In this episode we discuss how we are just donkeys in Jesus’ service!
Just a Donkey
1) In Mark 11:1-11, Jesus entered into Jerusalem the week before his death ridden upon a donkey just as the scripture had prophesied in Zechariah 9:9. It is interesting how the creator of the universe chose to enter Jerusalem as its king. He could have chosen a miraculous entry, or a majestic entry, but he chose a lowly one. He could have ridden in on a mighty steed, but he chose a donkey, an animal not given much esteem. Not worthy of a king. But maybe that was the point. Maybe we can relate to this little donkey in many ways.
2) The Donkey was Redeemed – The donkey was only alive to serve Jesus because of a sacrificial lamb…
a) Exodus 13:13 – Jewish donkeys were only allowed to live if they had been redeemed by a sacrificial lamb!
b) How are we before Christ?
i) Ephesians 2:1-3 – Dead, walking after the world
ii) Romans 8:6-8 – Carnally minded and enemies with God
iii) Romans 3:8-23 – We too are redeemed by the blood of a lamb and do not deserve the king.
iv) Romans 6:23 – Deserving of death
c) How are we after Christ?
i) Ephesians 2:4-7 – We received life
ii) Colossians 2:12-14 – We are pardoned from our sins
iii) Ephesians 2:13-16 – Reconciled to him (the gap that Job mentions in Job 9:32-33 is filled)
d) The only reason we are alive to serve him is because of a sacrificial lamb.
3) The Donkey was Released (Mark 11:4) – The donkey was tied up and needed to be released in order to serve Jesus.
a) Romans 6:17-18 – We are bound by sin and we must be released of it to serve righteousness (everyone serves someone)
b) 2 Corinthians 5:15-18 – We lived unto ourselves but now we are new creatures living to serve Christ
c) Change is part of repentance. If you have never changed, then you still need salvation. If you’ve never been released, you need to let him free you.
d) Jesus told the donkey’s owners that he would return him (Mark 11:3) when finished. So what did the men get? Before Jesus, the donkey was untamed and fit to be tied. Afterward he was tamed and fit to ride. We too come to Jesus untamed and wild but return meek, humbled and ready to serve. That is what God does:
i) Give Him Abram, a disobedient pagan and he returns as Abraham a mighty man of faith
ii) Give Him Jacob, the scheming heel-catcher, and he returns as Israel, the father of a nation
iii) Give Him Saul of Tarsus, a mean, cruel man, and He will give you back a Paul, a mighty Apostle of God.
iv) Give Him you Simon, a weak, brash man, and He will give you back a Peter, a rock for Jesus.
v) Give Him your broken, sin-scarred life and He will give you back a new start, a new life and a home in Heaven!
4) The Donkey was Ruled (Mark 11:7) – The donkey was a wild beast that submitted itself to Jesus’ service, so must we.
a) Service is what being a Christian is all about and remember that we all serve someone.
b) 1 Corinthians 12:4-31 – We serve in our own capacity.
i) Not just in function but on different levels: Sins and mistakes do not make us unworthy to serve, they make us humbler servants better prepared to serve others.
b) Many people have problems submitting to authority, but God tells us to do this:
i) Wives submit to their husbands (Ephesians 5)
ii) Children submit to their parents (Ephesians 6)
iii) Workers submit to their employers (Ephesians 6)
iv) The congregation submits to their Elders (1 Timothy 3)
v) We must all serve God (Hebrews 12:28-29)
vi) Anyone who fights authority (servitude) is not Godly
5) The Donkey was needed (Mark 11:3) – The Lord said that he was in need of the donkey. He needs us as well
a) Jesus could not have fulfilled prophecy without the donkey.
b) You may be the only Bible some will ever read.
c) As the donkey was used, all eyes were on Jesus. Not the donkey. Thus we serve to glorify Him, not ourselves.
6) Conclusion: We are all wild donkeys just on different levels. Some of us still need to be redeemed. Some of us still need to be released. Some of us still need to be ruled.