Legend of the Donkey's Cross
     by Mary Singer

 "Bring me the colt of a donkey"
was the Master's request.

A young donkey was brought to Jesus
to carry Him into Jerusalem.

A week later Jesus was ordered
to be crucified.

The little donkey so loved the Lord
that he wanted to help Him carry the cross.

But, alas, he was pushed away.

The sad little donkey waited to say
goodbye until nearly all had left.

As he turned to leave, the shadow of
the cross fell upon the
back and shoulders of
the little donkey.

And there it has remained,
a tribute to the loyalty
and love of the humblest of
Gods creatures.

Matthew 21:1-11 (New International Version)

The Triumphal Entry

Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, 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.' " [Zechariah 9:9]

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 David1
'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."

Another Version of the Legend of the Donkey's Cross

On the day we now celebrate as Palm Sunday, Jesus came to Jerusalem for the Jewish festival of Passover.  He rode on the back of a young donkey, which fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah (Old Testament, Zechariah 9:9).

Great crowds of people lined the streets waving palm branches to welcome Jesus. The people were very excited and they spread branches on the road.  Some even laid down their robes. They shouted 'Hosanna!'

The legend has been handed down that the donkey was a solid color, but after Christ died on the cross on Good Friday, all donkeys received the mark of the cross on their back as a reminder of the service of that donkey to our Lord on Palm Sunday.

A Different Legend

Joseph purchased a small donkey a few months before the trip to Bethlehem so Mary could become accustomed to the animal.  A great bond grew between the pair as Mary took care of the donkey and nightly covered him with her robe.

At the start of the trip to Bethlehem, the donkey picked up a thorn in one of his front feet, which caused him to go lame.  Every step was painful, but he knew how important it was for him to carry Mary carefully.  With great patience and willpower the donkey struggled along the trail carefully, being sure not to limp for fear it would make Mary uncomfortable.  So careful he was that neither Mary nor Joseph knew the donkey was in great pain.

Finally the trip ended in Bethlehem.  The little donkey was able to lie down and sleep in the hay, covered with Mary's robe.  Later that night an angel came and lifted the robe from his back and said "Among the beasts, you alone always shall be blessed, for in another's time of need you bore your cross of pain in silence.  Now all men shall know you for the greatness of your heart.  Your children and your children's children forevermore shall bear your mark of honor among the beasts."

When Mary's robe was removed from the donkey the next morning, she and Joseph saw something that had never been seen there before:  A cross on his back.  And every small donkey has since borne the cross on his back as a reward for his work.

The donkey carried The Word in ...

He carried The Word out ...

And now he carries The Word to the world.

I did a search of the Bible at BibleGateway.com and discovered that the word "donkey" is mentioned more than 140 times in the Bible.  I read several of the passages, and found this one to be a particularly interesting story from the Old Testament.

Numbers 22:20-40 (New King James Version)

And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, "If the men come to call you, rise and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you - that you shall do."  So Balaam rose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.

Balaam, the Donkey, and the Angel

Then God's anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the LORD took His stand in the way as an adversary against him.  And he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.  Now the donkey saw the Angel of the LORD standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand, and the donkey turned aside out of the way and went into the field.  So Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back onto the road.  Then the Angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side.  And when the donkey saw the Angel of the LORD, she pushed herself against the wall and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall; so he struck her again.  Then the Angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.  And when the donkey saw the Angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam's anger was aroused, and he struck the donkey with his staff.

Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?

And Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have abused me.  I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!"

So the donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden, ever since I became yours, to this day?  Was I ever disposed to do this to you?"  And he said, "No."

Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the Angel of the LORD standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face.  And the Angel of the LORD said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times?  Behold, I have come out to stand against you, because your way is perverse before Me.  The donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me these three times.  If she had not turned aside from Me, surely I would also have killed you by now, and let her live."

And Balaam said to the Angel of the LORD, "I have sinned, for I did not know You stood in the way against me.  Now therefore, if it displeases You, I will turn back."

Then the Angel of the LORD said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but only the word that I speak to you, that you shall speak."  So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

Now when Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, which is on the border at the Arnon, the boundary of the territory.  Then Balak said to Balaam, "Did I not earnestly send to you, calling for you?  Why did you not come to me?  Am I not able to honor you?"

And Balaam said to Balak, "Look, I have come to you!  Now, have I any power at all to say anything?  The word that God puts in my mouth, that I must speak."  So Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kirjath Huzoth.  Then Balak offered oxen and sheep, and he sent some to Balaam and to the princes who were with him.

BibleGateway.com is a wonderful resource containing more than 50 versions of the Bible in 35 languages, all searchable by passage or keyword.

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