Speaker: Zac Poonen
Title: Learning from Jesus Riding on a Donkey
Date: 07/06/2025
Our Goal as Christians is this: To be an exact reflection of Jesus, the Son of God (Romans 8:29)
We do this individually by growing in purity in our personal lives (1 John 3:2-3)
We do this corporately by becoming fully functioning members of a local Church (Ephesians 4:11-16)
Summary
Jesus riding on a donkey exemplifies God's counter-cultural values, deliberately rejecting human standards of honor, attractiveness, and capability. Through this image and examples like the Apostle Paul and Joni Eareckson Tada, Zac Poonen teaches that God deliberately uses the weak, despised, and overlooked to accomplish His purposes, and believers should value others not by worldly metrics but by recognizing Christ's presence in them.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
God's thoughts are not our thoughtsHuman ways of thinking are vastly different from God's ways, meaning human cleverness cannot truly understand the Bible.Isaiah 55:8–9
The prophecy of a despised servantOld Testament prophecies foretold that the Messiah would not come with stately form, majesty, or outward human attractiveness, but would be despised and forsaken.Isaiah 52:13Isaiah 53:1–3
The message of Jesus riding on a donkeyKings on earth rode majestic horses, but Jesus fulfilled prophecy by riding on a humble, despised donkey to bring human glory down to the ground.Matthew 21:4–5
God chooses donkeys instead of horsesGod uses people who lack education, capability, gifts, or striking physical appearance rather than relying on human cleverness.
The physical appearance of the Apostle PaulHistorical accounts and Scripture suggest the Apostle Paul had physical limitations and unattractive features, yet he was a mightily used apostle.
The lesson of the body in 1 Corinthians 12Just as the human body bestows more abundant honor on its less presentable parts, God composes the body of Christ with those who have limitations.
God uses people with tremendous limitationsIndividuals born without limbs or paralyzed for decades are used powerfully by God to preach the gospel and help others.
Working among the poorest and uneducatedGod uses simple, uneducated believers who may lack worldly knowledge because true value is found in loving and following Jesus.
Jesus will return on a white horseWhile Jesus first came humbly as a servant on a donkey, a future day is coming when He will return as a conquering king on a white horse.Revelation 19:11
Do not seek honor todayToday is not the time to seek worldly honor or status; believers must follow the example of Jesus riding on a donkey.
Do not take praise to yourself like the donkeyIf people appreciate your message, do not take the honor to yourself, which would be as foolish as a donkey thinking the crowd's praise was meant for it.
Speaker: Zac Poonen
Title: Learning from Jesus Riding on a Donkey
Date: 07/06/2025
Our Goal as Christians is this: To be an exact reflection of Jesus, the Son of God (Romans 8:29)
We do this individually by growing in purity in our personal lives (1 John 3:2-3)
We do this corporately by becoming fully functioning members of a local Church (Ephesians 4:11-16)
Summary
Jesus riding on a donkey exemplifies God's counter-cultural values, deliberately rejecting human standards of honor, attractiveness, and capability. Through this image and examples like the Apostle Paul and Joni Eareckson Tada, Zac Poonen teaches that God deliberately uses the weak, despised, and overlooked to accomplish His purposes, and believers should value others not by worldly metrics but by recognizing Christ's presence in them.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
God's thoughts are not our thoughtsHuman ways of thinking are vastly different from God's ways, meaning human cleverness cannot truly understand the Bible.Isaiah 55:8–9
The prophecy of a despised servantOld Testament prophecies foretold that the Messiah would not come with stately form, majesty, or outward human attractiveness, but would be despised and forsaken.Isaiah 52:13Isaiah 53:1–3
The message of Jesus riding on a donkeyKings on earth rode majestic horses, but Jesus fulfilled prophecy by riding on a humble, despised donkey to bring human glory down to the ground.Matthew 21:4–5
God chooses donkeys instead of horsesGod uses people who lack education, capability, gifts, or striking physical appearance rather than relying on human cleverness.
The physical appearance of the Apostle PaulHistorical accounts and Scripture suggest the Apostle Paul had physical limitations and unattractive features, yet he was a mightily used apostle.
The lesson of the body in 1 Corinthians 12Just as the human body bestows more abundant honor on its less presentable parts, God composes the body of Christ with those who have limitations.
God uses people with tremendous limitationsIndividuals born without limbs or paralyzed for decades are used powerfully by God to preach the gospel and help others.
Working among the poorest and uneducatedGod uses simple, uneducated believers who may lack worldly knowledge because true value is found in loving and following Jesus.
Jesus will return on a white horseWhile Jesus first came humbly as a servant on a donkey, a future day is coming when He will return as a conquering king on a white horse.Revelation 19:11
Do not seek honor todayToday is not the time to seek worldly honor or status; believers must follow the example of Jesus riding on a donkey.
Do not take praise to yourself like the donkeyIf people appreciate your message, do not take the honor to yourself, which would be as foolish as a donkey thinking the crowd's praise was meant for it.
