Why Two Donkeys?

December 22, 2021 –

The donkey dates back 3,000 years before the birth of Jesus. But it was the birth of Jesus and His triumphal entry into Jerusalem 33 years later that the donkey achieved his most significant accomplishments.

Sometimes, when we look at Jesus’ life, we cannot see the significant roles of two donkeys named “Privilege” and “Honor”. I distill their stories into two enduring lessons for today’s Christian.

What does Scripture say about these two donkeys? When we look closer into Jesus’ life, we discover the story of Privilege and Honor and the significant roles they played We note the special donkey Mary rode on from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Privilege was entrusted with carrying the pregnant Mary.

Christians typically believe Mary rode a donkey from Nazareth to Bethlehem just before the birth of Jesus. The Scriptures do not expressly state that she did; however, it is doubtful that Mary, in such an advanced pregnancy, walked from Nazareth to Bethlehem, about 90 miles. The grueling trip and stressful environment may have taken them from four to seven days. So, we give Privilege the benefit of the doubt.

Honor, the second donkey is the animal Jesus rode into Jerusalem to fulfill the Old Testament prophecy that the Messiah would come riding on the back of a donkey. The Old Testament prophet Zechariah writing in 484 B.C., wrote, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zechariah 9:9) The Apostle Matthew adds, “Tell Daughter Zion, ‘Look, your King is coming to you, gentle, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.'” (Matthew 21:5, HCSB)

Two lessons for today’s Christian:

In the Bible, the donkey symbolizes the combination of necessary transportation and a generous dose of humility. Privilege and Honor teach Christians it’s an honor to transport the Gospel and a privilege to share the Good News with humility.