Donkey with fruit

Part 23 of 35 The King on a donkey

News about Jesus had spread everywhere. He had raised his friend Lazarus from the dead, telling Lazarus's sister Martha: "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies" (John 11:25).

At Passover time, Jesus came to Jerusalem riding a young donkey, just as the prophet Zechariah had written: "See, your King comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey" (Matthew 21:5). A huge crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees. They took palm branches and went out to meet him (John 12:13), shouting: "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" (Matthew 21:9).

Christians remember this day on Palm Sunday, a week before Easter.

Imagined The donkey

The donkey visits every street, and the fruit and flowers in its baskets are free for anyone who wants them.

Real world Donkeys in our world

Donkeys were tamed in Africa about 7,000 years ago and still carry loads in many countries. In Colombia, a teacher named Luis Soriano has for years carried books to children in faraway villages on two donkeys, Alfa and Beto, as his "Biblioburro", or donkey library.

Real world The wild donkey

The donkey's wild ancestor, the African wild ass, still lives in the rocky deserts of Eritrea and Ethiopia. It is now critically endangered, with only a few hundred at most left in the wild.

Think about it

1. Why do you think Jesus rode a donkey instead of a war horse?
2. Why did the crowd shout "Hosanna"?
3. How could a donkey library help children?

Key words

Hosanna

A Hebrew word meaning "Save us!", shouted as praise.

Palm Sunday

The Sunday before Easter, remembering Jesus's ride into Jerusalem.

Humble

Not proud; not thinking you are better than others.