As the Passover season nears, we reflect on the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9, fulfilled during the Triumphal Entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem on a donkey, an event recorded by all four gospel writers. Zechariah's words urge us to rejoice and shout, signaling the importance of this moment as Christ rode a donkey, fulfilling an ancient sign. In Matthew 21:2, Jesus directs His disciples to find a donkey and her colt in a nearby village, aligning with Zechariah's prophecy, though Mark, Luke, and John mention only one animal. Mark and Luke note that Christ rode the colt, which had never been ridden before, while John simply states Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it. Why was a donkey chosen for this significant entry? Often misunderstood, donkeys are not stupid or merely stubborn beasts of burden. They are intelligent, willing partners once trust is earned, requiring minimal training and proving dependable. Their surefootedness and keen senses make them adept at navigating difficult terrain and detecting predators, even serving as guard animals for modern farmers. Their perceived stubbornness stems from a strong survival instinct, refusing danger, as seen in Balaam's donkey in Numbers 22:22-33, which recognized angelic peril its owner ignored. Domesticated around 3000 BC, donkeys have a long history of use, more efficient than horses or camels for transport. They were prominent in biblical times, ridden by figures like Abraham, Moses, and David, often symbolizing royalty in Near Eastern ceremonies. In Exodus 23:12, God commands that donkeys rest on the Sabbath alongside oxen. The tenth commandment in Exodus 20:17 warns against coveting a neighbor's donkey, and laws in Exodus 13 and 34 highlight the donkey as the only unclean animal mentioned for redemption among firstborns. In Numbers 31, the Israelites took 61,000 donkeys as spoils from the Midianites, a vast number compared to the Egyptians' thousands. Jesus' choice to ride a donkey into Jerusalem was deliberate, reflecting God's plan. Far from indicating poverty, it signified kingship, as understood in ancient Middle Eastern culture. Unlike the horse, associated with war, the donkey represents peaceful pursuits, underscoring the nature of Christ's first coming. Through the donkey, we see traits to emulate—trust, meekness, and protection—reminding us of our redemption through the Lamb of God, preparing us to follow Him in His return.