Benji, as you know,
Is the short for Benjamin
As in the Animal Farm satire
Also made into a film.
Call me Benji if you like
Since this case is not formal
And as you know,
Donkeys are not people.
I played a support role
In a number of Bible events
But two in particular
Better illustrate my intent.
I could speak of Saul
Who became Israel’s first king
And his search for asses…
Oh boy, isn’t that a thing?
I could talk of Balaam
And about his talking jackass
That had more sense than he,
Boy, wasn’t that class?
I carried a king twice:
To his birth and to his death,
If you read the Bible often
You’d know the rest.
I belonged to Joseph;
He was a respectable man
Thus, one of my supporting roles
Was in redemption’s plan.
Mary was pregnant
But they had a problem
And because of a Roman census
They went to Bethlehem.
I had to carry Mary
And her unborn child
Whom many would refer to as,
Jesus meek and mild.
At the time of the census
I did not know this
But carrying the Christ child,
I’d never want to miss.
That was some honour,
Oh, it was so sweet,
God’s mode of transportation
Was Benji’s footsure feet.
Call me a jackass
But I felt like a king
When I carried the King of kings!
Wasn’t that something?
I was in the stall too
When the shepherds came,
They were joyful and happy
Praising Jehovah’s name.
No wisemen were there;
Not in that stall,
Contrary to popular belief,
There were none at all.
Some years after
A close relative of mine
Also played a supporting role
In an event in his time.
His name was also Benji
Just like most donkeys
So, I will let him tell his experience
For posterity.
I was tied up
When these men came,
I believe they spoke to my owner
And mentioned a name.
All I heard was master
And having need of me,
And then thy took me away
This master for to see.
None had sat me before
So this was an honour,
Just four spindly legs
But I was carrying all power.
Jesus was fully grown then,
Not a baby anymore
But Benji, the second, back then,
Was just as footsure.
At Jesus’ birth
The town was Bethlehem
But this was the capital city,
Specifically, Jerusalem.
I walked on palm leaves
And on people’s clothes,
Nothing like as with Balaam
Delivering those blows.
I can still hear shouting
As the people rejoiced
Not knowing a few days later
They’d be another choice.
“Hosanna,” they shouted,
As I carried him
But later it was “Crucify him!”
Though he had no sin.
No fault had been found
But Jesus had to die
And so, “Hosanna in the Highest”
Changed to “Crucify!”
Two life-changing events
In fulfilment of prophecy:
The latter: The Triumphal Entry
The former: The Nativity.
Two premiere events
In which Benji took part
So next time you see a jackass,
Please have a heart.
Stewart Russell © December 10, 2024
