The people who were following Jesus’ ministry were hoping that he would rise-up to oust Herod and the Romans and become their king. He had come to become their king, but he would be a different sort of king; not a king who rises up to subjugate people but a king who stoops down to empower people. The prophet Zechariah (9:9) had predicted this critical difference by signalling that this king would be the ideal king in God’s sight, not like the egotistical, megalomaniac kings of the world who ride aloof on their great warhorses. No, this king would not come astride on a warhorse but would come, “lowly and gentle, riding on a donkey”. Have you ever seen a man riding a donkey? There’s certainly nothing grand about it. Most of us would rather ride through life on the ‘high horse’. We ride into situations of interaction with others on the high horse trying to prove ourselves and force our way. This approach won’t bless anyone. You will only make others feel smaller. Have you been approaching conflict by riding in aggressively on the warhorse? When you do this you only start a never-ending war. Jesus has called you to follow him and become a donkey rider. You are called to be an instrument of peace. You can only do this by forsaking your bloated sense of entitlement and self-importance. Get off the horse and hop onto the donkey. Life is much more peaceful that way. Become a donkey rider today.
Reflect on when you have taken the ‘warhorse’ approach and how you can change this.
Read Matthew 21:1-11
