Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethpage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.” All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.'” So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?” So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.” – Matthew 21:1-11
Did you ever wonder what happened to the donkey? Jesus came into Jerusalem riding on a donkey. That donkey was predicted hundreds of years earlier in Zechariah 9:9-10 and then he was manifested during the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. But we never heard from the donkey again. There was no shrine set up, we do not have a holiday for the donkey, that donkey’s bones are not being saved in a museum somewhere, and for the most part that donkey is forgotten. As servants for the Lord we should aim to be like the donkey. Not seeking personal praise or recognition but just seeking to bring glory to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. After Jesus got off that donkey there was nobody laying down palms or their coats for the donkey, nobody was shouting “praise be to the Lord” for the donkey, nobody was cheering for the donkey. But while Jesus was on the donkey the donkey was showered with praises, got to walk on palms and coats, and received the wonderful treatment showered upon Jesus. If we put God first in our lives as people see Jesus and glorify him we will be blessed! But do not do it for the blessing, do it simply because of how good God is. He is worthy to be praised. Thank you Lord for all you have done for me, help me to seek your glory and not my own. Amen.