The ass was the beast on which kings rode when they came in peace; only in war did they ride upon horses. The entry of Jesus was the claim to be King.
But at the same time, it was claim to be the King of peace. It was upon the ass of peace and not upon the horse of war that Jesus came. He came deliberately refusing the role of the warrior Messiah and claiming to be the Prince of Peace. He was appealing for a throne, but the throne was in the hearts of men. In that entry into Jerusalem, Jesus, in a dramatic symbolic action which spoke more loudly than any words, was making one last appeal to men, and saying to them: “Will you not, even now, even yet, accept me as your Lord and King, and enthrone me within your hearts?”
Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem was an action of supreme courage; it was an assertion of royalty and an offer of love; it was at one and the same time royalty’s claim and love’s appeal.
This is an excerpt from a book The Mind of Jesus by William Barclay. If you would like to buy this book please click here.