Carrying Christ into the World

Footballers - e.g. Wayne Rooney (cheating on Coleen, swearing, lashing out); Mario Balotelli (throwing darts at youth players when bored); Luis Suárez (biting another player).

Celebrities - e.g. Lindsay Lohan (drug taking, driving under the influence); Paris Hilton (drink driving); Mel Gibson (drink driving and anti-Semitism); Hugh Grant (lewd conduct)

Politicians, e.g. bribes, expenses, sexual harassment, etc.

Our role models for serving Christ? Where do we find them?

In Palm Sunday story/triumphal entry to Jerusalem there are a number of role models, but just one who truly shows us how to serve Christ.

Explanation (7 minutes)

The Religious Leaders

Luke 19:39 NLT

But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!”

Corrupt, mean-spirited, jealous. Wanted to shut the crowd up. No interest in serving Christ, just their own self-interest. They wanted to kill Lazarus after he was raised from the dead. Happy to take and give bribes. Encouraged people to falsely testify against J. Created a bogus show trial. Sent Christ to his death rather than serve him.

Not every religious leader is a role model to follow in serving Christ.

The Disciples

Matthew 20:24 NLT

When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant.

Argument about who was the greatest still ringing in their ears. Later in week - one would betray/deny. Every other one would desert J in the storm of Holy Week.

Been with J! Seen a lot, heard a lot, listened a lot, but when they faced the greatest test of their faith, they failed.

Disciples are not always the role model to follow in serving Christ.

The Crowd

Matthew 21:9 NLT

Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Praise God in highest heaven!”

Worse than the disciples! They’re curious about J, this king who arrives on a donkey. What does it all mean? Who is he? They’re shouting Praise God for him today, but later the religious leaders will buy their loyalty and they’ll be just as happy to shout, Crucify him!

They know the truth about J, but it doesn’t make them do the truth.

The crowd are not the role model to follow in serving Christ.

The Donkey

Matthew 21:7 NLT

They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it.

The only role model we have left (apart from Jesus) is the donkey. The best because she carried Christ into the world.

Humble, slow, dirty, undignified, unpretentious animal was a Christ-bearer.

This colt that had never been ridden allowed the King to have complete control over her.

But despite her humility, she was especially suited for her sacred purpose of carrying Christ into the world.

Numbers 19:2 NLT

“Here is another legal requirement commanded by the Lord: Tell the people of Israel to bring you a red heifer, a perfect animal that has no defects and has never been yoked to a plow.

It was an unridden red heifer that was used in the ceremonies of cleansing.

1 Samuel 6:7 NLT

“Now build a new cart, and find two cows that have just given birth to calves. Make sure the cows have never been yoked to a cart. Hitch the cows to the cart, but shut their calves away from them in a pen.

The cart and the cows that carried the Ark of the Covenant had never been used for any other purpose.

An unridden donkey, a donkey with special sacredness, was used to carry Christ into Jerusalem on that first Palm Sunday.

Application (7 minutes)

We are Christ Carriers

Isaiah 1:17 NLT

Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.

Like the donkey, we are Christ carriers. Carry Christ into the world.

Like the donkey, we can choose to serve Christ. Sometimes, it feels like a burden. Sometimes, it feels like hard work. But Jesus blesses us for being faithful servants.

Like the donkey, we can serve Christ humbly. We don’t have to worry about who gets the glory. In fact, when we serve Christ humbly like the donkey, it’s Jesus himself who gets the glory, just as he did during that triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

Like the donkey, we don’t need to allow our attention to be drawn to the crowds, to the noise, the attention. We can simply keep ourselves focused on the job in hand: carrying Christ to the world.

Most of all, like the donkey, we can choose to follow Jesus’ direction and leading, being willing where he wants us to go rather than where we want to go. We need to be willing to be obedient to the One who holds the reins.

It means doing good. Showing genuine love to people. It means hating what is evil - seeking justice and helping the oppressed. It means holding fast to what is good.

Being a Christ carrier in the world involves being joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer.

If we’re going to live as Christ carriers then it means contributing to the needs of the saints, especially the most vulnerable in our community. It means extending hospitality to strangers.

When we are true Christ carriers in the world, like the donkey, then people around us will ask Who is this? and we can show them the way to Jesus, and to everlasting peace and salvation.

May each of us today know the glory of hearing Praise Gods! the excitement of close contact with Jesus, the joy of accepting a challenge and the deep peace and satisfaction of knowing that we are walking the way God wants us to take.

There’s no better role for us to have than to be a Christ carrier in the world.

SB 613 - O Jesus, I have promised

O Jesus, I have promised To serve thee to the end, Be thou for ever near me, My Master and my friend. I shall not fear the battle If thou art by my side, Nor wander from the pathway If thou wilt be my guide. 2 O let me feel thee near me; The world is ever near; I see the sights that dazzle, The tempting sounds I hear. My foes are ever near me, Around me and within; But, Jesus, draw thou nearer And shield my soul from sin. 3 O let me hear thee speaking In accents clear and still, Above the storms of passion, The murmurs of self-will. O speak to reassure me, To chasten or control; O speak to make me listen, Thou Guardian of my soul. 4 O Jesus, thou hast promised To all who follow thee, That where thou art in Glory There shall thy servant be; And, Jesus, I have promised To serve thee to the end; O give me grace to follow, My Master and my friend. John Ernest Bode (1816-1874) Used By Permission. CCL Licence No. 30158 Copied from The Song Book of The Salvation Army Song Number 613

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