Luke 19:28-38(NKJV)
28When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29And it came to pass, when He drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples, 30saying, “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. 31And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’” 32So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them. 33But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, “Why are you loosing the colt?” 34And they said, “The Lord has need of him.” 35Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. 36And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road. 37Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, 38saying: “‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
(I have to give credit for this thought to Dr. Eldon Wilson. He preached a message called, I think, the Donkey Magazine. As I read the Palm Sunday story again, I remembered that message. Here is my take on it.)
Have you ever thought about the donkey in this story? He is just an ordinary donkey minding his own business. He is a young donkey, a colt, and he really hasn’t done much in life. One day as he is minding his own business some strange people come, speak to his master, untie him and take him away.
As he walks along he can’t help but wonder what the future holds for him. Will he see his old family again? Is he going to do hard labor or is he going to be carrying a fine woman. Is he going to an important place or a lowly place. He knows change is coming, but what will that change be.
Finally he arrives at his destination. There is some kind of commotion going on, but he does not understand it. People begin to place coats and such on his back and he wonders at this, but then a man climbs upon him. “Oh,”, he thinks, “I am to carry someone today.”
He does not get a good look at the man before he climbs on his back, but as he looks back now he thinks, “This man does not look very impressive. I guess I am not to carry someone important.” However as they make their way into the city people begin to throw their coats in his path. It was as though they didn’t want his feet to touch the ground. Soon they were also throwing palm leaves in front of him.
He begins to realize that something very special is happening today. The people begin to shout as he goes by. They are giving praise to God and rejoicing. He hears them say, “‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” The donkey wonders at first if he is going before a procession carrying the king. Then he realizes that they are shouting at him!
The donkey begins to feel very good about himself. I must be a very important donkey indeed. Listen to all the people rejoicing just to see me. He smiles a donkey smile. He lifts his donkey head just a little higher. He nods in acknowledgement of the shouts and applause coming his way.
He knows he is carrying someone. He knows that this person has something to do with all the commotion. However the farther he goes the more enthralled he becomes with the cheers and the proclamations. He begins to feel more and more important in himself. He is special. He is a donkey of donkey’s. All the people love him.
He is carrying someone, to be sure, but that someone, whoever he may be, couldn’t get to the city without him. Surely he is very important. Surely they would not choose just any donkey. As a matter of fact it is probably his shining coat, his clipped gate and his erect posture that is causing most of the excitement. The person is important, but it is the donkey that does the most work. I am a worthy donkey. I must surely spend my life in a fine stable surrounded by those who will wait on me and provide all my needs.
Finally they come to the center of the city. The man gets off, and goes into the temple. All the shouting seems to be following him! “What about me?”, thinks the donkey. “Where are you all going? I am the donkey! He cannot continue without me.”
But the donkey is taken back to his owner. He is reunited with his donkey mother. He says to her, “Mother, I thought I was important. I thought they were shouting for me. Now I am back here with you. What happened today?”
“You were given a great honor today. God has chosen to come and save mankind. The man you carried was the King of King’s and the savior of the world. You carried him. That is a wonderful thing!”
“But I thought I was important.”, said the donkey. “No silly donkey.”, said his mother. “You were made important by the one you carried. He is what matters. The honor you gained today was to carry him.”
How many of us are like the donkey. We lay hands on the sick and the world sees our hands. We preach the gospel and world hears our mouths. We carry Jesus to the world and the world gives us thanks or rejection. Neither is due us. He is all in all. He is what matters.
As we enter the season in which we celebrate the resurrection, let’s remember the little donkey. Let’s remember the honor we gain in life is to carry the King of King and his message to the world. Now be a good donkey and get on with the work.
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