A Common Colt For An Uncommon King

A Common Colt for an Uncommon King

Text: Zechariah 9:9-10, Mark 11:1-10 Palm Sunday

Intro:

Have you ever paid close attention to how automakers test the safety of their cars? They use dummies – crash dummies that is. These automakers that test their vehicles use dummies to simulate what happens to human beings like us during an automobile accident. They put these dummies through a battery of tests that determine what injuries a real person would suffer in various situations. And I am sure that many of you have seen the old commercials that use to run on televisions years ago with these dummies. At the conclusion of some of the commercials in which these dummies are the star, the phrase that we have all heard is: “You can learn a lot from a dummy.”

Not only can we learn a lot from a dummy….but I propose this morning that we can also learn a lot from a simple colt.

So often, when we enter the Palm Sunday Service….we began to focus on what happened that first palm Sunday with Jesus. We begin to talk about the crowded streets, the atmosphere, electricity and excitement that was taken place. We talk about how that were shouting Hosanna and aired was filled with what seemed like “love and admiration” for Jesus at this time. But can I remind you that Friday was coming. Friday was just a few days away. It would be on Friday that the cheers for Jesus would turn to jeers for Jesus. The crowd would go from shouting “Hosanna” to screams of “Crucify Him!” So much would change within a week.

But today, I do not wish to focus on those things……But rather, I want to focus on a small donkey…..on a colt that Jesus was riding when he arrived in Jerusalem. In the account of the Triumphant Entry, this little colt is a key element that we often overlook. And like I mentioned earlier, I believe if we look closely…….there are some things that we can learn from this colt.

We have read the Prophesy of the entry in the book of Zechariah…..now let’s look the actual account in the gospel of Mark. Will you turn over to Mark 11:1-10 and read along with me this morning:

If you have ever been around a donkey………you will notice that they can be some of the most stubborn animals alive. And this would make most question as to why God would choose this animal for Jesus to make his entry into the city upon? Jesus’ arrival on a lowly donkey might seem almost as strange to us today as it did to the crowds who witnessed it. But can I also add……that God always knows what He is doing…….He always has a plan…….and his plan was set in motion and prophesied long before Jesus was even born in the manger. Prophesy was taking place as Jesus rode that young colt into the city….but most importantly, humility was being shown.

Here was the crowd……shouting Hosanna…which literally means “save us”. And why Jesus would in just a few days be sent to Calvary to provide for our means of salvation…….this was not the salvation that the crowds was looking for that day. They may have called Jesus the king of the Jews in mockery, but can I also add that the crowd was looking for a king to lead them out from under Roman oppression. They were looking for a leader…a real king. And the real kings of the day would have never rode a lowly little colt like this……..a real king would have rode in on a large stallion. He would have rode into town on his war horse we could say. But Jesus was not there to fight…..He had come to town to die. Hosanna truly applied…..but not in the context that this crowd was seeking. This time Jesus came on a lowly donkey. He came to be a Savior. But one day Jesus will return, and this time, it will not be on a lowly colt……When He returns again, He will be riding that Horse that Kings ride…..and we will be with Him by his side.

Revelation 19:11-16

11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had[a] a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean,[b] followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp[c] sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.