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Sometimes we get so used to hearing a particular story that we miss certain details for thinking them insignificant to the story as we know it. Looking here at Jesus donkey riding into Jerusalem, well, we are so accustomed to hearing Matthew’s and John’s version of the story that we automatically just assume that Jesus is riding into Jerusalem on a docile, old, peaceful donkey. Matthew and John quote some Old Testament at us which make us think their versions are the seemingly “official” versions. Zechariah 9:9 speaks of Zion’s king coming to her “righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Also, historians tell us that donkey riding was the appropriate way that ancient Israelite kings came to town after a victory. (If you’re a Maritimer, you realize the pun here. Donkey riding is what you do in a little boat outrigged with a little steam engine that will get you nowhere in no hurry at all.) And so, we just wave our Palm branches and welcome King Jesus.
But if you notice what Luke says here (Mark too), there are a couple of small details we miss about this particular donkey. It is a colt and it is unridden. If you are familiar with equestrian terminology, a colt is an uncastrated male younger than four years. In donkey terms an uncastrated donkey is called a Jack, hence the term “Jack Ass”. There should be a lot of vim and vigour to this young steed Jesus is riding. Also, this Jack had never been ridden which would entail that it hadn’t been trained to be ridden. So, this young Jack full of vim and vigour likely ain’t going to do what you ask it to do. In the very least if he even lets you on his back, he’s just going to do what he wants to do while you hang on. This unridden colt is going to have a bit more cantanker and stubborn than you would really want to deal with.
Many a donkey lover will advise against even trying to ride an untrained “Jack Ass.” But somehow, “Way, hey, and away we go. Donkey riding. Donkey Riding”, this young, untrained, unridden, uncastrated donkey seems to just joyfully lift up and carry Lord Jesus the King into Jerusalem without incident; no stopping, no starting, no sitting down, no bucking, no running off. If only people could be that easy to work with. If we ever needed proof that Jesus was God become human, then this Jack donkey carrying him would be just that. Nature serving its Lord. Maybe that’s why Jesus told his disciples to tell the person who donated it “The Lord needs it,” meaning God needs your donkey. Even this unridden donkey colt can show proof that Jesus is God.
Well, I could end this sermon now and just say no matter how big of a jack ass we think we may be, Jesus will still welcome us. But that would be too quick for a donkey ride. We’ll need to be slow and deliberate on this hack. So, let’s look at some other details.
Imagine the crowd there. This is a ragtag group of Jesus followers from all walks of life. Rich and poor, old and young. There’s even Pharisees, the archenemies, in the crowd following Jesus and they are a bit worried about how seditious this all looks. We have to chuckle at that. These Pharisees, they daily and publicly lived their lives as observant of the Law of Moses as they could be with all its dietary and dress codes and rituals. They did this because they believed that getting as many Jews as they could to follow the letter of the Law would hasten the coming of the Messiah to deliver them from the Romans and establish the Kingdom of God. That’s seditious, eh? Here they are concerned about Jesus riding a donkey and the crowd crying out, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” Well, of course it was seditious, but couldn’t the Pharisees see how their daily and very public “dot your i’s and cross your t’s” legalism was also seditious. Faithfulness to God, no matter its form, will always be, or should I say should always be, seditious. If you ever have a religious group supporting a nation or government or political leader without question, there is something hugely wrong. I find the Pharisees’ concern a bit odd as the hoped-for result of their devotion to the Law of Moses was in their midst happening…just not as they expected. They were expecting angel armies and so forth, but this was just Jesus the miracle working Teacher riding an unridden Jack donkey into Jerusalem being praised by a ragtag crowd.
Let’s not miss how Luke tells us why the crowds are praising Jesus. He says it was because of all the deeds of power Jesus had done…power, but not political power or authoritarian power as one would expect. Jesus had power to cast out evil spirits; most notably a legion (Roman military word) of evil spirits from a man into a herd of pigs. He healed so many people even people with birth defects. Raised a young girl and a young man from the dead. Forgave sins. Touched lepers and cleansed them. A few of his followers had even seen him calm a wind storm and walk on water. His most famous act was probably the two miraculous feedings of massive crowds out in the wilderness using just a couple loaves of bread and a few of fish. Jesus had done and said things that only God could do and say. He wasn’t just coming in the name of the Lord. He was the LORD, the God of Israel riding into town on an untrained unridden Jack donkey to be their king. No wonder that if the crowd wasn’t shouting out praise, the very stones would…no wonder he rode that unridden Jack with no consequence.
There’s one last little detail that would get missed unless you were there at the time or were a good student of biblical history. Jesus wouldn’t have been the only person riding into Jerusalem round about then. Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor would have also been riding into town, but not on a donkey. Pilate lived in the coastal city of Caesarea and only bothered himself with coming to Jerusalem during the big festivals of the Jewish faith so as to impress upon the Jews the strength of Rome and discourage any revolts.
Here it was the few day days before the Passover festival. Jewish pilgrims were flocking to Jerusalem entailing a need for more of a Roman military presence. Pilate was known for riding into Jerusalem mounted on one of those massive, well-trained warhorses that the Roman military paraded about. Surrounding him would have been at least a legion, a thousand or more Roman soldiers, decked out in their battle regalia and a good many of them also mounted on warhorses. Take a moment to ponder the difference in the symbolism portrayed by the Romans riding in on well-trained warhorses verses Jesus riding in on an unridden Jack donkey.
Moreover, let us note that Jesus rode into Jerusalem from the east to enter at the gate that would take him immediately to the Temple. Pilate would have come in from the west and gone immediately to the imperial quarters; thus, each to his own house. Jesus had to stop to weep over Jerusalem for it could not recognize that it was at the moment being visited by God. Compare this to his followers too. They are worshipping like hands in the air charismatics while God is weeping over the state of his people. Pilate would have entered town demanding to be shown the proper respect and probably would have flogged a few people along the way; and, he would have likely just been annoyed for having to leave cushy Caesarea to come babysit gnarly Jerusalem.
Upon entering Jerusalem Jesus went straight to the temple, his Father’s House, to cleanse it of the big business, for-profit religion going on there and then he “occupied” it by simply sitting in a portico teaching about the Kingdom of God while the religious experts unsuccessfully questioned his authority. Pilate would have just gone to the imperial quarters and exercised his authority looking after administrative and judicial stuff which included ordering the crucifixion of rebels and such. Please notice how Jesus conducts the reign of God through the simple practice of teaching his Way at a house of prayer and how Pilate enforces the reign of Rome from imperial offices through threat of capital punishment.
Well, anyway, what does all this have to do with us. We who live in a day when yet another Caesar/Pilate-type has invaded a neighbouring country and the atrocities of war are relentlessly upon our hearts and minds and television sets; a day when the king of celebrities slapped a colleague at a globally televised event celebrating celebrity over a joke; a day when the church seems to have no credible voice left because the loudest voices among us don’t seem to be the most Christ-like and rather through the eyes of the media make us followers of Jesus all seem to be nothing more than supporters of autocrats and mindless followers of celebrity ministers who love big business, for-profit religion; a day when all information seems “fake” and “expertise” is determined by personal feelings and “likes” on social media.
In the midst of all that “Jack ass-ery”, there’s little ole ragtag us. We’ve all suffered the trauma of living in a pandemic and the resulting isolation. We’ve all got personal concerns, financial concerns, health concerns, we’re grieving, have family members seriously ill. The feelings we feel the most are sadness, loneliness, anxiety, and being on the verge of crisis. We’ve all grown up remembering better times and thought days like these wouldn’t ever happen again. We’re not exactly shouting “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” Although, “Hosanna”, which actually means “save us” is a strongly felt desire.
Where is Jesus? Where is God? First, of all let’s just remember Jesus can ride an untrained Jack donkey and he’s riding it. Everything will work out. And, we know donkeys aren’t known for getting anyone anywhere fast, but he is coming. He’s stopping to weep because humanity just can’t seem to realize that he is here with us in our midst and yet we can’t seem to grasp that which will bring us peace. There’s a lot of hurt and he’s grieving too. So, if we don’t feel like waiving our hands in the air in joy, well, just maybe God doesn’t either. With every public scandal of a celebrity minister, he’s clearing his Father’s house of big business, for-profit religion. Most of all, he still occupies a porch among his body, the Church. He is present in small gatherings such as ours of those who yet still continue to gather in his name when so many just seem to be “done” with the public practice of faith. He is present by the Holy Spirit who is with us. We gather to learn his way of unconditional love and humility, to pray, to share a meal, and support one another. Never underestimate the power to change and heal the world that Jesus has conferred unto us as we simply publicly gather in houses of prayer to learn his Way. Gathered around his table is the way of peace. It will come. He will visit us. Amen.
