The Guy with the Donkey
Matt 21:2 - 3
Matt 21:2 - 3… If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ’The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately send them."
ILL
Talking to some of the interesting bible characters in heaven will be interesting. Some would like to talk to “one of the Mary’s”, others to one of the disciples. Maybe you would visit with Paul or one of the kings.
I would like to take to the guy with the donkey. We don’t even know his name or what he might look like. All we know is what he gave. He gave the donkey to Jesus the Sunday he entered Jerusalem.
"Go into the village over there," he said, "and you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them here.
• How did the donkey owner know that Jesus would need the donkey?
• Did he mind having the donkey taken and used?
• When he witnessed the events following, how did he feel?
• Were you proud, surprised, concerned
Did you know that all four gospels would tell your story?
What was it like when you fully understood that it was God who rode your donkey.
What did you do with the donkey after this big event.
• Have you ever felt that God wanted you to give something but your don’t do it for some reason. Then later you realized you missed the chance to make a difference in some ones life.
• Other times we know God wants us to give something but we don’t because we are too selfish, thinking we have the right not to give it.
• Then occasionally, too few times, we hear God asking and we actually follow through with the concept and feel honored that some thing we gave helped Jesus into another place or another heart.
• And still we often wonder if the little things we do really make any difference at all.
Actually all of us have a donkey. Each of us have some things in our life if given back to God would help carry Jesus to another place. What is it that you have, a song, a hug, an idea or just a little time? Maybe you can write a big check, teach a great lesson, of take on a big project.
What ever you have to give, that is your donkey. It could be that God wants to mount your donkey to enter another city, another nation or another heart. Do you let him? Do you give the donkey? Do you hesitate?
Scripture and life are both full of little things given to a big, God that made a great difference.
Things like Rahab’s rope; Paul’s bucket; David’s sling; and Samson’s Jawbone.
Pick up the rod of Moses; Sniff the ointment; touch a wooden manger, examine a rough cross and pat the back of the man who helped carry the cross.
All of these were something of little significance but when given to God a mighty miracle of God followed.
ILL How God moves:
1. A Sunday school teacher named Kimble led a Boson shoe clerk to Jesus named Dwight Moody.
2. Moody became an evangelist and influenced Fredrick Meyer
3. Meyer began to Preach on college campuses and converted Wilbur Chapman
4. Chapman became involved in the YMCA and arranged for a former baseball player named Billy Sunday to speak at a revival in Charlotte, North Carolina.
5. The revival went well so the town leaders scheduled another meeting and brought in Mordecai Hamm to preach.
6. In that revival a young man named Billy Graham yielded his life to Christ.
I am very sure a Boston Sunday School teacher had no idea what the significance of witnessing to a shoe sales man would be. By allowing God to use his donkey, he helped thousands understand salvation.
What does your donkey look like? Are you allowing the lord to take and use it?
The guy with the donkey helped to fulfill old testament prophecy.
This was done to fulfill the prophecy…
Prophecy of:
Zech 9:9-10… Rejoice greatly, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey--even on a donkey’s colt. NLT
If we knew that giving our donkey would hasten the return of the Lord or fulfill a scripture we would rush to have our donkey available. If out little gift to God helped somebody receive healing of be filled with the spirit we would not hesitate. But the truth is we never do really know the full significance of what we give to God.
The class you teach will really make a difference even if you have only one student.
Just being faithful to your Sunday School class and church services will encourage others to be faithful also.
Matt 21:8… Most of the crowd spread their coats on the road ahead of Jesus, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. He was in the center of the procession, and the crowds all around him were shouting,
Spread their coats… comes from the previous chapter
Mark 10:46-51… And so they reached Jericho. Later, as Jesus and his disciples left town, a great crowd was following. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road as Jesus was going by. 47 When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus from Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
48 "Be quiet!" some of the people yelled at him.
But he only shouted louder, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
49 When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, "Tell him to come here."
So they called the blind man. "Cheer up," they said. "Come on, he’s calling you!" 50 Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.
51 "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked
"Teacher," the blind man said, "I want to see!"
52 And Jesus said to him, "Go your way. Your faith has healed you." And instantly the blind man could see! Then he followed Jesus down the road. NLT
Mr. Timaeus went to the authorities of his community and received permission for his son to become a beggar. All the beggars had to have the same permission granted. In addition, different color coats were required for the various reasons for a beggar to be allowed to beg. Lepers were to wear a certain color so people would know from a distance they had leprosy and that they had the permission to beg for money.
The lame, the simple, the deaf and the blind all had a special beggars coat as well.
The moment Jesus called froth Bartimaeus and he cast aside his coat he believed. By casting the coat off he was stating I believe I am going to be healed by Jesus and I wont need to beg anymore.
This happened on the way to Jerusalem, so the crowd ran ahead and cried out, Bart was healed of blindness when he cast off his coat.
Every beggar weather lame, simple or blind made sure they had their coat off and in the path of Jesus.
and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The palm is a symbol of joy and rejoicing. Many great victories were celebrated in this manner upon the return of the victor.
"Praise God for the Son of David! Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Praise God in highest heaven!" The entire city of Jerusalem was stirred as he entered. "Who is this?" they asked. And the crowds replied, "its Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee." NLT
The guy with the donkey now was in part responsible for a city wide celebration!
In addition, the Guy with the donkey helped to illustrate a time of joy and worship yet to come. On this day in Jersulehem, we are seeing a small glimpse of what heaven will be like.
Rev 7:9-10…After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:
"Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb."
The guy with the donkey gave what he had and God used it in a big way.
On this Palm Sunday do you have a donkey that you need to allow the lord to use?
Some time, talent, or tithes.
Will you spend a few moments giving all you have to God again?
Today we are going to share in celebration something that Jesus gave. Through communion, we will remember what he has done for all of us. You see, Jesus gave is all, and in doing so, he died on the cross for our sins.
Communion
