LESSONS FROM A DONKEY

TEXT: Luke 19:28-38

AIM: That we may learn that there are rewards for serving the Lord.

INTRODUCTION:
The Triumphant Enfry ofJesus into Jerusalem was the first in the series of events that marked the last week of His earthly ministry. These events began with Jesus sending His disciples to fetch Him an ass (a colt or donkey) upon which He would ride into Jerusalem. Though an animal, the donkey was used by Jesus in this prophecy-fulfilling event that ushered in the final week of His redemptive ministry. That a donkey would be part of a 500-year old prophecy fulfilled by the King of kings, leaves us a lot to learn as we celebrate this Palm Sunday.

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THE PROPHECY (Zechariah 9:9)

• It was prophesied that Zion's Messiah King would come to Jerusalem triumphantly, righteously and victoriously. This, Jesus fulfilled on Palm Sunday.

• He would come humbly, riding not on a chariot driven by horses, but on a donkey. Unlike the horse, a donkey was not an animal for warfare, but a domestic animal used forcarrying goods. This was certainly contrary to popular expectation ofthe Messiah as a great warrior (Isaiah 9:6).

• This prophecy came 500 years before its fulfillment. With God, time is not a limitationtothe fulfillmentofwhatHe says. Neither does God change His mind (Numbers 23: 19; 2 Peter 3:8, 9).

LESSONS FROM THE DONKEY

• A donkey known by Jesus (v. 30).
  Jesus knew the location and the state this donkey was in. Jesus also knew its history. Do you know that Jesus knows all about you? He knows our past and present, and the future He has destined for us. Andjust like the donkey, the link between our past, where we are now and what GOD has destined for us in life will be realized through our relationship with Jesus.

• A donkey tied down (v. 30).
  The picture ofthe donkey shows us a donkey that could be located and used. This was because it was tied down by its master. There is a lesson here. No one can become useful to Jesus unless he or she is available to the owner ofour lives where He puts us.

• A donkey on which no one yet had ever sat (v. 30).
  This speaks of the donkey's innocence and purity. These made her fit for the Master's use as a vessel ofhonour (2 Timothy 2:21), just as the virginity and purity ofMary had made her fit to be selected by God to be the mother ofJesus. For us to be counted worthy to serve the Lord, we must keep ourselves holy. (1 Peter 1:15).

• A donkey who walked into prophecy (vs. 34, 35).
  The Bible teaches us that all of creation was created to glorify God and show forth His praises. While this is frue, it orily finds expression in individual lives when such gets enlisted for service in God's Kingdom. Even though the donkey was not yet in existence when the prophecy was given by Zechariah, she became a witness to it, simply by serving the King ofkings. "The Master needs it" was the call and still is the call today. Jesus needs you. Will you make yourself available?

• A donkey who yielded to Jesus (v. 35a).
  Animals do have a practice of showing some resistance to strangers. This donkey didn't show any resistance from the very point of her being tied down, to her release for the Master's use, and when the Master was put on her finally. She yielded herself in surrender to her Creator. How yielded and surrendered are we to Jesus and His will for our lives?

• A donkey decoratedfor Jesus (v. 35b).
  Just before Jesus was put on the donkey, the disciples ofJesus dressed the donkey to make her fit for the King of kings to ride on. Had she not yielded, she would not have been dressed in a kingly way. Whenever anyone makes himself available to be used of God, such a life becomes equipped and enabled to carry Jesus into the hearts of men for God's glory (2 Corinthians 3:5, 6; Ephesians 4: 11, 12).

• A donkey who shared in the honour given to Jesus (vs. 36-38).
  As soon as Jesus was put on her to ride into Jerusalem, people began to spread their garments on the road, so that Jesus could pass over them. What a privilege for the donkey! It was the donkey's feet that stepped on the garments! So when we become instruments for Jesus, people will lay down their for the Master to use in furthering His Kingdom. And when they do, we in the honour and privileges, because we are the servants He is riding upon.

CONCLUSION:

The disciples God as He rode upon the donkey into Jerusalem. Zechariah's prophecy was full and part of it was the donkey upon which Jesus rode. Are you known by Jesus personally? Do you keep yourself pure? Are you available in a particular location in the body of Christ? Are you yielded to the Master? Is Jesus being glorified on account service to Him?