FAITH COLUMN: Wrapped in Palm Sunday

The following article is an opinion piece and reflects the views of only the author and not those of AllOnGeorgia.

Palm Sunday always brings to mind the image of Jesus triumphant entry into Jerusalem riding a donkey. Riding atop clothes and palms that the people laid before him, shouts of Hosanna filling the streets with rejoicing. The Sunday School version I leaned as a child was memorable, but not entirely accurate. How did I miss that there were two donkeys?

Jesus said, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me.” Matthew 21:2 “They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them.” Matthew 21:7. There was both a mother donkey and her foal and Jesus’ procession included them both. What is the significance of the two donkeys here? A mother and her young riding in together with Jesus atop is something every Gentile can celebrate. The mother donkey represented Israel and the Jewish people. Her colt represented Gentiles born out of our Jewish Jesus. The mother donkey, the Old Testament and the colt the New Testament and Jesus, the bridge between the two.

Palm Sunday and the two donkeys was first prophesied about in the Old Testament. “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Zechariah 9:9. All along, God had a plan to bring a redeemer; a God-man who was fully God and fully man to save his people.

As we enter Holy week, ponder these two donkeys. Did you know donkeys are extremely affectionate creatures? They form a close bond with other animals and with people they are familiar with. Donkeys can easily become best friends to dogs, cats, horses. In fact, some people get donkeys to be companions for their other animals. Once that bond is formed, the donkey will display affection and a protective nature over its friends. I am especially intrigued by an affectionate behavior that donkeys display that is termed “wrapping”. Two donkeys will stand as close as they can on either side of their human. If the person moves forward or backward, they move with them. Being sandwiched between two donkeys can be frightening if you don’t understand that it is their language of love.

There were many on Palm Sunday who were living right between the Old Testament and the New Testament. They got to experience this “wrapping” of the old and new testament. Some understood Jesus was an outpouring of God’s love and shouted Hosanna. But soon, others would be shouting “crucify him”. Jews and Gentiles alike got to know God and his Son “wrapping” around them.

This Easter season mediate on God wrapping you in His love through His son, Jesus. 2 Corinthians 1:20 is true of Palm Sunday and it is true in the life of every believer today. “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the
“Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. Let your “Amen” be “Hosanna in the Highest” this Palm Sunday.

By: Nadolyn Lee

Nadolyn has served in church ministry in the areas of music, children and youth for over thirty years. She is creator of ‘Dirt Road Believer’ YouTube channel where she produces Christian devotions every Tuesday and Thursday. Her home is in Summerville, GA with her husband and four children.