****This message was inspired by the following contributors to SermonCentral.com---Kieth Linkous, Thomas Monroe, and Guy Caley, Thanks to you and the Holy Spirit, I too was able to write a ?Donkey Sermon!?****
NOT MY DONKEY YOU DON?T!!!--- Luke 19:29-35
JOKE--- Fred and his brother walk into a diner and Fred grabs the waitress and says, "I’ll have a cup of coffee for me and a cup for Donkey here too."
The two guys drink their coffee and the waitress comes back to take their order. Fred says, "Right donkey what do you want to eat; I’ll have a cheese burger and fries."
Donkey looks at the waitress and says, "Ch, ch, ch ch ch ch eeez B, b, b ur, burger and f, f, f, fries please."
While donkey is ordering, Fred goes to wash his hands in the bathroom and the waitress says, "Say, you shouldn’t let him call you that stupid nickname."
Donkey replies, "I know. He aw.. he aww... he awwwwww, he always calls me ’Donkey.’"
INTRO--- When you think of all the things that you would be willing to give to Christ what items are not on your list? This morning we are going to talk about the Triumphal Entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem and His personal sacrifice for our gain.
PRAYER
TRANS--- Our Scripture today tells us about the events that lead up to Jesus? triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. So it begins with Jesus telling his disciples to go and steal a donkey!!! Wha, whup whup!!! Hold on there preacher! Jesus did not steal that donkey! Ok, so you are one of those who believe that Jesus had made pre-arrangements with the owner for when he came to town. Well that is fair enough. However, the language of the Scripture does not indicate this at all.
You see when Jesus says, ?If anyone asks you, ?Why are you untying it? You shall say, ?The Lord has need of it??? Jesus was not indicating any person in particular. For instance, if I were to tell Bro. Scott Peterson and Bro. William McDaniel to go borrow a ladder from a friend of mine in Campbellsville, I would at least tell them the guys name so that when they went they wouldn?t get shot.
There you go again Bro. Ed callin Jesus a thief. No no no no no. Listen Jesus did not steal this donkey. ?Now wait a minute Brother Ed, if Jesus did not pre-arrange to use the donkey then he must have stolen it right?? No. I want you to look very carefully at the language here. You see, Jesus used the word Lord here very deliberately??You shall say, the Lord has need of it? My friends the way Jesus uses this word Lord suggests a dual meaning. The way Jesus used this word; the disciples not only recognized Jesus as Master over them but also Master over the donkey.
So today, I want you to forget about Palm Sunday for just a minute and I want you to put yourself in the place of that donkey?s owner.
Now tell the truth, in today?s society, we would rather the disciples took the beat up nag out back in the barn before they got our best work donkey out front near the plow, wouldn?t we? Or maybe someone else has a spare donkey that they can use. Why does it have to be MY donkey? And why do they need a brand new one? There are 4 questions we need to ask ourselves this Palm Sunday before we will ever be ready for Easter to arrive:
I. THE FIRST QUESTION: WHY DID JESUS? DISCIPLES JUST TAKE A DONKEY WITHOUT ASKING?
A. Psalms 24:1 The earth is the LORD?S, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.
1. ewwww That kind of cuts right to the quick of the matter doesn?t it?
a. The earth and everything in it belongs to God.
1) He is the Creator and Sustainer.
2) We are only stewards of His creation.
2. Genesis 1:26--- says that God gave dominion over all the earth.
a. We are rulers and caretakers, but not owners.
3. Luke 16:12--- And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else?s property, who will give you property of your own.
a. Your treasure is in Heaven.
b. But to receive that treasure, you must prove yourself to be a faithful steward on earth.
I. THE FIRST QUESTION: WHY DID JESUS? DISCIPLES JUST TAKE THE DONKEY WITHOUT ASKING?
II. THE SECOND QUESTION: WHY DID THE OWNER JUST LET THE DISCIPLES TAKE THEIR BEST DONKEY?
A. II Corinthians 9:7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
1. Listen carefully to me, God does not need what you have!
a. God wants you to give of your best because you love him, not because you feel guilty.
ILLUSTRATION--- PUMP SPRINGS BAPTIST CHURCH IN HARROGATE, TN?I visited there one Sunday, while on a trip to Cumberland Gap, TN. As soon as I pulled in their were people at my car door with umbrellas to lead me into the building. They had a special visitor?s section, just for me. And when I got to the Sunday School Class, there was a smorgasbord of food. But most importantly, the teaching, the music and the preaching were supreme. Everyone in that church has a role and they all do their best to do their job.
2. You must decide to give your best to the Lord - without grumbling or complaining - not because you feel you have too - cheerfully.
I. THE FIRST QUESTION: WHY DID JESUS? DISCIPLES JUST TAKE THE DONKEY WITHOUT ASKING?
II. THE SECOND QUESTION: WHY DID THE OWNER JUST LET THE DISCIPLES TAKE THEIR BEST DONKEY?
III. THE THIRD QUESTION: WHY DID THE PEOPLE CALL A LOWLY MAN ON A DONKEY KING?
A. Zechariah 9:9 prophesied: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem: Behold, your king is coming to you. He is just and endowed with salvation. Humble and mounted on a donkey. Even on a colt the foal of a donkey.
ILLUSTRATION--- You know, when Julius Caeser made his entry into Rome, he rode in a magnificent golden chariot pulled by 40 elephants. Mark Antony, not to be outdone, rode in his chariot of gold pulled by 40 harnessed lions. But the Son of God rode into Jerusalem riding on a donkey..... Why?
1. God?s word said that they would soon reject Jesus and he would be arrested falsely accused, beaten within an inch of his life and then crucified.
a. Jesus came into Jerusalem the way he did because only a despised suffering servant, riding a despised beast of burden, could free a world full of despised suffering, burdened prisoners.
ILLUSTRATION---Rev. Robert Schuller of the Crystal Cathedral, tells of the Royal Palace of Tehran in Iran, where you can see one of the most beautiful mosaics works in the world. The ceilings and walls flash like diamonds in multifaceted reflections.
Originally, when the palace was designed, the architect specified huge sheets of mirrors on the walls. When the first shipment arrived from Paris, they found to their horror that the mirrors were shattered. The contractor threw them into the trash and brought the bad news to the architect. Amazingly, the architect ordered all of the broken pieces collected, then smashed them into timy pieces and glued them to the walls to become a mosaic of silvery, shimmering, mirrored bits of glass.
Broken to become beautiful! It?s possible to turn your scars into stars. It is possible to be better because of the brokenness. Never Underestimate God?s power to repair and restore.
2. Jesus expects the very same from you and me.
a. Jesus said, ?Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. John 12:26?
ILLUSTRATION---As I prepared this message, I was reminded of Jesus lamenting in the Garden of Gethsemane, Less than a week after his Triumphal Entry. It was His words which rung out, "Not my will Lord, but your will be done.
I also remembered Phil. 2:5-7---Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
IV. THE FINAL QUESTION: WHAT CAUSED JESUS TO WEEP ON AN OCCASION LIKE THIS?
A. I believe 3 things caused Jesus to weep on such a joyous occasion:
1. Religion without ?real intention?.
a. You see, friends, Jesus knew that the same people who were shouting "Hail Him, Hail Him" in a few days would be shouting "Nail Him, Nail Him".
2. Opportunity without observation
a. Of all days, Jesus said, you should know this day, "THIS THY DAY"
b. IT HAD BEEN PROPHECIED IN SCRIPTURE FOR 483 YEARS. Daniel ch. 9:24
c. My friends, God is broken hearted when He does so much to reach us....so much to change our lives....so much to bring us joy....and we turn away SAYING NO....Oblivious of the opportunity.
1) The Bible warns, "Boast not thyself of tomorrow".
2) This could well be the last service you will ever be a part of....this could be the last sermon you will ever hear.
3. Finally, Jesus mourned for the sea of faces without faith.
a. The real question above all other questions you need to answer today is: Do I really have faith in Jesus Christ?
b. There were only 5 people in the crowd the day of the Lord?s triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The same 5 people are in the crowd here this morning:
1) The Committed
2) The Confused
3) The Pretenders
4) The Curious
5) The Opposition
4. Which person are you?
CONCLUSION--- Tony Campola tells the Story about the alcoholic mission---Lord Make Me like Joe?
