Q
Jesus rode a colt—a young donkey—into Jerusalem to fulfill prophecies, according to Matthew’s version of this story (Matthew 21:4-5). In one prophecy, Isaiah talks about a king coming into Jerusalem (Isaiah 62:11). In another, Zachariah describes the king as humble and riding on a young donkey (Zechariah 9:9). Some Jews apparently associated this with the Messiah they hoped would come and free them from the Roman Empire. It seems as though Jesus wanted to send the message that he was the Messiah. Do you think he cheated a little bit in the way he manipulated this event, by riding into Jerusalem in a way that fit the script?
A
Another way of looking at this is that he saw the script and he followed it, as best he could. Most of the script, however, was in the hands of other people—for example the story of his crucifixion. There was no way for him to find the props for that part of the story.
Reprinted from the Leader’s Guide & Atlas for Luke
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Scripted or foretold? There is a difference.