#1246. The King of Peace on a Donkey (24/3/25)
- Matt Beaney
- Mar 24
- 5 min read
Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional (Posted each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) as we continue in our Luke, Exploring Who Jesus is series.
Today, we reflect on The Triumphal Entry from Luke 19:28-44 and ask: Will Jesus be your King of Peace—your source, your message, and your method to bring peace?
You can watch this devotional below.
1. Why the Donkey?
Our passage begins:
“After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, ‘Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, “Why are you untying it?” say, “The Lord needs it.”’ Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ They replied, ‘The Lord needs it.’” (Luke 19:28-34)
Picture a modern leader—like a president or a celebrity—riding a donkey into a major event. It’s almost comical! Most would opt for grandeur to mark the climax of their mission. So why did Jesus, at this pivotal moment, choose a humble donkey?
i. To Fulfil Prophecy
This act fulfilled Zechariah 9:9: “See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey.” By entering Jerusalem this way, Jesus boldly declared Himself the promised Messiah—Israel’s righteous and victorious King.
ii. To Symbolise Peace and HumilityA king on a warhorse signals conquest; a king on a donkey signals peace. Jesus didn’t arrive to overthrow Rome with force but to bring a deeper peace—peace with God. Even having to borrow the colt reflects His humility, identifying with the poor and powerless rather than the elite.
iii. To Illustrate His Ongoing MinistryThe donkey mirrors how Jesus calls His followers to live and serve. The church isn’t meant to chase worldly flashiness or respectability. Our lifestyle should be simple, our message straightforward—even if it seems foolish to the world (1 Corinthians 1:18).
2. Why Did They Praise Jesus?
The story continues:“They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: ‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!’” (Luke 19:35-38)
The crowd’s response was ecstatic:
“They threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it”—a sacrificial act, giving what little they had to honour Him.
“People spread their cloaks on the road”—their equivalent of a red-carpet welcome.
They shouted Psalm 118:26, a royal enthronement song, hailing Jesus as the Messiah.
Yet, their praise was incomplete. They expected immediate triumph, not realising His peace would come through the cross and the Spirit-empowered mission of the church.
3. Why Did Jesus Weep?
The passage shifts:“Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples!’ ‘I tell you,’ he replied, ‘if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.’ As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, ‘If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognise the time of God’s coming to you.’” (Luke 19:39-44)
The Pharisees demanded silence, but Jesus insisted creation itself would testify if His followers didn’t. Then, as Jerusalem came into view, He wept. Why? Despite the crowd’s cheers, Jesus foresaw their rejection. He knew:
As in The Parable of the Minas (Luke 19:11-27), His subjects will reject their king.
As in The Parable of the Tenants (Luke 20:9-19), They would murder of the owner’s son.
His tears flowed from love and sorrow. Jerusalem would miss the peace He offered, facing judgment instead. Yet, even this rejection would serve God’s redemptive plan, opening salvation to the world.
Our Response
Will Jesus be your King of Peace—your source, message, and method to bring peace?
Do we roll out the red carpet for Him? Let’s worship not just with passion but with faithfulness and truth.
Are we willing to “ride the donkey”? Will we embrace a humble life and share the simple gospel, even if it’s mocked?
Do we seek peace apart from Him? Or do we point those in turmoil to the lasting peace found only in Christ?
Let’s Pray Together
“Jesus, my King of Peace, I worship You. You came humbly to die for me and the world. May my worship be passionate, faithful, and true. Help me live simply and share Your peace with others. Amen.”
Community Group Notes
1. Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
2. Icebreaker
How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week, and how has this helped you?
3. Worship together
Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.
4. Study and pray together
Balanced Time Allocation - Please ensure a balanced focus on discussion, SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite), and prayer so that each section is meaningful and fruitful.
On Sunday, we explored Luke 19:28–20:19, where Jesus, approaching the climax of His ministry, enters Jerusalem, clears the temple, and begins teaching. This passage includes The Parable of the Vineyard (or Tenants) in Luke 20:9–19, which we will examine in the devotionals (Please ensure people know where to find these).
At its heart, this parable reveals that God's people are called to bear fruit for Him. True fruitfulness comes when Jesus enters the ‘temple’ of our hearts—cleansing, renewing, and empowering us to live for His purposes.
Discussion:
Luke 19:28–44 (The Triumphal Entry)
What are the key elements of this moment, and what do they teach us?
How can we embody the lessons of this profound episode in our daily lives?
Luke 19:45–48 (Jesus Cleanses the Temple)
What does this powerful confrontation reveal about God's heart and priorities?
How should we respond personally and as a church?
How can we actively participate in building Jesus’ vision for a “house of prayer for all nations”?
SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite)
Mission inspiration from the text - What do The Triumphal Entry and Jesus Cleansing the Temple teach us about becoming more effective in evangelism? How do these episodes shape our approach to sharing the gospel?
Share Stories – Have you had any recent experiences of Serving, Investing, or Inviting someone toward Jesus? Let’s encourage one another by sharing testimonies of God at work through us.
Practical Next Steps – Who is God putting on your heart to reach? Discuss and pray for those you regularly engage with, including any ‘people of peace’ (* See note) in your life—those open to you and the gospel.
Let’s pray together:
Let’s pray for one another based on our study, and bring before God any other needs or requests for prayer.
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