Why donkeys matter

Jesus on a Donkey  (Painting by James Tissot)

When Jesus made his final entry into Jerusalem, it wasn’t on a noble steed.  There was a reason for that.

Horses back then symbolized war.  The humble donkey symbolized peace.  This was in keeping with Zechariah’s prophecy:  See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey…

Unfortunately, in China today, donkeys are being treated way too lowly.  USA TODAY reports that there is a “soaring demand for e’jiao – a traditional medicine made by boiling donkey skin.”  Whereas donkeys in China have long been valued for their assistance with farming “steep terraces in the mountains north,”  they are now being

sacrificed to commercial “gods.”

“China had 11 million donkeys” 30 years ago, but is now down to a mere four million.  This is “despite intensive breeding programs.”  It seems that health can better be achieved via the hillside vegetables that donkeys help to raise, rather than through the merciless sizzling of their skins.

Resources

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/07/17/china-donkey-shortage/456034001/ 

Copyright July 23, 2017 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved