The ass and the colt

Jesus is about to enter Jerusalem in what is called “the Triumphant Entry.”  It is the famous scene where He comes riding in on a donkey and people are crying “Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed [is] he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.” Matt 21:9

And Jesus says to His disciples, “… Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose [them], and bring [them] unto me.” Matt 21:2

Why and ass and a colt? And what were they saying?

We’ll start with the second.

 Hosanna.  It means “be propitious.”   In the context of Christ, Who is our propitiation (Romans 3:5), it means an atoning sacrifice.

They were placing the palm branches and declaring, “Be an atoning sacrifice Son of David!... an atoning sacrifice in the highest!”

Wow… they got that right.  For He was THE Atoning Sacrifice.  I wonder if they truly knew what they were saying.

As for the ass and the colt… the incredibly prophetic act of an all-knowing Savior…

The King riding on a colt meant He came in peace.  Since a horse was for battle and a donkey was not, the King of one army would ride on a donkey when He was coming in peace, or surrendering. 

Christ surrendered.  At the Cross.  As our Propitiation.

But colt?  A young horse.

This was to show that at a later date (for the colt was not yet a horse) He would come again and that it would be for battle.

Even as He was going into His last week on earth… He was sure to demonstrate that He would be returning.  He gave us hope.

Is there support of this in the scripture?  You tell me…

“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.” Rev 19:11

He IS coming back.  You can bet your life on it.  And I hope that you have.

SDG