On Palm Sunday, our church will have two donkeys on campus as a reminder of how Jesus humbly rode into Jerusalem. I love for children to see the crosses on the donkeys backs. The legend goes that the donkey was grief-stricken by the sight of Jesus on the cross; the donkey turned away but could not leave. It was then that the shadow of the cross fell upon the shoulders and the back of the donkey, and there it stayed. All donkeys have borne the sign of the cross on their backs since that very day.
When Jesus rode in on a donkey this fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy of Zechariah 9: 9, “See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Jesus usually stayed away from crowds like this but He was ready to present Himself as the Messiah and King, fulfilling prophecy. Unlike an earthly king riding in on a white horse, He rode in on a donkey. Zechariah 9: 9, “See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
On Palm Sunday many children will walk around waving palm branches at the beginning of the service just as people waved palm branches, praised and laid garments down as Jesus entered the town. John 12: 13, “took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! The King of Israel!’” Palm branches were considered symbols of victory and triumph during Jesus’ time.
Mark 10: 14-16, “‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.” “Jesus loves the little children! They are precious in His sight” Parenting is one of God's most important callings. Children are a gift and blessing from God.
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