What Animal Did Mary Ride To Bethlehem

There are many beautiful works of fine art depicting Mary riding a ass as Joseph led them to Bethlehem. I never questioned whether or not Mary rode a donkey on her journey with Joseph. All the same, as I was researching the symbolism of Mary riding a donkey to Bethlehem and Christ riding a donkey equally he entered Jerusalem in the Triumphal Entry, I realized that the scriptures don't actually say that she did. She could have. It is likely that she did given it was the popular way of transportation for people of her day and circumstances. But we really don't know. Nosotros may never know, but we can get closer to experience what it was like to arrive in Bethlehem all those centuries ago past taking part in State of israel group tours and visiting some of the holy sites for ourselves.

Even so, it is interesting that information technology is unremarkably accepted. And then I wanted to delve into the symbolism of Christ riding the donkey into Jerusalem and what that may mean for our common belief that Mary rode upon a ass too. In Egypt the donkey is a symbol for the god of evil. In Hebrew writings the ass or ass symbolized the devil, evil, impairment or non-covenant people (Lost Linguistic communication of Symbolism, 307-308). What does the Son of God riding upon something that symbolized evil mean?

The answer is two fold in Christ riding upon the ass/ass. First, it symbolized that He would overcome all evil even the devil himself. This He did with his sinless life though being sorely tempted by even Satan himself. By riding into Jerusalem in this manner He foreshadows His triumph over physical and spiritual death and His power to grant salvation.

Secondly, riding upon the ass represented that He was the God of the Jews and Gentiles, "Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yep, of the Gentiles also" (Romans 3:29). In addition, the gospel was to be preached to the Gentiles as well as be "blessed and numbered among the house of State of israel" (2 Nephi 10:xviii). The give-and-take Gentile means "the nations." It designates people of non-Israelite lineage but likewise nations that are without the gospel (Bible Lexicon, 679).

He is the Lord to each 1 of the states whether we know it or not. Christ did non come for the saint but for the sinner. He is your Savior whether or non you accept Him as such. He loves you whether or non you love Him. He waits for you fifty-fifty when you stray. He is merciful and makes information technology possible for each one of usa to receive His salvation in ane way or another. To Him we are numbered. He knows usa.

And so Mary riding upon the back of a donkey pregnant with the babe Jesus is a beautiful foreshadowing of what was to come. And then whenever I see Mary riding upon the donkey I think of the power and triumph of Christ inbound Jerusalem upon a donkey with the crowds of people throwing their dress and palm fronds in His path honoring Him as a Rex proclaiming,

"Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the proper noun of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest" (Matthew 21:9).

These beautiful words are like to the refrain of heavenly hosts heralding the birth of Jesus,

"Celebrity to God in the highest, and on world peace, proficient will toward men" (Luke ii:14).

In pondering these symbols a chat with a dear friend of mine came to mind as we talked about her approaching nascency. She could feel the darkness surrounding her, trying to rob her of the joy that should back-trail the nascence of a child. Knowing the challenges she had faced in the past I was reminded that she had overcome them. The darkness did not trounce her. She had triumphed. And then if you find yourself pregnant or with a lilliputian one during this sacred time, or struggling in anyway, I hope you know that Christ will help you lot triumph over the evil. Information technology is not unusual to experience weighed down physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually as you overcome the evil of the world and cull to requite the Gift of Life. May you seek to be e'er closer to Him and feel his honey environment you as you lot bravely motion forward to your "Bethlehem."

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you lot: non as the earth giveth, give I unto you lot. Let non your heart be troubled, neither let information technology be afraid." John fourteen:27

#LIGHTtheWORLD

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Source: http://thegiftofgivinglife.com/did-mary-really-ride-a-donkey-to-bethlehem/

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