In My Own Words: Not Just a Donkey Ride

By: Alex J. Nagem © April 5, 2017

March 11, 2025

During the summer of 1966, I spent my vacation time from school in Lebanon with my mom, brother, and sister. My time was filled with visiting family, sightseeing, and just being a kid. I liked spending time in my mom’s hometown of Roumieh. It is a small metropolitan in the mountains with a beautiful view of Beirut and the Mediterranean coast. My brother, cousins, and I would play soccer and explore the paths that veined the mountainside from one terrace to another. Roumieh is a mixture of old and new. You could see and hear sports cars speeding up and down the windy roads on a sunny day, and a donkey tide outside the grocery store waiting to give the owner a ride home. On several occasions, I enjoyed the back of a donkey as he carried me down the roads or one of the paths. My cousins would walk beside me laughing and patting the donkey to keep him moving. My uncle George told me the donkey was the Ride of Kings. I didn’t understand at the time what he meant by this phrase. I thought he was making a joke about me riding the donkey which always brought smiles and friendly greetings from all who we passed. I thought the Ride of Kings would be a large, beautiful, and muscular horse. I did not know my uncle was giving me a lesson in religious symbolism. The use of animals for daily transportation has diminished in our modern times. Without understanding the meaning behind a leader or king riding a donkey, we would not understand why Jesus chose a donkey colt to ride. In Middle Eastern countries during the time of Christ, riding a donkey meant you were coming in peace. Riding a horse meant you were coming for battle. The donkey is a gentle and patient animal that can carry a heavy load easily. The donkey is a loyal animal known to run to his master even in a crowd of people. It is the ideal animal for Jesus to ride to symbolize He is the Prince of Peace on his journey into Jerusalem to save our souls and free us from the holds of sin.

Some symbol meanings have been lost with the passing years like the riding of a donkey by a king. Another symbol not used much in modern times or whose meaning is not understood is the waving or the laying of palm leaves on the ground to be walked on by someone of importance or authority. During the time of Christ, palm leaves were a symbol of victory, peace, and eternal life. The display of palm leaves and the laying of the leaves on the ground for Jesus to pass over was a way the Israelites showed their hope for victory over the Romans through Jesus Christ. He was the one to lead them to victory. This is known today as laying out the red carpet for someone of importance to walk on. At my home, we just sweep off the all-weather runner on the porch every few days. All are always welcome. Anyway, Palm leaves have become a symbol of resurrection, and a victory over death through the union of Christ. “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree,” Psalm 92:12. The palm tree is a fruit-bearing tree. In the Middle East, the fruit from the palm tree is the date, one of my favorites. The date is a fruit that is believed to be nourishing enough to sustain life without other food. This is a symbol of a righteous man is it not? He possesses a love for his neighbor, provides peace, comforts those who are filled with sorrow or ill and does not blame or condemn others. The righteous man is a symbol of the teachings of Jesus Christ. “The palm tree grows straight and upright toward Heaven. Unlike some trees that bend, twist, and droop. The good man is well-figured here. He is the man who does not stoop, who does not bend and bow earthward, who stands erect, who moves in one heavenward direction, and who is governed constantly by true and abiding principles. These he gains from God and by following the word of God.” (The Pulpit Commentary) (Ezekiel 41:18-20, 25)

It is easy to forget that during the time of Christ, the Israelites were under the rule of the Romans. They wanted freedom from this rule. Did they know that Jesus would bring victory and freedom to all from sin and not just against those who oppress, or would it take another event in the life of Jesus? It was through the teachings of the Apostles, the chosen twelve followers of Jesus, and later the chosen successors in the priests today, that we learn the victory and freedom Jesus gave us was not from the Romans but from our sins, our lack of love for God and fellow man. He showed us through words and actions our need to be righteous and nourishing to others. Just as symbols from the ancient Middle East are forgotten, so can the meaning of our time until we return to face our judgment. As we hold the palm leaves in our hand on Palm Sunday let us think of the ride Jesus made into Jerusalem the week before the fateful day of his crucifixion. Do you truly believe Jesus is the Son of God? Do you believe that he sacrificed himself through crucifixion to allow our souls to one day be with God? Do you believe that through the practice of the teachings of Jesus, we can all be made righteous? Then as you hold the palm leaves, know that you are holding a symbol of victory over death. The palm fruit provides nourishment alone to sustain life. For me, the palm is another symbol, another reminder, of the promise Jesus made to all of his return to lead us to the Father. The palm is yet another symbol of our faith in our Triune God. There is always much to think about with our faith. A nice ride on the back of a donkey on a sunny day in the country would help us focus on the ride Jesus made into Jerusalem and its meaning for all. Well, maybe it would be for me as I remember the summer of 1966. Since the donkey ride is not possible for most, spending time thinking of teachings, belief in, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is our sign of hope for victory over sin.

“Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.” Pope John Paul II

You and your family are remembered in my daily prayers as I hope my family and I are remembered in yours.

“Vocatus Atque Non Vocatus, Deus Aderit”