Why A Donkey?
Ask a Bible Teacher
By Jack Kelley
Question: Jack, Thanks for your teaching I love your insights.
Questions: What was the significance of Jesus riding a colt of a donkey? Was this a royal mode of transportation? Was it miraculous that he could even ride an unbroken colt? Or is there no more to it than, it shows Christ’s humility? I know there is a bigger picture and this was the only time Jesus let himself be declared the Messiah-King of the Jews and that the rocks would cry out if the people didn’t.
I just have not heard why he chose a donkey.
Answer: The reason He chose a donkey was to leave absolutely no doubt that He was Israel’s Messiah. And yes, riding an unbroken colt like that was a miracle in and of itself. But there was even more to it. Zechariah 9:9 says: “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.”
Riding into Jerusalem on this unbroken donkey colt was the most obvious sign He could have given them, and it’s one of the reasons why when they refused to acknowledge Him, He pronounced judgment upon the city. (Luke 19:41-44)