Donkey
Children's sermon
Learning From the Lizard
Bible Animal Object Lessons
Object:
Jesus Rides In Triumph
He told them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks, 'Why are you untying it?' just say this, 'The Lord needs it' " (Luke 19:30-31 NRSV).
Older versions use the term "ass" for donkey or colt. The "donkey" of the Bible is much different than donkeys known in the United States.
An Encyclopedia of Bible Animals points out: "Our donkeys are usually quite small, and are obstinate and rather mean animals that (not without reason) are accused of being stupid. But in warmer climates this animal develops into a large, pretty and stately animal ... In fact the Hebrew name for the ass, chamor, literally means 'tawny'; Deborah challenges those 'who ride on tawny asses' to join in the praise of God for the victory that has been won (Judges 5:10). It is no accident then that biblical authors never mention the stubbornness, the meanness, or the laziness that we associate with the 'donkey.' These are traits that a Near Easterner would never see in this animal."1
The donkey is not as swift as a horse, but in mountainous terrain it is much more sure-footed and able to travel greater distances without food and water. In Bible times the donkey was used for riding, as a pack animal, and even in war. For these purposes the female was preferred because of greater stamina and because they were less prone to distractions.
Unless the family was wealthy enough to have more than one animal, the wife would ride and the husband walked alongside. As Exodus 4:20 says: "So Moses took his wife and his sons, put them on a donkey and set out with them for Egypt, carrying the walking stick that God had told him to take" (RSV).
A man riding on a donkey became a symbol of the Prince of Peace. (See Zachariah 9:9.) So Jesus, in fulfillment, rides into Jerusalem leaving no doubt as to the nature of his Kingdom.
Throughout the Bible the donkey is spoken of as very valuable and a true measure of wealth. The wealthy Job had 500 female donkeys before disaster struck him; then when his property, health, and family were restored he had 1,000.
Lessons From The Donkey
We are called to be peace makers. Instead of a war horse as used by the Romans, Jesus as the Prince of Peace entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday on a donkey as a humble servant; yet he was truly King of kings.
Prayer
Gracious Prince of Peace, we pray for peace -- peace in our hearts and peace throughout the whole world. "Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me." May your peace come to troubled hearts. May peace come to those places in the world where war, violence, and abuse are present. Thank you for the gift of peace. In Jesus' name. Amen.
__________
1. Peter France, An Encyclopedia of Bible Animals (Croom-Helm, 1986). Used by permission of Routledge Publishing, London.
He told them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks, 'Why are you untying it?' just say this, 'The Lord needs it' " (Luke 19:30-31 NRSV).
Older versions use the term "ass" for donkey or colt. The "donkey" of the Bible is much different than donkeys known in the United States.
An Encyclopedia of Bible Animals points out: "Our donkeys are usually quite small, and are obstinate and rather mean animals that (not without reason) are accused of being stupid. But in warmer climates this animal develops into a large, pretty and stately animal ... In fact the Hebrew name for the ass, chamor, literally means 'tawny'; Deborah challenges those 'who ride on tawny asses' to join in the praise of God for the victory that has been won (Judges 5:10). It is no accident then that biblical authors never mention the stubbornness, the meanness, or the laziness that we associate with the 'donkey.' These are traits that a Near Easterner would never see in this animal."1
The donkey is not as swift as a horse, but in mountainous terrain it is much more sure-footed and able to travel greater distances without food and water. In Bible times the donkey was used for riding, as a pack animal, and even in war. For these purposes the female was preferred because of greater stamina and because they were less prone to distractions.
Unless the family was wealthy enough to have more than one animal, the wife would ride and the husband walked alongside. As Exodus 4:20 says: "So Moses took his wife and his sons, put them on a donkey and set out with them for Egypt, carrying the walking stick that God had told him to take" (RSV).
A man riding on a donkey became a symbol of the Prince of Peace. (See Zachariah 9:9.) So Jesus, in fulfillment, rides into Jerusalem leaving no doubt as to the nature of his Kingdom.
Throughout the Bible the donkey is spoken of as very valuable and a true measure of wealth. The wealthy Job had 500 female donkeys before disaster struck him; then when his property, health, and family were restored he had 1,000.
Lessons From The Donkey
We are called to be peace makers. Instead of a war horse as used by the Romans, Jesus as the Prince of Peace entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday on a donkey as a humble servant; yet he was truly King of kings.
Prayer
Gracious Prince of Peace, we pray for peace -- peace in our hearts and peace throughout the whole world. "Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me." May your peace come to troubled hearts. May peace come to those places in the world where war, violence, and abuse are present. Thank you for the gift of peace. In Jesus' name. Amen.
__________
1. Peter France, An Encyclopedia of Bible Animals (Croom-Helm, 1986). Used by permission of Routledge Publishing, London.
