As Jesus entered "people spread their cloaks on the road" (v.36) - on the ground.
In North America that wouldn't be too bad. I've walked on the road barefoot many a times. Some people even dare to lay on the road when there is little to do and no cars to be seen. In general the ground isn't too terrible a place. It even gets swept and washed in certain seasons. We have picnics on the ground, roll down grassy hills and sit on the curb on the side of the road. Putting your cloak - I'm guessing this is similar to our sweater or jacket - on the ground wouldn't be too too terrible.
But what about if you weren't in North America - let's say you were in China. The ground here is NOT where you sit. I learned this in the fall when I asked a student to finish an assignment on the floor outside my office. In China the ground is where people spit (even inside airports as I observed last night!), blow snot, throw garbage, urinate, and even throw their animal guts. Not really the place you'd like to sit most of the time because who knows where your shoes have walked, let alone toss your sweater onto.
I wondered what Jerusalem would have been more like. Well, if Jesus was riding into town on a donkey, than others must have been riding animals at that time too. And while cars aren't the cleanest form of transportation they sure beat horse manure. Plus I do know that the Bible talks of people washing their feet when they entered someone's house, so that must mean feet got dirty when walking. So I'm going to say Jerusalem was more like China.
Interesting. I sure wouldn't want to put my sweater on the ground here. And don't forget, it's not like they were just resting their cloaks on the ground, they put them there for a donkey to walk on. Remember, the kind that may leave manure and such. And not just any donkey - a colt "which no one [had] ever ridden" (v.30). Apparently that means the colt wasn't trained yet and could potentially be kicking all about and ripping your cloak to pieces. That would be unfortunate if you really liked that cloak.
I wonder. Was this common for people to throw their cloaks on the ground for important people to walk over on colts that had never been ridden?
Would you be tossing your cloak on the ground for just anyone?
He MUST have been a big deal!
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