If someone called you a “donkey” you’d probably want to give that person some hard kicks — like donkeys are good at giving. Today, donkeys are regarded as stupid and stubborn. But, in ancient times, they were seen as steady, sturdy and faithful; ready to tread the extra mile in the severest of climatic conditions. This weekend, Christians celebrate “Palm Sunday” remembering Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem seated on a donkey en route to his passion, death and resurrection.
The donkey that carries Jesus into Jerusalem was gifted by an unknown donor. In those days, kings often rode ceremoniously through their kingdoms seated on donkeys. Crowds thronged the streets ahead of Jesus waving palm branches, singing: “Hosanna! Hail! Praise Him! Blessed is he who comes in God’s name!” This scene is interpreted as fulfilment of a prediction of Prophet Zechariah: “Look, your king comes; triumphant and victorious, humble, riding on a donkey.”
Inspirational author, Max Lucado, writes: “Did the donor of the donkey have any idea his generosity would be used for such a noble purpose? Did it occur to him God was going to ride that donkey?” In the Bible, besides being used for farm work, donkeys transport people from place to place. Moses rides an ass; and Mary and Joseph most probably travelled from Nazareth to Bethlehem, and then to Egypt mounted on a donkey.
There are other references to donkeys in the Bible. King Solomon rides David’s mule to be anointed king, and in an interesting episode, Balaam’s donkey saves his life by stubbornly refusing to move forward since it sensed that he would be killed. Moreover, Spirit-filled Samson destroys a whole army of Philistines using the jawbone of a donkey.
Donkeys form part of religious imagery in other religions, too. The Hindu Goddess Kalaratri is depicted as riding a donkey; and, the donkey was also the symbol of the Egyptian sun god Ra.
Deepening his insight into the donkey that carried Jesus into Jerusalem, Lucado continues: “All of us have a donkey, i.e., something that, if given to God, could move Jesus and His story further down the road.” The point he makes is that, no matter what little thing we offer to God, God will make optimum use of it for noble purposes.
These days of annual exams, and perhaps, failures, and little after April Fool’s Day, a parent, teacher, or colleague might call you “donkey”. Don’t worry, be happy! Ask yourself: what little gift can I give God to promote the common good?
I sometimes wonder: If God could use Samson and just the jawbone of a donkey to destroy an army of Philistines, how much more can God do with a whole donkey like me?