He Chose a Donkey

Tomorrow, Christians worldwide will celebrate Palm Sunday, waving palm fronds and singing, “Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” during services.

The palm, a key symbol of this day, wasn’t Jesus’ choice, as Esau McCaulley once noted. Instead, Jesus chose a donkey to ride into Jerusalem, fulfilling prophecy and embodying humility over might. There was no grand parade or fanfare—only a quiet entry toward his sacrifice, not a coronation.

I recall a church service I attended where the Jesus character rode a white horse in a reenactment, likely due to the absence of an available donkey. It felt like a modern metaphor. Jesus knowingly faced execution, not a coronation. Today, many Christians seek salvation through political power, craving a triumphant, commanding Christ.

We often trade the donkey for a steed, chasing prominence over humility, demanding control rather than serving quietly. This Palm Sunday, let’s enter Holy Week differently:

- With humility, not arrogant boldness.

- Ready to lay down our lives.

- Willing to face rejection for loving a broken world.

- Embracing brokenness and self-sacrifice.

- Choosing Jesus over worldly power.

- Picking the donkey, not the steed.

This Palm Sunday, reflect on following a king who rejected populism and power for the way of the cross.

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