Jesus had a deep respect for animals and saw them as part of God’s creation. He respected the value of their lives and saw them as a reflection of their Creator. Jesus displayed this respect in several ways.
He often referred to animals in his parables, using them to illustrate spiritual lessons. He used an ox in Luke 13:15 when talking about people who were weak and oppressed, a bird in Matthew 6:26 to demonstrate the Creator’s care and provision, and a shepherd caring for his sheep in Luke 15 to illustrate the Father’s commitment to His children.
Jesus also demonstrated His love and respect for animals through His actions. He never harmed them or took advantage of them, but instead provided food and shelter to the disciples while they followed Him.
He also spoke tenderly to them, blessing them and even allowing a donkey to carry Him into Jerusalem on the famous Palm Sunday.
From these examples, Jesus showed that He valued and respected animals and saw them as part of His creation. His attitude towards animals serves as an example for us to emulate in how we should relate to our Creator and the world He has made.