The Savior of the World Riding a Humble Donkey
Ezrica
As I read this week’s adult Sabbath school lesson, Sunday’s reading stirred a whirlwind of questions in me. The most persistent being: Why did Jesus choose a donkey? A quick Google search revealed that donkeys are often associated with servitude, peace and humility. While I’m hesitant to fully trust a simple Google search, the question replayed in my mind.
I reflected on the significance of donkeys in biblical history. A donkey was used as a message-bearer to speak truth to Balaam. Sampson used a donkey’s jawbone to kill 1,000 men. Mary rode a donkey on her way to Bethlehem, Jesus’ birthplace. Why, then, would He choose to ride a donkey during what many would consider the social zenith of His time on earth?
I can imagine Jesus entering the city to shouts of “Hosanna” echoing through the streets. Palm branches waved in the wind and scattered on the ground like a carpet. Jesus received a king’s welcome. He was celebrated and yet, He chose to ride in on a donkey. Perhaps Jesus chose a donkey because a donkey is: lowly, steadfast, a tool, an asset, stubborn, faithful, loyal, humble,
I may seem irreverent to suggest this, but maybe, in that moment with everyone around praising Him and the disciples trailing behind with pride, thinking that they would get the popularity they desired, their egos soared. Perhaps Jesus related most with the donkey.
A donkey receives no glory, is lowly, steadfast, a tool, an asset, known for being stubborn. But, during this moment in history this lowly beast carried the most precious gift on its back. For a moment, the full weight of divinity rested on the back of a donkey. Possibly mirroring the events that would soon transpire where the lowliest and most steadfast of them all, Jesus Himself, would carry the weight of humanity on His back. Perhaps Jesus chose a donkey because it was the one creature who could truly understand what it meant to carry a load that was never theirs to bear in the first place.
Krystalynn
Powerful words! I am reminded that Jesus could have chosen a grand entrance. Instead, He embraced simplicity and humility. Jesus taught us that true leadership isn’t about seeking glory or status. This story should challenge us to rethink how we approach leadership roles in our life, especially in the church. Have we become more focused on recognition and success? Or are we willing to carry the burdens of others quietly and faithfully, just as the donkey did? The image of that lowly animal carrying the most precious burden in history reminds me that the greatest acts of service often go unnoticed by the world, but are deeply valued by God. Jesus’ decision to identify with a humble donkey shows me that true greatness lies in serving with humility and selflessness.
Monday’s lesson covered the story from Mark chapter 11 where Jesus curses the fig tree and cleanses the temple. Once again, I feel that cramming both these stories into one lesson robs the reader of going deeper into the message. In this passage, a hungry Jesus approaches a fig tree in hopes of finding fruit but finding none. So He curses the fig tree. This is followed by His actions in the temple where He drives out the sellers to restore its sanctity. Jesus condemns the leaders for turning it into a “den of robbers.” The next day, the disciples notice the fig tree has withered.
Cleansing the temple is such a powerful story. In Matthew’s account, after the cleansing is complete, the lame, blind, poor, and children enter to be healed by Jesus. The religious leaders became angry and began planning Jesus’ death. Reading this story invites me to ask myself, what in my own life needs cleansing from Jesus? Am I willing to let Jesus enter and drive out those practices so that I may be healed? As a church community, have we turned the movements of God into a commercialized enterprise?
Continuing in Mark 11, Tuesday’s lesson begins after the cleansing of the temple. Jesus is confronted by religious leaders trying to trap Him with questions against His authority. Fully aware of their intentions, Jesus counters with a question regarding John the Baptist’s authority. He traps them instead, refusing to answer the question. Afterwards, He tells a parable about a vineyard owner and its tenants. The parable, where the tenants kill the owner’s son to claim the vineyard, serves as a warning to the religious leaders, urging them to repent of their actions.
This passage reminds us that spiritual pride can blind religious leaders to divine truth and lead them to resist God. It is worth noting that the attempt to entrap Jesus consistently came from the religious leaders of Jesus’ day. I can only imagine how exhausting it must have been to constantly navigate their traps when they should have been God’s greatest ally. Yet, in the parable of the vineyard, we see Jesus continue to reach out to the religious leaders. Mark 11 serves as a reminder to us today. What man-made traditions or other idols do we need Jesus to cleanse from our hearts, churches, and institutions?
Ezrica
Reflecting on the stories of the fig tree and the temple, I recall the deep discomfort I felt when I first encountered them. It was unsettling to see Jesus express what appeared to be anger. Especially since my own relationship with anger was strained and unhealthy at the time. I feared anger and seeing it in Jesus felt out of place. However as I grew in understanding, I realized His indignation was righteous. The story of the fig tree brought to mind the fourth commandment: “Thou shalt not take the Lord thy God’s name in vain.” My traditional upbringing taught me that this meant avoiding phrases like “Oh my God.” As I’ve matured spiritually, I’ve come to see a deeper meaning. It’s not just about words; it’s about representing Jesus authentically. The fig tree, full of leaves but without any fruit symbolized something Jesus found repulsive: a facade without substance. His response wasn’t merely anger. He responded with a direct rebuke and warning against the dangers of camouflaged spiritual emptiness.
Similarly, when Jesus cleansed the temple, it wasn’t just about overturning tables. He defended the sacred purpose of a place meant to be a refuge of equity and safety. The temple instead had become a place of exploitation, targeting the weak and poor. Jesus’ anger here aligns with the same commandment. Don’t claim to serve God and then use that position to exploit others. The temple, like the fig tree, was meant to bear fruit, not personal gain.
Wednesday’s lesson highlights how the religious leaders, desperate to condemn Jesus, even involved the Roman government in their schemes. The Sadducees attempted to trap Him with questions about marriage, mirroring a pattern I’ve often observed. It’s easy to be surrounded by knowledgeable people yet who still miss the essence of truly knowing God. I’ve encountered scholars who studied theology, not to deepen their faith, but to disprove Jesus like the Pharisees of old. It’s sad because despite their vast knowledge, their relationship with God remains distant.
Thursday’s lesson offers a beautiful counterpoint. A scribe asks Jesus about the greatest commandment and He answers simply: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength,” and adds, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” The first commandment speaks of a consuming love for God, the second ties the love of others and ourselves, forming a great commandment trifecta.
I find the potency of this verse isn’t often explored in our church, especially as our denomination is guided by fundamental beliefs. Other denominations have their strict rituals, traditions, and patterns. While safeguarding certain beliefs is important, it feels as if this verse should be emphasized more. I believe it reveals the heart of salvation, love for God, love for neighbors, and love for the self. At this point in Jesus’ ministry, He performed miracles, challenged church leaders, and through this verse, summed His work in love. After reading the lesson, I’m left wondering how our understanding of the Bible could change if we measured everything by these three metrics?
Krystalynn
I love your question Ezrica! Jesus’ simplification of the commandments into an umbrella of love should help us love better and resist the trap of othering. In our current political climate, this feels relevant. This message of love challenges the views and actions of all Christ-followers. The commandments to love God fully and love your neighbor as yourself emphasize compassion, understanding, and unity rather than division. Demonizing others contradicts the core Christian principle of loving all people. By focusing on love as the foundation of faith, Christians are called to reject divisiveness and embrace a spirit of kindness and reconciliation, even in political contexts.
Friday’s lesson contained a killer quote from Desire of Ages that I felt was worth highlighting. I include the entire quote below, emphasizing parts that stood out to me. Regarding the story of cursing the fig tree, Ellen White writes:
“Christ’s act in cursing the tree which His own power had created stands as a warning to all churches and to all Christians. No one can live the law of God without ministering to others. But there are many who do not live out Christ’s merciful, unselfish life. Some who think themselves excellent Christians do not understand what constitutes service for God. They plan and study to please themselves. They act only in reference to self. Time is of value to them only as they can gather for themselves. In all the affairs of life this is their object. Not for others but for themselves do they minister. God created them to live in a world where unselfish service must be performed. He designed them to help their fellow men in every possible way. But self is so large that they cannot see anything else. They are not in touch with humanity. Those who thus live for self are like the fig tree, which made every pretension but was fruitless. They observe the forms of worship, but without repentance or faith. In profession they honor the law of God, but obedience is lacking. They say, but do not. In the sentence pronounced on the fig tree Christ demonstrates how hateful in His eyes is this vain pretense. He declares that the open sinner is less guilty than is he who professes to serve God, but who bears no fruit to His glory.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 584.
The final sentence is strong, seeming to align with this entire week’s study on the importance of authentically following Jesus. Doing so can be difficult. I’m reminded of my work helping to bring racial reconciliation to one of our institutions. Some people will ask me why I was being “divisive” and “political,” telling me I need to remain silent and do the work of God. I would remind them that to remain silent is to keep systems of oppression in play and that as followers of Christ, we are to do the work of reparations. Sometimes doing the work of God and bearing good fruit can bring offense because they disrupt our comfort zones of man-made tradition. However, although it is painful at times, we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus to dismantle systems of oppression that are not founded on biblical principles. Amid that pain, there is no greater joy than collaborating with others to bring about the kingdom of God.
About the authors
Ezrica Bennett
