TEXT: Mark 11:1-11 “As Jesus and his disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. “Go into that village over there,” he told them. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks, ‘What are you doing?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it and will return it soon.’” The two disciples left and found the colt standing in the street, tied outside the front door. As they were untying it, some bystanders demanded, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” They said what Jesus had told them to say, and they were permitted to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it, and he sat on it. Many in the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others spread leafy branches they had cut in the fields. Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessings on the coming Kingdom of our ancestor David! Praise God in highest heaven!”
Zechariah 9:9- “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey. A colt, the foal of a donkey.”
400 years before Jesus Triumphant Entry it is prophesied by Zechariah. When God spoke this through Zechariah he had already went 400 years into the future when Jesus rode the donkey.
THAT GIVES ME PEACE!
Jesus was lowly and riding on the donkey.
Lowly– A humility that is considerate, unassuming, gentle, mild, meek!
WHEN SOMEONE SAYS JESUS OR GOD, WHAT IS THE MENTAL PICTURE YOU GET!
The zealots were looking for a warlike Messiah who would use force. Jesus showed a greater power than armed might, the power of humble wisdom and penetrating love.
When the people were crying HOSANNA which means “Save Now” It was essentially a cry from an oppressed people for their Savior to deliver them now. We praise you our King! THEY RECOGNIZED JESUS AS THE MESSIAH.
In the Book of Luke in your Bible this same story adds that the religious leaders told Jesus to have the people be quite! Jesus said, “If they don’t praise me the rocks and stones will praise me. Jesus was publicly acknowledging, YES I AM THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD.
WHY AT THIS TIME? BECAUSE HE’S ON THE WAY TO THE CROSS!
Share story from youth camp in Romania. (SHOW PICTURE)
BUT HERE’S ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING PARTS OF THIS STORY TO ME
“a young donkey that no-one has ever ridden.”
The fact that the colt had never been ridden is of special significance, since objects used for SACRED PURPOSES must never have been used for any other reason! UNUSED!
THIS IS A PATTERN WE SEE THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE. (EXAMPLES)
1Samuel 6:7,8 – “Now therefore, make a new cart, take two milk cows which have never been yoked, and hitch the cows to the cart; and take their calves home, away from them. Then take the Ark of the Lord and set it on the cart…..”
2 Samuel 6:3- “So they set the Ark of God on a new cart….”
To perform this scared service of carrying The Ark of the Covenant it required a new cart and cows that had never been used.
TRANSITION: As we look back at Mark 11 we can again see the principles of God at work when a young colt, that has never been ridden, is used to carry Jesus into the city.
This brings me back to what God shared with me in Romania. How can I ever be qualified to carry Jesus anywhere?
2 Corinthians 5:20- “We are ambassadors of the Anointed One who carry the message of Christ to the world, as though God were tenderly pleading with them directly through our lips. So we tenderly plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Turn back to God and be reconciled to him.”
This sacred purpose of carrying the message of Christ to the world. How could God use me? So many failures in my life. So many mistakes. I’ve been used and abused by sin!
HOW CAN GOD USE ME? WHY WOULD GOD EVEN WANT TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH ME?
2Corinthians 5:17- “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
NEW: (Greek) kainos(kahee-noss)-New, unused, fresh, novel!
A BRAND NEW PERSON, UNUSED!
2 Corinthians 5:21- “For God made the only one who did not know sin (Unused) to become sin for us, so that we who did not know righteousness might become the righteousness of God through our union with him.”
Jesus Himself was an unused sacrifice for our sins! Therefore He took our sins upon himself at the cross and through our relationship with Him a divine exchange takes place and I now have His righteousness.
I JUST NEED TO BELIEVE IN HIM! HE IS THE MESSIAH, THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD!
When Jesus Christ touches your life and you accept Him as your personal Lord and Savior, YOU BECOME UNUSED!
MY FRIENDS GOD HAS A SACRED PURPOSE FOR YOU!
Through Christ we are young colts who have never been ridden and we are called to carry Him into the city and world proclaiming THE GOODNESS OF OUR GOD!
WHAT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT SAYING TO YOU THROUGH THIS MESSAGE?