Pardon me for going all “King James” on you with the subject line. But I’ve been thinking about Palm Sunday and an oft-overlooked character in the scene.

Namely, the transportation.

Yes, I’m talking about the donkey – or in King Jimmy parlance “the ass”.

And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. (Matthew 21:7)

Thus begins the Triumphal Entry, by tracking down transportation, then working on worship.

This particular scene, often celebrated in churches with a command appearance from the kids ministry, opens up what we traditionally call “Holy Week”.  The final week of Jesus’ earthly ministry and the events leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection.

This celebration happened to fulfill the word of the Lord in Zechariah 9:9.

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

Because that verse uses the word “lowly” we often think of this as a very humble or restrained way of making the final entry into Jerusalem.

But I don’t think that’s the case.

“Lowly” in verse 9 is an important word to differentiate the coming of the king from what is said in verse 8. That verse talks about God encamping around His city in a defense that the surrounding armies would never be able to breach. In that verse, God is seen as mighty and warlike.  But in verse 9, He is just and bringing salvation.  This is the entrance of the King of Peace.  And Zechariah used the word “lowly” to create this contrast.

In fact, as I was meditating about this subject, I remembered back to the chapter I wrote recently for my book Give Us a King! in which I was talking about the transition of power from David to Solomon. 

To substantiate Solomon’s selection as the next king, David gave the following instruction:

And the king said to them, “Take with you the servants of your lord and have Solomon my son ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon. And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet there anoint him king over Israel. Then blow the trumpet and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’” (1 Kings 1:33-34)

In this case, the approved royal mode of transportation was a mule (which is similar to a donkey or ass). Everyone recognized that was the way a king should appear and be heralded.

So when Jesus entered into Jerusalem, it was not using the economy version of the transportation options. This was a bonafide statement of royalty .

The rest, as they say is history.

The people recognized the implied claim.  They shouted their acclamation of the coming king.

And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. (Matthew 21:9)

The term “Son of David”, of course was a reference to Jesus’ royal lineage.

The next time Jesus comes to Jerusalem, it won’t be as the Prince of Peace upon an ass.  It will be as the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He will come, having defeated the armies of the world with a single word from His mouth.

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. (Revelation 19:11)

So, as it turns out, the ass matters. 

It’s possible to understand the Triumphal Entry without understanding the significance of the ass.  But I hope today you’ve gained a little deeper understanding of what Christians all over the world will be celebrating. It all fits together in a perfect puzzle. No piece is left out.  No statement is missed.

Today we celebrate Jesus presenting Himself to His people as the perfect sacrifice. The Lamb who takes away the sins of the world.

Next week…. ooooohhh I can’t wait!  It’s going to get dark first, but Resurrection Sunday is a comin’!