Where's The Bible Verse, Max (or) Stop Writing "Me" Into Scripture

I'm going to provide a couple definitions before even starting on this one.  Why?  Because everyone needs to know these words and what they mean.  (And one person in particular needs to pick the right one to use.)

Eisegesis - "the interpretation of a text (as of the Bible) by reading into it one's own ideas."

Exegesis - "an explanation or critical interpretation of a text."
(definitions provided by Merriam-Webster dictionary website)

The prefixes "eis-" and "ex-" are Greek, meaning "into" and "out of" respectively.  Eisegesis reads meaning into a text, while exegesis reads meaning out of a text.

So, its Christmas time, which means adorable Christmas pageants.  And it seems Mr. Max Lucado thinks that the traditional convention of these pageants accurately reflect the birth of Christ.  Or, at least he thinks that he can use a visual from these pageants to teach something we need to know.

Here's an article he wrote a couple days ago: The incredible lesson we should learn from the Christmas donkey.

The what, Max?

To quote from the article:

But somebody needs to be the donkey. I’m thinking a donkey at Christmas is a good thing to be.

The Christmas donkey did his work. He delivered Jesus so Jesus could be delivered.

He plodded. He didn’t gallop or giddy-up. He did what donkeys do. He steadily stepped in the direction the master directed.

And, upon arrival, he stepped to the side. He demanded no recognition, expected no compensation. He isn’t even mentioned in the Bible.

At least he recognized that the donkey isn't mentioned.  Most likely because Mary and Joseph did not own one.  And even if they did, the donkey was not used as frequently people carrier by most people.  Only rich people owned animals for transportation, and these would either be horses, or the animals would pull a cart.

Donkeys are beasts of burden.  Pack animals.  They carry stuff.  So if Joseph had a donkey for that journey, it is extremely likely that the donkey carried their clothings and other such items they would need for the journey and their stay in Bethlehem.

And, yes, that's conjecture.  However, at least its not conjecture that says "hey, here's this moralistic lesson you need to learn from this passage in Scripture that no one has ever taught."

Again, the article:

So here’s to the donkeys of the story. May your ride be faithful and your rest be fruitful. And we will do our best to follow your example.

Why would we follow the example of a barnyard animal?  Even if the donkey was there, why would it be our example?  Why not the pagan wise men who recognized someone special was born in a backwater town?  (And yes, I do realize the wise men weren't there yet.)  Or the dumb caretakers of dumb livestock?  Or the angelic choir that show up out of nowhere to sing the biggest musical number this side of a NYC street theater?  Or the foster dad of a future carpenter?  Or the young first-time mother of the most talented, most interesting, and most extraordinary person in the universe?

Or how about, you know, using Jesus Himself as the example?

I get it.  The point about "steadily stepping in the direction the master directed" isn't bad advice and encouragement.  But it ain't Biblical either.

There is a donkey in the Bible worth noting.  And only because her job was prophesied by Zechariah.

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!  Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!  Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.  Zechariah 9:9

That beast of burden bore the Lord as He made His way to the Cross.  The Cross which is the real Christmas tree.  The "reason for the season" is Jesus Christ's death on the Cross and His resurrection from Death and Hell.  That should be our focus at Christmas: the salvation that was born to us that day for the purpose of being sacrificed to pay for our sinful nature.

That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

I've got nothing against using a metaphor to provide an object lesson that encourages.  Just don't drag my Lord's into it and use Him as nothing more than a mechanism to get to your point.  Friends don't let friends eisegete.