04/01/2025
In the Bible Mary rides on the back of a donkey while Joseph walks beside her, leading the donkey in search of a place for Mary to give birth to Jesus.
Although the scriptures don't specifically mention that she is riding on a donkey, we know that Joseph and Mary were very poor, so they would not have owned a horse. When horses are mentioned in the Bible, they are usually mentioned with kings and war, while donkeys are associated with ordinary people. A leader rode on a horse if he was coming for war, and he rode a donkey to signify he was coming in peace.
Here's something interesting about donkeys you may not know. Almost all donkeys have a naturally occurring dark cross on their backs. It runs down their spines and across their shoulders. According to the Australian Donkey Society, If you shaved their fur, you would find the cross on their skin.
In Matthew 21:1-11, when Jesus rode a donkey to enter Jerusalem, He was fulfilling what had been prophesied in Zechariah 9:9, "Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a c**t, the foal of a donkey".
Life was not easy for Jews living under Roman rule in the 1st century—especially if you were poor. But Jesus embraced the poor, the sick, and the outcasts while here on earth. Even though He was fulfilling prophecy by riding a donkey and not a horse, this was also God’s way of saying that Jesus came as a King to save His people and bring peace to those who believe in Him.
God is always in the details. I don't think it's any coincidence that Jesus entered his first week of life riding in his mother's womb on a donkey and then again the last week of his life fulfilling prophecy by riding a donkey. It is amazing to consider that the donkey is the only animal to have a cross on its back. Jesus entered this world humbly and left this earth the same way, but he will not be riding a donkey when He returns. He will be coming in all of His glory and splendor!