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Why did Jesus ride a donkey into Jerusalem according to the Gospel accounts?
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Easter
Resurrection of Christ, oil on wood panel by Raphael, 1499–1502; in the Museu de Arte de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. 52 × 44 cm.
According to the Gospel accounts, Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem to fulfill the biblical prophecy of a humble king, as recorded in Zechariah 9:9.12
By choosing to enter the city on a young donkey or colt rather than a warhorse, Jesus evoked the image of a peaceful and humble leader, contrasting with the expectations of a military conqueror. This event, which is commemorated on Palm Sunday, served as a symbolic act that signaled his identity as the coming king or "Son of David" to the crowds who welcomed him with palm branches and shouts of "Hosanna".123