Jerusalem was electric. Crowds swarmed the streets like Times Square at midnight on New Year’s Eve. Every path leading to the city was packed tighter than a Walmart on Black Friday. Pilgrims from every corner of Israel had come for Passover, bringing their best sacrifices, their loudest praises, and—unbeknownst to them—their coming King.
Jesus, always one for unconventional methods, didn’t enter Jerusalem like a general on a warhorse. Instead, He made a peculiar transportation request:
“𝐆𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐧𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐚𝐭. 𝐔𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞.” (𝐋𝐮𝐤𝐞 𝟏𝟗:𝟑𝟎, 𝐍𝐀𝐒𝐁 𝟏𝟗𝟗𝟓)
Now, pause. Can you imagine being the disciples receiving this command? This is first-century grand theft donkey. No rental agreement. No lease paperwork. Just an assumed “the Lord needs it.”
What’s crazier? The plan worked!
“𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐭, 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦, ‘𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐭?’ 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝, ‘𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭.’” (𝐋𝐮𝐤𝐞 𝟏𝟗:𝟑𝟑-𝟑𝟒, 𝐍𝐀𝐒𝐁 𝟏𝟗𝟗𝟓)
That’s it! No interrogation. No awkward silence. No, “Do you have a reservation?” Just obedience and divine orchestration at work.
𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗮 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗸𝗲𝘆?
A conquering king would ride in on a stallion, draped in armor and pride. But Jesus, the Prince of Peace, entered Jerusalem humbly, fulfilling Zechariah’s prophecy (Zechariah 9:9). He didn’t come to wage war with Rome—He came to wage war with sin and death.
The crowds cheered. Coats hit the ground. Palm branches waved. “Hosanna!” rang out from every direction. But five days later, those same voices that welcomed Him as King would cry, “Crucify Him!”
The disciples could have second-guessed Jesus’ plan. “A donkey? Really? Shouldn’t we give Him something more… majestic?” But they obeyed. And through that obedience, the King rode toward His destiny.
Sometimes, obedience doesn’t make sense. Sometimes, God’s plans look illogical. But our calling is not to understand every step—it’s to take every step in faith.
Is God asking you to untie a donkey today?
