In this post, I wrote about Jesus needing to correct people’s misconceptions about the Kingdom of God. I said that he did so by comparing the Kingdom to both a mustard seed and leaven. I want to add to this. Jesus was doing this same thing when he made his way into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey (John 12:13).
In light of them expecting the Kingdom of Heaven to come in power as it did in Exodus, it makes sense, as to why they waved Palm branches before Jesus as he made his way into Jerusalem. Palm branches were a symbol of Jewish nationalism. The people waved these branches before Jesus to hail him as the Davidic king, “hoping that he would use his incredible powers to resist Roman rule and lead the nation to independence.” (ESV Study Bible, 2048). This shows that even towards the end of Jesus’ life on earth, they misunderstood what the Kingdom was all about.
Jesus was attempting to correct their misconceptions by riding into Jerusalem on a donkey—not a horse—a donkey. Influential people like Caesar rode horses, not donkeys. Jesus chose the latter. This would be comparable the President of the USA arriving at a Global Summit on a Huffy. Powerful people travel in impressive envoys of armored cars with tinted windows, bodyguards, flashing lights, and flags hanging from the antennas. They don’t show up to a meeting on a ten-speed, or in a pair of rollerblades.
So what statement is Jesus is making by coming to celebrate the Passover on a donkey? The prophet Zechariah explains it for us. He says, “Behold; your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zech. 9:9; italics added). Zechariah and Jesus are telling us that the power of God and the Kingdom of God does not come by force, might, or coercion. It does not make a name for itself using violence. That’s what kingdoms of men do. In defeating death and violence with death and violence, death and violence still win. No, the unstoppable power of the Kingdom of God comes through humility, the meek, the poor, the gentle, the quiet, the peacemakers. That’s the place where God’s transforming power makes itself at home. That is the place where heaven and earth converge.
This is why Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven…Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth…Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God (Matt. 5:2–9). Additionally, Paul quotes Jesus in 2 Cor. 12:9 saying, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
This, once again, is one of the things that is unique about Christianity and the Kingdom of God. It doesn’t use force; it doesn’t use the sword, guns, or tanks. It’s subtle. It invites. It’s small, and it’s quiet. This attests to God’s power. It is the weak ones who have to force their will upon others. Those who are truly powerful gain their followers not by coercion, but by trust and love.
Furthermore, this means that God can use the likes of you and me, the small, meek, poor, and insignificant, to spread his unstoppable love to the ends of the earth. This also means that he can use the submissive death of a humble King to transform the entire world.
