Sunday, April 1, 2012

DONKEY ONE (LUKE 19:28-40)


One of the most familiar pictures on American TV screens is that of the president of the United States walking across the South Lawn of the White House to board Marine One, his white-topped VH-3D helicopter, for the quick trip out to Andrews Air Force to board the Air Force One, the flying White House. You get an idea of what the Air Force One contains in the 1997 Harrison Ford movie. It all looks impressive. President George H.W. Bush had a treadmill installed on the plane so he could keep up his workout routine. On board Air Force One, the president and his entourage travel with all possible security precautions in place.

Let’s say the president is coming to Boston for a speech. Even before the president takes off, Secret Service agents and local law enforcement at each destination have already been hard at work for days or, sometimes, weeks or months, interviewing and screening people who will be close to the president. When Air Force One rolls to a stop on the tarmac at the local airport or airbase, after the president gets into one of the armored limousines, the motorcade moves quickly on a designated route accompanied by Secret Service and local law-enforcement vehicles and helicopters.[1]

If it takes all that for the president of the United States just to go make a speech, what did it look like for the King of Kings, God’s chosen ruler of the whole world, to make his grand entrance at the beginning of the most important week the world has ever known? Was it a logistical nightmare? What was the reason for his coming into town? What was the mode of His transportation? What were the preparations like? What was the crowd like? Luke gives a detailed account of Jesus’ Road trip to Jerusalem, and the travel arrangements in an environment that was anything but secure. First, let’s look at the reason for Jesus’ trip to Jerusalem.

I. THE REASON FOR THE TRIP:

Presidents usually go where they were invited to make a speech or attend a meeting. Jesus received no invitation to come to Jerusalem. He showed up unannounced and quite unexpectedly. But Jesus knew all along that he would need to make that trip. In Luke 18:31-34 Jesus took the twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.”

Jesus explained to his close disciples about the nature of his death and resurrection as it was written by the prophets yet his own disciples did not understand the plan. Even today God communicates His truth through the Bible and the sermons you hear on Sunday or from other sources yet just like the disciples we lack understanding. On this Palm Sunday and during the Holy week; let’s ask God for understanding and clarity of his message. Why did Jesus come to the earth? The primary reason for his trip from heaven to earth was to seek and save a lost sinner, that is you and I, and restore us back to the father.

The reason why he made his trip to Jerusalem was to be mocked, insulted, spat upon, flogged and crucified, as a fulfillment of what the prophets had prophesied for centuries. What was the mode of his transportation? Was it the Air Force One? No! It was “Donkey One”

II. DONKEY ONE:

Jesus couldn’t have picked any other moment to make this spectacular entry. The city of Jerusalem was bustling with crowds because of the Passover feast. It was celebration all over. He sent out two disciples to a near by village with clear instructions to bring him a donkey.

The disciples went and found a donkey exactly as Jesus described. As they were untying the donkey the owner asked why are you untying the donkey and the disciples said, “The Lord has need of it” that’s it; no more questions were asked, the disciples brought the donkey to Jesus. What can we learn from this incident? Four things: First; the Lord needs some thing or some one to accomplish his purpose. Secondly; as Christ needed a donkey to communicate a message concerning his kingdom to the people of Jerusalem today he needs you and me to communicate the gospel message to the people of our city. Thirdly; God doesn’t necessarily use the impressive or celebrities to accomplish his purpose but often uses the humble. Fourthly; when God needs some body, those who have a so called claim on them need to let go off them.

Coming back to our text in the midst of jubilation Jesus made his entry on a donkey. Imagine, the King of the universe! Came riding on a donkey? What a sight that must have been? It must have shocked some but given hope to many. Why did Jesus choose “Donkey One” as his mode of transportation? The scholars have noted three significant reasons for the usage of the donkey:

A) The donkey was a traditional mount for kings, rulers and prophets in the ancient Near East; Jesus was therefore making an implicit claim to be the king of his people.

B) In the Old Testament horses were associated with war and human pride, the donkey may have presented the image of peaceful humility. By riding on a donkey Jesus was making a statement regarding the nature of his kingship and kingdom. In fact he was ushering in another kind of Kingdom where Love and Peace reigns.

C) The image of a King on a donkey approaching Jerusalem was consistently understood to signify the arrival of the messianic King and his Kingdom.

A young donkey the mode of Jesus’ transportation was perhaps even more symbolic for the crowds gathered than Air Force One is to us. By riding into Jerusalem on a humble donkey, Jesus reminded the crowds of a 500 year old prophecy by the Prophet Zechariah. We read in Zech 9:9, “Rejoice greatly O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph (victory) O daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold your king is coming to you, your king He is Just and endowed with salvation, Humble and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” In a way Zechariah was prophesying about the future messiah, King Jesus. Instead of a display of power and might with armed security and fighter escorts, this King comes in humble and riding on a donkey. Jesus’ unassuming arrival without any pomp and military power must have sent mixed reactions in the crowd. While the Pharisees, scribes and teachers were offended and disgruntled by the shouting of Children, how did the crowds along the way respond?

III. THE CROWDS ALONG THE WAY:

The ordinary folk, the farmers, many of these people probably wouldn’t have passed a Secret Service screening, but they nonetheless lined the road for the approaching donkey-cade, were simply delighted with joy. As Jesus entered through the gates, the crowds went out of their way, some took off their cloaks (outer garments), and some cut Palm branches from the trees and laid them on the road. The young, the old and little children began to shout joyfully, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David. Hosanna in the Highest” What does Hosanna mean? It is a Hebrew expression meaning “Help or Save”

Throughout his ministry wherever Jesus went even under normal circumstances crowds followed him. However, Jesus was not impressed by huge crowds because he knew their hearts so he wouldn’t entrust himself to anyone easily. But this time it looks like the crowds got it right; really? They were shouting LORD save us; but what were they asking the Lord to save them from? Was it from the tyranny of the Roman Empire and give them security and economic relief? Or did they truly recognize that Jesus was the messiah and the savior of their souls? Were they asking Jesus to save them from the eternal damnation?

Jesus is not easily fooled, even when people shout Praise God and Hosanna in the Highest, he sees right through to what is in their hearts. Christ passed through the cheering crowds, disgruntled Pharisees and saw the actual state of the whole city of Jerusalem. It was anything but responsive and repentant. When he saw their hardness and the absolute rejection of Him as their messiah and King he wept over Jerusalem and said; “if you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace but now it is hidden from your eyes.”

A few days prior to Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem this is what he said out of vexation of it’s constant refusal, we read in Luke 13:34-35, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate.”

What happened to the city of Jerusalem could happen to single individuals and churches. God has been incredibly patient with unrepentant sinners; that is one of the reasons why he is delaying the return of His son Jesus Christ to the earth. In 2 Pet 3:9, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Palm Sunday is a great time to assess our preparation for the King’s arrival, not only in our individual hearts but also in terms of the end times. If our King comes to us so gently and humbly, how might we prepare for his return by following his example? Would we be prepared? If Jesus were to arrive in our congregation this Sunday, how would you welcome him? What would you be proud to show him (or ashamed to show him)? With what songs and shouts would you praise him? Sing and shout Hosanna today for the Lord to not only save you, but the whole world we live in. Amen

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