3-28-21 Sermon Notes “Don’t Forget the Donkey” Palm Sunday
If you think about it, The Triumphal Entry should have been the happiest day in Jesus’ life. The crowds where waving palm branches and shouting, “Hosanna!” In John’s Gospel, we see the Pharisees saying, “Look! The whole world has gone after him!” (John 12: 19) All of Jesus’ preaching, teaching and healing seems to be finally be crowned with success! But Jesus knew how fickle a crowd can be. “Hosanna!” can quickly turn to “Crucify him!” Here is the story from Matthew’s Gospel:
When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.” 4 This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,
5 “Tell the daughter of Zion,
Look, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7 they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8 A very large crowd[b] spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.” (Matt. 21: 1-11 NRSV)
We always remember Jesus on Palm Sunday…and the crowds. But this Sunday, as we gather for one combined worship service at 10:00 at the Gadsden Amphitheater, we will remember an important but overlooked character: the donkey!
See you Sunday,
Pastor Sam