These are the events of our Lord’s last week of ministry;
Sunday—Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
Monday—Jesus cleanses the temple of the money changers
Tuesday—Controversies with the Jewish leaders
Wednesday—maybe a day of rest
Thursday—Preparation for the Passover and The Lord’s supper is instituted.
Friday—Trial and Crucifixion of Jesus
Saturday—Jesus body rests in the tomb while Jesus descends to the lowest parts of the earth and takes keys of death away from Satan
Sunday—Jesus rises from the dead
The Jewish day went from sundown to sundown, so that our Thursday evening would be their Friday, the Day of Passover.
Palm Sunday was the first day of the last week of Jesus life on earth
They were all saying Blessed be the King, Mark (Mk 11:9, 10) “Hosanna,” means, “Save now,”
Hosanna in the highest.” This was highest exaltation in which Jesus could be saluted as the promised Deliverer.
• The joyful response of the people to Jesus that first Palm Sunday is a beautiful illustration of praise.
The people in the crowd that day? (The same people who wanted to see him crowned this day wanted to see him crucified less than a week later.)
1. Judas was in the crowd
• He would betray Jesus later
2. The Pharisees were in the crowd.
Modern day Pharisees also love a crowd. They weren’t really there for Jesus.
Probably not interested in being identified with Christ
3. There may have been some secret agent Christians there.
• Some were secret Christians like Nicodemus the Pharisee.
Today we have people who tell us that Jesus was a great religious teacher or a good man or a prophet, but they never confess Him as who He really is.
They may have believed but did not want to associate with Jesus because of His message.
4. without a doubt, the Committed Were There. (The people that were touched by Jesus and his teachings throughout the years)
•The other eleven disciples were there
•probably Mary, Martha and Lazarus were there,
•Mary Magdalene,
•Maybe Zacheaus, Simon the leper, the blind men that were healed by the side of the road, perhaps the woman with the issue of blood, and others whose lives and bodies Jesus had touched.
•These were people that Jesus had touched and changed their lives
-Jesus was real to them and they were Praising the LORD!. Praise the name of the LORD! Praise him, you who serve the LORD,
5. There was also a donkey there (It was not the first time thatGods used a donkey)
•God had not chosen a stallion or even a camel but a donkey
•Most would think, A DONKEY?
"How does a donkey become fit for the service of the King of Kings and How can we be made useful for him too?"
There are few things that make this donkey fit for royal service, and they are equally important for us.
1. This donkey was selected by the King; the donkey had a purpose in God’s plan.
He had a meeting with destiny.
*Jesus had sent two disciples, 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. If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away."
-God set aside this donkey for a noble purpose.
550 years earlier Zechariah had prophesied about this little donkey.
-God had a plan and this donkey was selected by God to play a part in it.
-God has selected us also.
-If He can use a donkey, He can anyone that is willing
*John 15:16 says; “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. “*Ephesians 2:10 says; “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
2. the donkey had to be loosened form his ties and from his past, to be used by Jesus
3. The donkey was Sanctified for God’s use
- he was preserved or set aside
*(Mark 11:2) “you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden.
-This donkey was not broken in yet. It was separated for Gods use.
-We must be separated from the world also to be useful to the King
*2 Timothy 2:21 says: “If a man cleanses himself from [wickedness], he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.”
-Being Sanctified also means being Prepared for the Lords use by Preparation
v. 7 they brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them.
-The Bible tells us to be ready in season and out of season.
*1 Peter 3:15 says; “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”
*2 Timothy 2:15 says; “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”
3. The donkey was submissive; he was satisfied with his humble part.
The donkey’s position of humility lifted Jesus higher so that others could see Him.
We think of donkeys as stubborn animals.
•But this donkey was submissive to God
*2 Timothy 2:15 says; "present yourself to God"
*Romans 12:1 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God
-We have a similar role in God’s plan, not to be exalted but to exalt Christ. John 12:32 says; "If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me"
CONCLUSION;
The donkey awakened, his mind still savoring the afterglow of the most exciting day of his life. Never before had he felt such a rush of pleasure and pride.
He walked into town and found a group of people by the well. "I’ll show myself to them," he thought.
But they didn’t notice him. They went on drawing their water and paid him no mind.
"Throw your garments down," he said crossly. "Don’t you know who I am?"
They just looked at him in amazement. Someone slapped him across the tail and ordered him to move.
"Miserable heathens!" he muttered to himself. "I’ll just go to the market where the good people are. They will remember me."
But the same thing happened. No one paid any attention to the donkey as he strutted down the main street in front of the market place.
"The palm branches! Where are the palm branches!" he shouted. "Yesterday, you threw palm branches!"
Hurt and confused, the donkey returned home to his mother.
"Foolish child," she said gently. "Don’t you realize that without Him, you are just an ordinary donkey?"
Just like the donkey that carried Jesus in Jerusalem, we are most fulfilled when we are in the service of Jesus Christ. Without him, all our best efforts are like "filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6) and amount to nothing. When we lift up Christ, however, we are no longer ordinary people, but key players in God’s plan to redeem the word.
By; Wayne Rice
