(10 minutes, easy set-up)
Students will consider the meaning of Jesus riding a donkey into Jerusalem.
Provide a dry erase board and marker.
Learning Goal: Students will examine how Jesus’ divinity was proclaimed in His entrance into Jerusalem.
Ask: Has anyone wondered why Jesus would have chosen to ride a donkey rather than a horse? Point out that horses and donkeys were used by kings in different situations.
On the board, create two columns with the headings, “Horse” and “Donkey.” Under the heading of “Horse,” list these passages: Jeremiah 6:23; Exodus 14:9; 1 Kings 4:26; Revelation 9:7. Under the heading of “Donkey,” list these passages: Zechariah 9:9; 1 Kings 1:33-35; John 12:15.
Assign one group to look at the first set of passages on the board and to determine when horses were used, and the other group to look at the second set of passages on the board to determine when donkeys were used. After a two minutes, call for responses. (Horses: were used in battle, times of war, for speed; Donkeys: were used in time of peace when the king rode out to visit his people.) Point out that Solomon was being anointed as king when he was pictured on a donkey.
Ask: If you were present at the time of Jesus, what would you think if you saw a man as well-known as Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey? (He was claiming He was the King of Peace.) Remind students that many hoped that Jesus would come to lead an army into battle against the Romans to regain their freedom. Say: Jesus entered Jerusalem on a colt, showing that He was their King in peace, not one who came to lead in battle.