Summary: Uses the donkey of the Triumphal Entry as an example for us in exalting the Christ and introducing his reign into people’s lives.

Matthew 21:1-5 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away." 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 "Say to the Daughter of Zion, `See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ "

“A Donkey’s Destiny”

Introduction: Today is Palm Sunday, the day when we celebrate the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem. Less than a week before crying out “crucify him,” the crowds had welcomed Jesus as their Messiah—the King sent by God to bring freedom to his people. One of the characters in the story that day was a simple donkey’s colt. And from this colt’s destiny—and role in elevating Jesus Christ—we can learn some lessons for our own lives.

What did the donkey do that day? He had carried the King of Kings into Jerusalem. He introduced Jesus Christ as the Messiah to the people. And we are called to do the same thing. Like the donkey, we are called to exalt Christ as king in the earth—and introduce his rule and reign to other people.

I. God’s purpose for the donkey.

Here was an ordinary donkey. In fact, it was less than ordinary. It wasn’t even a full-grown donkey. It wasn’t sired by a famous king-carrying donkey. It wasn’t trained in some royal stables for donkeys. In fact, we learn that this donkey had never even been ridden before. Not only had he never carried a king, he had never carried anyone. This was an insignificant donkey.

However, this donkey’s significance was found in a simple statement in vs. 3, “The Lord needs them.” And this one reality, this one fact, changed the significance of the donkey. This suddenly made him a very important and very special donkey. Not that there was anything special in his own ability, but in the fact that the Lord intended to use this donkey to bring glory to himself.

Sometimes we may feel like this donkey, that we are insignificant—that there is nothing special about us. However, in those moments, we must realize that like the donkey our significance is found in the fact that Jesus Christ has called us. That is he has said to each of us, “The Lord needs you.”

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Just as the donkey was called by the master to exalt him, so you have been called out of darkness and been given a new significance—as chosen, royal, holy, and belonging to God—for the purpose of exalting Christ.

II. God’s plan and the donkey.

Vs. 2 “You will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her…”

One thing that is very interesting about this story is that Jesus knew exactly where the donkey was. It wasn’t a guess that there might be a donkey. It wasn’t a hope that somehow there might be a donkey along the way. He didn’t just happen to see a donkey and decide it would be easier to ride a donkey than to walk. Jesus knew that in this precise location there was waiting a donkey. He sent his disciples to that exact place, to pick up that exact donkey. It was waiting for him.

In fact, we learn a few verses later that hundreds of years earlier, the prophet Zechariah had already spoken of this donkey. Before this donkey was ever born, or even thought of, it was predestined that he would be. It was predestined—and designed by God in his sovereign plan—that this donkey would be in this place. He existed for this very purpose. He was there for “such a time as this.”

In Esther, Mordecai was speaking of his niece’s opportunity to save her people. In Esther 4:14b he says, “And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" He had an understanding of the way God works. She didn’t just happen to be in that place. But God had put her into that place—so that in his good time, he would use her for his purpose.

This isn’t the only example of such ordination in Scripture. Many things that may seem to be coincidences, we could view instead as the sovereignty of God. Rahab lived in the city wall—where she could let the spies down. David was bringing cheese to his brothers. The widow who fed Elijah was out gathering sticks. To the untrained eye, these things would all seem like coincidences, but God had maneuvered each of these—just like the donkey—into just the right place, so that when he was ready to incorporate them into his plan, they would be ready to go.

The Psalmist understood this concept, when he wrote:

Psalm 139:16a All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

The donkey’s days were ordained. And our days are ordained. You may think that luck, whether good or bad, has brought you to where you are in life. You may think that your own hard work—or maybe your lack of hard work—has brought you to where you are in life. But the Bible reveals instead, that when we walk after God, God has placed us where we are—and he has done so for a specific purpose.

You may go years—nearly your whole life—not understanding, not knowing what that purpose is. But somewhere God has a purpose for you. He has a plan that was ordained for you. And you need to be ready for the day, when Jesus comes and says he has need of you. You need to be in tune, listening to the Spirit of God—when he says to you—“You have been placed here for such a time as this.”

The donkey woke up to an ordinary morning, but that day his destiny was fulfilled. That day, he exalted Jesus Christ among the people. That day he introduced the Savior into Jerusalem. And someday—it may be today—God will use you to introduce the reign of Jesus Christ into the life of another. You have a prophetic destiny!

III. The position of the donkey.

Jesus made an interesting statement. Vs. 3, “And he will send them right away.” In other words, when Jesus is done with the donkey, he will return him. There are two things that are significant in this. First, the donkey did not become a professional “king-carrier.” He didn’t become the “World Famous Donkey that Carried Jesus.” He did his job—which was to exalt Jesus Christ—and then he returned to his life, without getting any pride or position from what he had accomplished.

We too must be careful that when we accomplish something for God that it doesn’t become a source of pride for us. That we don’t become so good at glorifying Jesus, that we end up glorifying ourselves and not Jesus at all.

We must say like John the Baptist,

John 3:30 He must become greater; I must become less.

The second thing is that this donkey was able to live his life. Sure, he had a super prophetic destiny to fulfill. He was the one who carried Jesus. But he also had a normal life. He probably spent the rest of his days carrying bundles of some sort to the market.

Sometimes when we think of doing something for God, we think of people like John-the-Baptist. We think we have to wear camel skins, live in the desert, and eat grasshoppers. But God doesn’t always require that. Sometimes, he just wants us to live an “ordinary” life—that glorifies him before ordinary people. Yes, we are able to live our lives, but we must in the course of that life fulfill our destiny. Otherwise, the life that we live would be a wasted, unfulfilled life.

IV. God’s provision for the donkey.

The donkey colt was tied up with his mother. Imagine if he had been yanked away and expected to carry the Christ all alone. Imagine if he was expected to fulfill his holy destiny all alone. Some of you may remember about 6 months ago, I took Stephen from his mom and held him for a few minutes. And all that time, he screamed in terror. Because I yanked him from the security of his mother’s arms. And launched him into the unknown. He’s still terrified of me because of that. If the donkey had been put through that kind of situation, he wouldn’t have fulfilled his destiny. He would have problem run erratic through the streets and thrown the Christ off. He would have caused a scene—but a scene of a different sort.

But Jesus took into account the frailties and the insecurities of the donkey. Only Matthew records the fact that the donkey’s mother was taken along. He was given the comfort of his mother’s company. He still had to go through some new experiences that day—the Bible says he had never been ridden before—but he didn’t have to go through them alone. His mom was there by his side.

When God calls us to fulfill our holy destiny—when we are called to exalt Jesus Christ—and introduce his reign into the lives of others, it may also be uncomfortable for us. Especially if we’ve never evangelized before—or have little experience—we have to come out of comfort zones to do so. In order to fulfill our destinies, we, like the donkey, must endure some new experiences. We must sometimes go through hardships.

But just as the donkey had his mom to comfort him, we also, as we engage in the life that God has ordained for us, have a comforter.

John 14:16-18 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

This word Counselor is sometimes translated Comforter. Jesus has promised his own presence—in the person of the Holy Spirit—as we embark upon the journey that he has laid out for us. In fulfilling our holy destinies—which have been laid out before we were even born—we may have to go into some uncomfortable situations. We may have to do some things we’ve never done before. We may be stretched to our limits—but we don’t have to go through it alone. Jesus promised to send us a comforter. He understands our frailties. He understands our limits. And he makes provision in the Holy Spirit for them.

Jesus announced to his disciples that they would be bearing him, not only to Jerusalem, but to the whole world. But first, he told them:

Acts 1:4b,5: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

God has such an incredible destiny in store for you that he doesn’t expect you to go it alone. He offers to send the Holy Spirit with you to comfort you—and empower you!