What does Mark 11:7 mean?
The two disciples whom Jesus sent to collect a donkey jenny and her colt have returned (Matthew 21:1–2). The Jews ride donkeys (Judges 10:4; 12:14; 1 Samuel 25:20), but usually with a saddle. Unlike horses, which have a relatively flat back, donkeys' spines stick out in a way that makes bareback riding uncomfortable. One does not simply ride a donkey bareback. The writer can attest to this personally.The choice of a donkey carries symbolic value in addition to fulfilling prophecy. In that era, donkeys were exclusively used for work, whereas horses were more frequently used for war. Rather than entering the city on a horse, like a military conqueror, Jesus arrives on a donkey. This is somewhat like the difference between a modern person riding into town in the back of a pickup truck, as opposed to an armored personnel carrier. In His second coming, Jesus will arrive riding a horse (Revelation 19:11–16) because His purpose will be judgment rather than sacrifice.
The Old Testament has over 300 prophecies of the Jewish Messiah. Daniel 9:25–26 gives the date of the week between the triumphal entry and the crucifixion. Micah 5:2 says the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1). Second Samuel 7:12–16 says He will be a descendent of David (Matthew 1:1–16; Luke 3:23–31). And Hosea 11:1 says He will live in Egypt for a time (Matthew 2:13–15).
The purpose of the Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament is to identify who this Messiah is when He arrives. In the above examples, Jesus fulfilled prophecy through no effort of His own. As a baby, He had no say in whether Mary and Joseph fled to Egypt.
For other prophecies, Jesus fulfills them very intentionally. In Zechariah, God explains how He will send a champion to rescue Israel from their enemies. He says, "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey" (Zechariah 9:9). Despite the obvious fulfillment of prophecy, the disciples won't recognize the significance until after the resurrection (John 12:16).
