting Jesus to ride in on a horse, but he is actually showing up on a donkey?
April 13th is Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week, & the commemoration of Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem as detailed in the Gospel of John chapter 12.
The catch?
Jesus did not ride into Jerusalem on a war horse to conquer the Roman empire, but on a donkey…”Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: ‘Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt” (John 12:14-15).
As a quick recap, a donkey symbolized humility, meekness, & peace. Most Biblical scholars believe that arriving on a donkey not only fulfilled the prophecy made in Zechariah, but was a sign of Jesus’ rule as one of service & love instead of force & domination.
In theory this sounds beautiful. It lines up with a lot of what we believe to be true about who God is. And yet….to a people who had been oppressed for so many years, can we blame them for perhaps feeling a bit let down?
It wasn’t what they pictured, & if we’re honest, it probably wouldn’t have been what we expected either.
Looking at the world today, there are many places where I kind of wish Jesus would come in leading the charge on a powerful horse, sword raised Narnia style. These kinds of heroes have inspired the history books & stories for centuries. Yet, Jesus also inspired change, but often it was through his softness. Jesus saw people & saw them fully for who they were. He then invited them into a relationship with Him & loved them deeply.
Don’t get me wrong, the fact that Jesus rode in on a donkey does not mean he was supportive of oppression. We know this to be far from the truth! Yet, the way he brought about healing & change was in a way wholly unexpected, entirely His own, & for anyone who was ready for it.
It makes me wonder, in what ways might Jesus be making His presence known to us in gentle but strong movements in our communities? In our days? Where might we be looking for Jesus on a war horse & missing His entrance on a donkey?
Even as I write this I am pushing back wanting to say, “No but sometimes the powerful warhorse is necessary right?!” And certainly we can find many examples in the Old Testament of God supporting His people in battles. Yet, I think Jesus’ approach to dying on the cross is something we are still invited to consider even today. He said “no“ to the Devil when tempted in the wilderness at the beginning of His ministry to bring about change in all the flashy ways people expected. Instead, He listened to God & said “yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).
This doesn’t mean we become complacent to injustice, but we can also have hope in how God is moving in unexpected ways. This Easter, may we know what it is like to pray Jesus’ prayer of Holy indifference, hands open to God, ready to act in the way we are called. And if necessary, prepare the donkey for a gentle ride & slow plodding walk.
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