DONKEYS for a King?

Last week I was quite amused by our neighbor's donkeys. 

It was hard to tell if they were fighting or playing.

After looking closely at the photographs,
I decided that it was all in fun to them.

They nuzzled each other,
and appeared to be whispering secrets!

As I looked at the photos I had taken,

I thought about when Jesus rode a donkey...

Here it is from Luke Chapter 19 out of The Message:

28-31 After saying these things, Jesus headed straight up to Jerusalem. When he got near Bethphage and Bethany at the mountain called Olives, he sent off two of the disciples with instructions: “Go to the village across from you. As soon as you enter, you’ll find a colt tethered, one that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says anything, asks, ‘What are you doing?’ say, ‘His Master needs him.’”

32-33 The two left and found it just as he said. As they were untying the colt, its owners said, “What are you doing untying the colt?”

34 They said, “His Master needs him.”

35-36 They brought the colt to Jesus. Then, throwing their coats on its back, they helped Jesus get on. As he rode, the people gave him a grand welcome, throwing their coats on the street.

37-38 Right at the crest, where Mount Olives begins its descent, the whole crowd of disciples burst into enthusiastic praise over all the mighty works they had witnessed:

Blessed is he who comes,
    the king in God’s name!
All’s well in heaven!
    Glory in the high places!

39 Some Pharisees from the crowd told him, “Teacher, get your disciples under control!”

40 But he said, “If they kept quiet, the stones would do it for them, shouting praise.”

(That last verse is the one that got me started painting God's names on rocks!)

Did you notice that the donkey had never been ridden?
Jesus the Master who could calm a troubled sea,
could tame an unbroken animal to ride instantly!

(If this photo looks familiar,
you may have looked at my
 Rock4Today with the Names of God on Rocks.)

When Jesus rode that donkey into Jerusalem,
the people were looking for A DELIVERER,
to free them from Roman rule.
Zechariah tells of this in Zechariah 9:9-10 from The Message:

“Shout and cheer, Daughter Zion!

    Raise the roof, Daughter Jerusalem!

Your king is coming!

    a good king who makes all things right,

    a humble king riding a donkey,

    a mere colt of a donkey.

...He will offer peace to the nations,

    a peaceful rule worldwide,

    from the four winds to the seven seas."

Because Jesus did not meet these expectations, 
they quickly turned from praising Him,
and were ready to crucify Him.

But the day they were looking for will come.
 Jesus will reign!

John tells about this in Revelation 5:12-13 NIV

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
    to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
    and honor and glory and praise!”

 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
    be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”