THE PERSON OF THIS KING

Call to Worship:

L: The parade today is just the beginning of our hope.

P: We wave our branches and shout "Hosanna!"

L: But there will come a time of silence and of mourning.

P: Help us to be ready for that time, O Lord.

L: Blessed is Jesus, who came into Jerusalem on that day.P: Blessed is Jesus who comes into our hearts always. AMEN.

Opening Prayer Hosanna! Blessed is Jesus who comes in God’s Name! We stand at the gates of our Jerusalem and wave our branches high. We get caught up in the excitement of the parade. Jesus sits astride a donkey, a beast of burden bearing a most precious gift. Let the joy fill your hearts this day as we shout our Hosannas. Praise God for the wondrous ways in which our lives have been touched. Prepare our hearts to worship and celebrate this day!

Offering:“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24 Throughout our lives, every day, we’re called to choose right from wrong. In our choosing we grow toward Christ, or yield to the immorality of our days. The Bible makes it very clear that such choices between right and wrong are of utmost consequence.

Perhaps Christ posed the dilemma to us best…we cannot serve two masters. Money can also become a substance of economic immorality. “Mammon,” the finance that alienates us from our Lord, is money out of the control of God.

In our choice between God and money, we find those people who serve money find it difficult to give it away. We demonstrate that we serve God, by giving our money freely to Him.

Prayer:Patient God, be with us today as we witness again the entry of Jesus into the holy city. Remind us that our "holy cities", our souls, need to welcome Jesus, truly in celebration and in commitment to his witness to us. We can so easily get caught up in the noise and forget the Savior. We can get so focused on the celebration and colors that we look past the solitary figure on the small donkey. We stand at the gates this day to welcome Jesus. May our welcome of Jesus also be reflected in our welcome of others who come into our midst. Free us from judgment and prejudice, that we may be open to hearing your word through the ministry of Jesus and the disciples. O God, help us also to remember that we need a good measure of your grace and mercy. Bring us through this parade into the comfort of your love. Amen.

Mark 11:1-6 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”

4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them too, and the people let them go.

THE PERSON OF THIS KING

Intro:(Ill. As we watch the Lord in action in these verses, we are allowed to catch a glimpse of His glory. Imagine the scene if you will.

It is early in the morning and Jesus is making preparations to go to Jerusalem. He is moving through two little villages near the top of the mountain. He is in Bethphage, which means “House of Unripe Figs” and Bethany, which means “House of Dates”. Jesus had some dear friends at Bethany, Mary, Martha and Lazarus, with whom He stayed during His last days on earth. In fact, Jesus had just performed one of His most outstanding miracles when He raised Lazarus from the dead, John 11.

Now, Jesus stands on the top of the Mount of Olives, preparing to descend into the city below. From the top of that mountain, which stands some 2,600 feet above sea level, Jesus could see the beautiful city spread out before Him.

Keep in mind that these events occurred during the week leading up to the Passover. Historians tell us that the population of Jerusalem was around 80,000 at this time. During the Passover, between two and three million people would crowd into the city for the celebration. The people came in anticipation; they were looking for God to do something while they were there. God would do His greatest work of all during this Passover, but most people would miss it altogether.

Jesus chose this moment to reveal Himself the nation of Israel. He chose this moment to let Israel know that their King had arrived. Notice how He is revealed in these verses.)

1. His Personality – Ill. The Context – Jesus sends two of His disciples to a village to get a young donkey colt. He tells them exactly where they will find it and what the people standing around will say to them. He even gives them some details about the animal. When His men go out to complete this assignment, they find that everything is just as Jesus said it would be.

How did Jesus know this? Some writers suggest that Jesus had already been to the owners of this little donkey and arranged for the use of the animal. They believe Jesus set this up before hand. I suppose they believe Jesus set things up with that fish that Peter caught with the tax money in its mouth, Matt. 17:27.

Well, He did set it up, but not physically. He set it up in His sovereignty! These events remind us that Jesus is God and that He is in control of all things, Eph. 1:11; Isa. 46:10-11! That encourages me! So, these verses prove that Jesus is God!

(Note: Which two disciples went after the donkey? The Bible doesn’t say! You see, it doesn’t matter who does what as long as the Lord is glorified!

I wonder if those two men complained about their assignment. I can hear them now, “Can you believe this? After all we’ve done for Him; Jesus picked us for this dirty assignment.” They didn’t realize that they were the instruments He would use to fulfill prophecy. They were doing something far bigger then they could see.

We usually are! When we are involved in the Lord’s work, we are involved in big business!)

1. His Personality

2. His Power – These verses also demonstrate the power and authority of our Lord. Notice what Jesus says in verse 3. He says, “If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”.” Jesus called Himself “Lord”! That is a statement of His authority and His power in this situation.

I would just remind you that He is still “Lord” today. He still possesses all authority, whether men recognize Him and bow to Him or not. There will come a day when they will, Phil 2:9-11. There will come a day when you will! Why not do it today when bowing to Jesus can result in your salvation?

(Note: Jesus was well known in these villages. He had, after all, just raised Lazarus from the dead. He was a local celebrity. When the owners heard that it was the Lord Jesus Who wanted the colt, they immediately sent it to Him.)

(Note: Look at that statement in verse 3. ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’” That is an amazing statement! When did God ever “need” anything? But, that was the paradox of our Lord’s earthly life. He was rich, yet He became poor, 2 Cor. 8:9.

· He owned all things, yet He possessed nothing. He created the stars, yet He had nowhere to lay His Own head, Matt. 8:20.

· He fashioned everything there is out of nothing, yet He had to borrow a boat from which to preach His Gospel.

· He created every drop of water that exists in the world, yet He cried “I thirst” as He was dying on the cross, John 19:28.

· He created every tree, but He died on a borrowed cross.

· He created every rock, but He had to borrow a tomb in which to be buried.

· He used the clouds as His chariots, Psa. 104:3, yet He had to borrow a donkey on which to ride.

· That is the paradox of His life!

· He was rich, yet made Himself poor so that those who believe on Him might enjoy His riches!)

(Note: Let’s talk about that donkey for a few more minutes. The Lord needed that donkey to fulfill His mission here on earth. Isn’t that amazing? Jesus is God and He could have done this anyway He chose to, but He chose to use that little donkey.

By the way, He is still using little donkeys to get His work done on earth. He uses the likes of you and me. He could have assigned the task to angels, but He chooses to work through human instruments. I am glad to be a part of the Lord business. I am glad He can use a little donkey like me!

In conclusion, Let me mention a few important facts about this donkey before we leave him behind.

· That Donkey Had To Be Redeemed – Ex. 13:13; 34:20. That little donkey was alive and useful to the Lord because it had been redeemed by the blood of a lamb. Praise God that is why I have life today. That is the only reason you and I have any usefulness to the Lord today. Praise God for the redeeming power of the blood of Jesus!

· That Donkey Had To Be Released – It was bound and had to be set free before the Lord could use it. Before you and I can be of any use to Him, the chains of our sins are going to have to be broken and we are going to have to be set free. I praise His Name that is just what He does for His saints, Rom. 6:14; John 8:36.

· That Donkey Had To Be Ruled – Someone had to take charge over that donkey. Verse 2 tells us that the donkey had never been broken to ride. Yet, it submitted itself to the Lord Jesus and yielded to His control. That donkey wasn’t frightened by the crowds or by their noise. It surrendered itself to the Lord totally. That is what He expects of us! He is looking for total submission and total surrender, Rom. 12:1-2.

The Lord could save sinners and accomplish His work on earth just fine without us. Yet, He chooses to use frail, human instruments for His glory. When we are like that donkey, Redeemed, Released and Ruled, He can use us too.)

(Note: In verse 6, the phrase “They answered as Jesus had told them too, and the people let them go.”, means “The Lord will send the donkey right back as soon as He is finished with him.” In other words, Jesus tells His men to tell the people who owned the donkey that He will return their property as soon as He is through with it.

When that donkey came back, it was better than it was when it left. When it left, it was unbroken and untried. When it came home, it was ready for the saddle. That’s just what the Lord does! He takes when we give Him and when He gives it back, it is far better than it was when He got it.

· Give Him an Abram, a lost pagan, and He will give you back an Abraham, a mighty man of faith.

· Give Him your Jacob, a schemer and a trickster, and He will give you back an Israel, a Prince of God.

· Give Him your Saul of Tarsus, a mean, cruel man, and He will give you back a Paul, a mighty Apostle of God.

· Give Him you Simon, a weak, vacillating man, and He will give you back a Peter, a rock for Jesus.

· Give Him your broken, sin scarred life and He will give you back a new start, a new life and a home in Heaven!)

Benediction The road has been long. You have seen much on this journey, but it is not time to quit. There is much to be done. Go in peace, dear people of God. Go ready to proclaim with your lives that Jesus is Lord and Savior. Go to offer God’s love and peace to all. Now may the Lord bless you and keep you: the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. AMEN.