Palm Sunday: Another branch to consider

The question from a faithful sister in Christ

Good morning

Have you ever preached, taught or did any studies on the mother of the colt upon which Jesus sat as he made his triumphal entrance into Jerusalem? 

Curious

Annette

The response (perhaps trite)

Greetings Annette 

I only studied and preached on the "attitude and behaviour" of the colt (Matthew 21:1-17; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:29-40; John 12:12-19) in contrast to that of Balaam's donkey (Numbers 22:21-39). The former was submissive, willing, gentle, and quiet. The latter was unwilling to obey its master, whose thrice beatings resulted in the donkey's pitiful remonstrance (it miraculously spoke by divine intervention).

Both were on a mission and pressed into service by their respective masters.

Balaam's donkey saw danger ahead in the form of an angel with sword in his hand, ready to kill Balaam. The beast of burden (usually regarded as a dumb animal) responded with wisdom. Its unwillingness to proceed saved its master's life. Conversely, the man of reason, Balaam, neither saw nor understood that his life was in danger. Instead, he angrily and ignorantly protested against his donkey's stubborn reluctance to proceed. An act that proved to be his saving grace.

On the other hand, the colt upon which Christ triumphally rode into Jerusalem was borrowed from another master, the actual unnamed owner of the juvenile beast. Usually, such animals are unwilling to cooperate with strangers. This, however, was not the case. Unlike Balaam's mature (adult) donkey, Christ's borrowed (childlike) "servant", though unknowingly a participant in a most Holy quest, was nevertheless obediently taking its Newfound Master, the Messiah, to the destination of his soon pending crucifixion.

Interpolations & Extrapolations

• When he told the disciples to get the donkey, Jesus very unusually refers to himself as 'the Lord' (Mat.21:3), a definite proclamation of his divinity.

• By riding into Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey, Jesus fulfilled an ancient prophecy in Zechariah 9:9: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." (ESV) This was the only instance in the four Gospel books in which Jesus rode an animal. By riding a donkey, Jesus illustrated the kind of Messiah he was—not a political hero but a gentle, humble servant.

• Spreading clothes on the road was a sign of greeting to a ruler (cf. Jehu anointed King of Israel--2 Ki. 9:1-13). The people who had come with him from Galilee threw their cloaks along with palm branches in the path of Jesus as an act of homage and submission, which served as a recognition of his royalty and the promised Messiah.

• The people's cries of 'Hosanna' came from Psalm 118:25-26. Hosanna means "save now." Luke's account assumes that people were prepared to recognize Jesus as the king, who will restore the throne of David and reign over the earth (cf. Isaiah 9:7). Despite what Jesus had foretold about his mission, the crowds may have been expecting some kind of coup by Jesus. The people were looking for a military Messiah who would overthrow the Romans and restore Israel's independence.

Sources: 

• Wenham, G. J., Motyer, J. A., Carson, D. A., & France, R. T. (2015, March 28). New Bible commentary 21st century edition - PDF free download. epdf.pub. https://epdf.tips/new-bible-commentary-21st-century-edition.html

• https://www.learnreligions.com/palm-sunday-story-700203

For me, both donkeys represent two types of servants that are equally important to God's divine will. They served their respective masters well by doing what was expected of them.

The question I usually ask myself and others to ponder is: Which donkey am I? The one that speaks when he needs to or the one that keeps silent when such is required?

You have added another layer of inquiry that I have never considered, the colt's mother. Perhaps it is to be likened to the separation and loss felt by our Lord's blessed mother, Mary. Both the mother of the colt (never mentioned in the biblical account) and the highly acclaimed Blessed Virgin, suffered the temporary loss of a precious son. Both had to make a necessary sacrifice for the glory of God and the benefit of all humanity.

The question, I imagine you will now ask me, Annette, is: What am I willing to give up (sacrifice) for the Lord?

OOW

2022