Why did Christ ride an ass into Jerusalem?

Prior to entering Jerusalem, Christ instructed his disciples to acquire for him an ass (in Matthew’s Gospel an ass and a colt).{* see note}

Why did Jesus ride an ass? There are four reasons.

First, the prophet Zechariah wrote: “Behold, your king comes to you, triumphant and victorious. He is humble and riding on an ass, on a colt the foal of an ass.” (Zech 9:9)

The messianic sign was at once perceived by the crowds who hailed Jesus as their king shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Mt 21:9) Catholics still shout this Davidic salutation every time the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is celebrated. It is an acknowledgment that Jesus is the true Davidic Messiah and king.

Secondly, an ass is integral to the story of Abraham’s offering of Isaac, a type of the oblation of the First Born Son as a sign of obedience.

The third reason is that King Solomon Solomon rode to his messianic coronation on a mule that had once belonged to David (1 Kgs 1:33-44).

Fourth, King Jehu rode into Samaria (a type of false Jerusalem) over the garments of his adherents in order to destroy the temple of the false god Baal (2 Kgs 9:11-10:28). One of the first things Christ does upon entering Jerusalem is bring judgment to the Temple which has become a den of thieves. The typology in this account is rather startling as 2 Kgs chapter nine contains strong messianic language. Like King Jehu, Christ the King comes as a judge over ceremonial regulations. Christ comes to show that the Temple has become unclean and that His body shall become the true Heavenly Temple. This is why, in my book The Crucified Rabbi, I call Catholicism, the true “Third Temple Judaism.” King Solomon’s Temple was a type. The rebuilt Temple after the exile was a lesser type. Yet the fulfillment of the tabernacle/temple of the Old Law is the incarnate Body of Christ from the womb of the Virgin, and thus the Catholic Church by way of participation in their Lord through baptism. The Church is the Body of Christ as she receives the Body of Christ in the Eucharist.

    {*} The ass or donkey that had been “yoked” signified Israel under the yoke of the Law of Moses. The young colt, which has not been broken, signifies the wild and lawless Gentiles. By riding the ass and then the colt, Christ signifies the Lord’s presence with Israel and then the willingness of the Gentiles to bear witness to Christ after Israel almost universally dismissed their Messiah.