Prophecies about Jesus: He would enter Jerusalem on a donkey

There were two donkeys in the field near where we stayed in France recently. They followed people around and liked eating apples.

On the Sunday before He was crucified, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, fulfilling a predictive prophecy given about 530 years earlier (Zech. 9:9).

Matthew recorded, As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. “Go into the village over there,” He said. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.” This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said, “Tell the people of Jerusalem, ‘Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt’” (Mt. 21:1-5NLT).

This prophecy was given to the people of Jerusalem by the prophet Zechariah. It’s a scene like the welcoming of ancient Israelite kings. The triumphal entry into Jerusalem was the formal presentation of Jesus as the nation’s Messiah, the Son of David. Jesus sat on the clothes spread upon the colt, which had never been ridden before – so it was small. The mother donkey probably walked beside Jesus and the colt because the young colt would not have left his mother. Riding on the younger, shorter donkey indicated the humility of this King. He did not come riding on a white stallion like when He comes to reign in His millennial kingdom (Rev. 19).

Those coming before and after Jesus constituted a royal procession. They approached the city from the east and sang a song taken from the Messianic Psalm 118:25-26. “Praise God for the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Praise God in highest heaven!” (Mt. 21:9).

They spread cloaks and leafy branches on the road. That’s why it’s now called Palm Sunday. Spreading garments before an important person was a symbol of submission (see 2 Ki. 9:12-13).

There was triumph regarding the coming King. They thought that the kingdom had come when Christ would be sitting on the throne of David. They wanted a King to bring success and power. But they didn’t realise that the Messiah was going to come to earth in two separate events and this triumph will not be fulfilled until Jesus comes again riding on a white horse (Rev. 19).

To show that He was the Messiah Jesus fulfilled the predictive prophecy of Zech 9:9. He came for His coronation as king, but Israel rejected Him as their Messiah and they crucified Him five days later. Worship can be fickle when it is based on emotion alone. Let’s worship God daily, not just on Sundays.

In ancient times donkeys did heavy work on the farm (like pulling a plow and threshing grain) and were used for personal transport. At the time of Jesus a donkey was an appropriate choice for a procession of importance, as it did not have the lowly status it has today. But they would ride the largest donkey, not the smallest. In the ancient world, a king would ride a donkey if he came in peace, and a horse if he came for battle. First Kings 1:33 mentions Solomon riding a donkey on the day he was recognized as the new king of Israel. Other instances of leaders riding donkeys are Judges 5:10; 10:4; 12:14; and 2 Samuel 13:29; 16:2.

At His first coming, Jesus Christ came not to conquer by force but to save by sacrifice. He came as a servant, not a king. And the road of the triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Sunday was the same road out of Jerusalem to Calvary on Friday.

This is the only passage in the gospels where Jesus used the term “Lord” of Himself – He said “the Lord needs them (the donkeys)”. Although He was a servant, He is also the divine ruler of the universe.

Prayer

Father God, we thank you for sending the Lord Jesus to fulfill the Old Testament prophecies of the Jewish Messiah.

We thank you that on His first visit, He came to bring peace with God, not war against the Roman Empire – He rode a donkey, not a warhorse.

And He was humble – He didn’t take the highest position, but rode on the colt. We thank you for the humility and obedience of Jesus. He came to die as a sacrifice for our sins. This is a sacrifice that offers peace with God though the forgiveness of our sins. In Christ’s name, Amen.

Written, October 2025