James went down the slope to where he saw some cottages, and asked if anyone had a riding horse or at least a camel on which a traveller could ride into the town.

They would like to borrow it.
A little bent old man sidled up to the stranger and assured him with much eloquence that neither horse nor camel was to be had, but that there was an ass.

Yet that ass was not to be had either.
Could the Messiah make His entry on an ass?
No, we could not begin like that.

Such was the disciple's first thought.

Then it occurred to him that ancient prophets had foretold: He would make His entry on an ass.