By The Rev. Dr. Paul A. Leggett
Sunday, April 17, 2011 · Palm Sunday
Sermon Text: Mark 11:1-10
Sermon Theme
Jesus comes into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday riding on a donkey’s colt. Before doing so he instructs two of the disciples to go and untie the donkey. The act of untying a donkey, a simple beast of burden, has profound significance in the Scriptures. Neither the disciples nor the crowds on Palm Sunday grasp the importance of this basic act of untying the knot binding the donkey and bringing it to Jesus. The donkey, to all appearances a very ordinary animal, nonetheless symbolizes obedience to God, sacrifice, adversity, obstacles and ultimately victory. All this is seen in the context of the humble act of riding an unimportant animal. We need to follow Jesus on a donkey into obedience, struggle and victory.
Sermon Outline
- Obedient. The donkey on Palm Sunday is a symbol of obedience. Jesus tells two of his disciples to go and find the young donkey, untie it and bring it to him. They are not told why to do this. They simply obey. In response to their doing so others ask them, “Why are you doing this?” (Mark 11:3). They respond simply, “The Lord needs it.” The donkey here symbolizes obedient trust in Jesus Christ. The donkey has had this symbolism throughout the Scriptures. When Abraham is given the astonishing command to take his son, his only son, and sacrifice him, his first act of obedience is to saddle his donkey (Genesis 22:3). Abraham’s action is a symbolic foretelling of God sacrificing his only Son for us (I John 4:10). The donkey is an obedient animal. We are called to the same measure of obedience even when we don’t understand.
- Obstacle. The donkey also symbolizes the obstacles that inevitably stand in the way of doing God’s will. Jesus, in entering Jerusalem on a donkey colt, is actually coming into the domain of his enemies (Mark 10:33). When Moses, after much reluctance, finally agrees to return to Egypt, his first step is to put his wife and sons on a donkey (Exodus 4:20). Moses knows that he will face the full opposition of Pharaoh (Exodus 3:19). Yet he does not come to Egypt on a horse like a warrior but on a simple donkey. The second most famous donkey story in the Bible (after Palm Sunday) is that of the false prophet Balaam who goes out to curse Israel riding on a donkey. His donkey sees an angel in the road and, after being beaten by Balaam, is given the power of speech by God and confronts Balaam with his foolish intentions. The donkeys in these stories symbolize confrontations with the enemies of God. We face similar obstacles in our lives as Christians. If God could fortify the fearful Moses and empower a donkey with speech he can sustain us in whatever obstacles we face.
- Overcome. Jesus does not come into Jerusalem on a white horse as a conquering hero (which he will do symbolically when he returns, Revelation 19:11). He comes in fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy, “triumphant and victorious,” yet “humble and riding on a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9). Jesus comes to achieve a great victory, yet it is the victory of the cross (Hebrews 2:14-15). In Jesus all the powers of death and evil are overcome (Colossians 2:14-15). Yet this is not a victory in the world’s terms (I Corinthians 2:1-25). Palm Sunday itself is a victory if we have the eyes of faith to perceive it. Jesus is being praised and honored. Yet on the surface nothing has changed. Pilate and Herod still rule. But to the eyes of faith this is triumph and victory. In the Old Testament Samson’s own people in Judah bind him and hand him over to his enemies, the Philistines (not unlike what will happen to Jesus on Good Friday). But then the Spirit of the Lord comes upon Samson and he takes the jawbone of a donkey and with it wins a great victory. The cross is no weapon. It was the Roman symbol of defeat and disgrace. In Christ however it is the power of God (I Corinthians 1:18). We need to be taught a lesson from the donkey. Through it we learn that humility and obedience can conquer the world.
Questions for Us
- Why is it so hard for us to learn the lesson of obedience to God? How does the example of the donkey help us?
- What does it say about God’s purpose in the world that he so often works through a humble animal like the donkey?
- Is the donkey an example of “God’s foolishness” (1 Corinthians 1:25)? How does this example enable us to stand against “the wisdom of the world”?
