Christian poet G. K. Chesterton...
Illustration
Christian poet G. K. Chesterton has given us this:
The Donkey
When fishes flew and forests walked
And figs grew upon thorn,
Some moment when the moon was blood
Then surely I was born.
With monstrous head and sickening cry
And ears like errant wings,
The devil's walking parody
On all four-footed things.
The tattered outlaw of the earth,
Of ancient crooked will;
Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb
I keep my secret still.
Fools! For I also had my hour;
One fierce hour and sweet:
there was a shout about my ears,
And palms before my feet.
Why a donkey? It's a funny-looking beast of burden, the donkey. It makes a funny noise and has a bad reputation for stubbornness. We make jokes about it and call people the several names it has, and none is a compliment. So why a donkey? Maybe several reasons. Jesus chose a beast that carries burdens, because he takes our burden on himself, bears the burden of the world to the cross. He calls us to bear burdens also; as Simon of Cyrene bore the cross of Jesus to Golgotha, we are tapped to carry some of the burden also. And it's joyful news that if a donkey is needed, then we are needed and can be of service to the Lord, the king on the donkey, and on the cross.
-- Mosley
The Donkey
When fishes flew and forests walked
And figs grew upon thorn,
Some moment when the moon was blood
Then surely I was born.
With monstrous head and sickening cry
And ears like errant wings,
The devil's walking parody
On all four-footed things.
The tattered outlaw of the earth,
Of ancient crooked will;
Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb
I keep my secret still.
Fools! For I also had my hour;
One fierce hour and sweet:
there was a shout about my ears,
And palms before my feet.
Why a donkey? It's a funny-looking beast of burden, the donkey. It makes a funny noise and has a bad reputation for stubbornness. We make jokes about it and call people the several names it has, and none is a compliment. So why a donkey? Maybe several reasons. Jesus chose a beast that carries burdens, because he takes our burden on himself, bears the burden of the world to the cross. He calls us to bear burdens also; as Simon of Cyrene bore the cross of Jesus to Golgotha, we are tapped to carry some of the burden also. And it's joyful news that if a donkey is needed, then we are needed and can be of service to the Lord, the king on the donkey, and on the cross.
-- Mosley
