Donkey Sunday Mark 11:1-11
1. Palm Sunday is named for the “leafy branches” that people cut in the fields and placed on the road in front of Jesus (Mark 11:8).
• It’s the day we think of crowds shouting “Hosanna” blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” (v. 9).
• Palm Sunday is a day of celebration, with people cheering the One they hoped would usher in “the kingdom of our ancestor David!” (v. 10).
2. Could today have been Called Donkey Sunday instead of Palm Sunday Consider the donkey
• donkeys are thought to be stupid stubborn lowly
• Donkeys are “extremely intelligent,” says. “Whole trade routes were built on donkeys, and the wealth of ancient Egypt depended on them.”
• Jesus wanted a donkey to ride in Jerusalem because the donkey fulfilled Prophecy. Zechariah 9:9). “Lo, your king comes to you,” said the prophet; “triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey”
• He sent two of his disciples ahead of him, saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it” (Mark 11:1-2).
• he said to the disciples ,”If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here
3. The donkey was a fulfillment of Prophecy
• Jesus fulfills prophecy by riding on the donkey
• The prophet Zechariah had predicted that the coming ruler of God’s people would arrive in Jerusalem on a donkey:
• A donkey was considered a lowly and animal and a symbol of peace.
• A warrior road a horse if he was coming in war and a donkey to signify peace.
• Some say, Jesus road the donkey to connect with the common people. The needy and Poor His choice of a donkey instead of a horse was God’s way of saying that he came as a king who will serve and save the oppressed
4. Donkey Sunday or if you would rather Palm Sunday what does this text teach us?
• The Donkey carried Jesus so we to are to carry the news of Jesus and his love, his message, his example, His death, burial , and resurrection
• On Donkey Sunday, we should be more like the donkey willing to go when Jesus called, willing to serve when Jesus needed him we to should work alongside our neighbors to serve a world in need, without constantly competing for resources, power or influence.
• We need to be like the donkey committed to the task at hand we should be committed to the foundations of our faith, holding fast to our belief that Jesus “suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.”
• On Donkey Sunday we should be Confident Like the donkey who carried Jesus, we can walk through the world with confidence and grace. “You are a chosen race,” said Peter in his first letter, “a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people.” As God’s royal people, we should hold our heads high and never feel that we are second-class citizens in this world.
• ON Donkey Sunday we could be faithful like the donkey who never wavered but was committed to carry we are committed to carry the Christ wherever we go at work, at home, at church, at the altar
• On Donkey Sunday let us to be the Christ bearer to the world as Jesus commanded “GO”
