An Unlikely Hero

Star - A movie about a donkey that carries Mary, Jesus’ mother from Nazareth to Bethlehem. The young donkey “Bo” is the star of the show. He takes you on a journey that culminates on Jesus’ birth.

Scene: Young donkey named Bo is attached to a grindstone. He seeks to be free. “I know it feels like we are just going in circle.” –Bo (Steven Yeun) “We are.” –Old Donkey

His journey in life was more than just being a donkey, a beast of burden. No, we would take action and would find himself carrying Mary to to Bethlehem, for this wonderful day, known as Christmas.

Aside from being a simple twist on the story of Jesus birth, this movie represents for us an issues we have in the church today. We tend to come up with very creative ways to distract from the central figure in the story - Jesus Christ.

Why Bring this up?

Just like this story of Christmas in the movie, The Star, becomes about a donkey named”Bo” rather than about Jesus, our lives become about other things.

In the world today, with the coronavirus, we have probably realized a couple of things:

We are not in control of what happens in our life

We tend to put more emphasis on our own life than we should

When we do this our focus becomes something that it shouldn’t

Like Bo, the Donkey, we long for things greater, rather than living a life of contentment

We put the focus on ourselves. And, when we fail at the things we have no control over, we become fearful

When the central figure in our life becomes someone other than Jesus, we will live a life of fear. Rather than clinging to Jesus during a time like this, we will cling to other things, all of which are frail, incomplete, insufficient & sinful. When we do this we will become twisted and warped in our thinking and actions.

For the disciple of Jesus, everything we do is about Jesus Christ. Just like Palm Sunday isn’t about, palms, or children. It is about the work of Jesus for his Father.

This passage is first about Jesus and his work. What this passage reveals is who Jesus is in his office of Prophet, Priest and King.

For Instance

If we lose sight of Jesus, and the work of His three offices, we will lose sight of what God is doing in our lives.

Jesus fulfills his role as Prophet

(28) “And when he said these things . . .”

Jesus spent his ministry teaching through parables

Fulfilled the role of The Prophet that all other prophets God sent spoke about

He was sent to speak on behalf of the Father with his blessing

English Standard Version Chapter 3

And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

John Confirms this

English Standard Version Chapter 1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Jesus personifies this

Jesus prophesies what would happen with the Donkey (30-34)

Everything that Jesus said came true

Jesus’ Words are to be believed and trusted. There is so much in this world that is opinion or speculation. The words of Jesus are non of that. They are the actual words of God speaking to us.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

Jesus fulfills his role as Priest

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.Jesus fulfills his role as Priest

The whole purpose of this was to inaugurate Jesus going to his death

The Disciples and Crowd thought of it as a place of prominence

Reality was that Jesus was moving toward his death on a cross

to bear the complete wrath of God for sinners

He would be the mediator between a Holy God and a sinful people

We even witness this in His weeping for the people

English Standard Version Chapter 4

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

When we see that Jesus is our High Priest we know that we can go to hin in our time of trouble with our prayers, knowing that he hears them and understands the. That he petitions the Father on our behalf.

Jesus fulfills his role as King

Jesus shows his control over the creation

The things he spoke came true because he had control of them

The crowd responded to Jesus as King (35-38)

“The very stones would cry out” (40)

Jesus is not just a figure head, he is the King of all things. He has control over all things, even what is happening in our world today.

So What?

Seeing Jesus in his role as Prophet, Priest and King gives us hope in trying times, such as these.

As things around us fade away - our norms, our societies, our economies, etc . .

As people around us die - our family, friends, brother and sisters in Christ, etc . . .

As our lives change - school, work, income, freedom, etc . . . .

We are faced to realize that all things are passing away as we await the return of Jesus Christ.

Message

Our response during this time is to look at Jesus in his offices as Prophet, Priest and King and to rest in Him.

We can believe what he says is true. what He promises he will do.

We can trust in his mediation. Rest in him for salvation, to hear our prayers, to sympathize with our needs

We can trust in his work in this world

Everything Jesus did was to bring glory to the father.

God will receive glory in all things. We may not see it, but even the things in our life will glorify God.

Our response should be to simply trust in Jesus, Prophet, Priest and King.

Illus:

The Chronicles of Narnia, Prince Caspian

Peter, attempts to save Narnia from the Telmarines on his own. He is even asked multiple times, if they should wait for Aslan. The true King of Narnia. Peter attempts to do things himself and gets many of his fellow Narnians killed.

Let us be a people who looks to Jesus, the true savior, as we seek to persevere during these trying times.