Day 19 - Whose Donkey Is This? | Our King and the Kingdom of God 21-Day Devotional
Scripture Reading: Luke 19:28, When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 And it came to pass, when He drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. 31And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’” 32 So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them. 33 But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, “Why are you loosing the colt?” 34 And they said, “The Lord has need of him.” 35 Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. 36 And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road. 37 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, 38 saying: “ ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” 40 But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”
Jesus rides on the faith of givers and worshipers. When we want Jesus to enter our lives and circumstances, we must be prepared to follow His instructions, demonstrate our faith, and worship from our heart and with our substance. Jesus looks for faith, since it is the environment of blessing and miracles. Some key points in this text:
1. Obedience, "Go into the village...."
2. Attention to detail, "Find a colt tied..." (not "now what did Jesus say?")
3. Recognition of Jesus' authority, "The Lord has need of it..."
4. Sacrificial giving by unnamed owner of donkey,
5. Sacrificial giving by the disciples and onlookers, "They spread their OWN clothes on the donkey..."
6. Remembrance of blessing, "All the mighty works they had seen..."
7. Loud praise, "Blessed is the King who comes..."
We use the name "Palm Sunday" because of the palm branches that were broken off, waved, and laid before Jesus (John 12:13). However, the REAL SACRIFICE came from the man whose donkey was borrowed.
The fact that we focus on the palm branches is an interesting commentary on the level of our faith and personal worship. Waving palms is a nice gesture, but being true worshiper requires much more. What would we call "Palm Sunday" if we recognized the greater cost of faith and worship? What if we were required to give up our own cars, expensive equipment, and our best clothes?
We would rather rip down some palm branches and wave them around than do something truly valuable.
The unknown person who allowed his donkey to be used started something. He is the most significant person in this story other than Jesus. Given our bent towards religious traditions, if the donkey owner had a name, people would have probably named a church after him. We like stories with people and things that we can imagine and dramatize. But God likes stories that highlight Jesus and principles of the Kingdom of God.
Faith and worship without commitment or cost is empty and ineffective. Being passive is another form of doubt and unbelief. David knew this when he identified a site for the construction of the temple of God.
1 Chronicles 21:23-25, But Ornan said to David, “Take it to yourself, and let my lord the king do what is good in his eyes. Look, I also give you the oxen for burnt offerings, the threshing implements for wood, and the wheat for the grain offering; I give it all.”24 Then King David said to Ornan, “No, but I will surely buy it for the full price, for I will not take what is yours for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings with that which costs me nothing.” 25 So David gave Ornan six hundred shekels of gold by weight for the place.
David was willing to pay full price for something he intended to use for God's glory. He understood that faith and worship were not cheap.
Whose donkey is this?
Why did the owner allow his donkey to be used? Would you allow Jesus' followers to take your car, furniture or something of real value? A palm branch is not really anything significant. Donkeys were valuable and were often co-owned by several families since they were poor and unable to afford their own. Something the donkey owner may have known There have been ancient laws that required citizens to render to any King any item or service he or one of his emissaries might require.
The donkey owner clearly knew something about Jesus. I suggest to you that he loved Jesus and recognized His kingly authority. For all we know, this man or a family member may have been healed by Jesus. In John 14:23, Jesus says, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word..."
Because of some level of love, the donkey owner was willing to do something significant for Jesus. He also became a part of God's prophetic plan. Somehow, he sensed that Jesus was a King who brought life, provision and a high return on any investment.
Zechariah 9:9, Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.
If you or I had been there, would we have given your best coat, suit, dress, or garment to Jesus? We would say "Yes!"
But would if the purpose of giving your clothes was not for wearing, but to become a saddle on a donkey's back for Jesus to sit upon? Or what if your suit or dress were used to lay on the ground for Jesus and the donkey to walk on?
It's time for us to prepare the way for Jesus through raising the level of our serving, giving, and praising. We should start with something so meaningful to us that even bystanders would take notice. The Pharisees could not dampen the power of worship and praise on that day. Jesus said that if the people did not serve and praise Him, that the rocks would cry out!
Everything in creation wants to praise God! Remember: "Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation."
Now put that little palm branch down and go get something worth giving to our King and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ!
Reflection Question:
1. What low level sacrifice do you need to upgrade
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