Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Monday April 6, 2009

The plan for this week centers around what is Easter and the happening of this week way back when.

On Sunday morning I feebly waded through what is called, "The Triumphal Entry" by Jesus into the city of Jerusalem riding on a Donkey. Actually it wasn't a donkey, but when you use the biblical name, children smirk and have been known to laugh and thereby get into to trouble with somber parents.

The entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, I will leave to you as to whether it was triumphal or not, caught a lot of press and the crowds went wild. Jesus rode on a donkey, actually two donkeys were present, a mother and her colt. I'm sure you have at least heard of this event.

The apparent teaching is that this was done in fulfillment of an ancient prophecy given in Zechariah 9:9 which taught the Jews of the era that Messiah would be in sharp contrast to the kings they were familiar with. Instead of approaching the gates of the city as a conquering hero on a white charger, He, Christ was to approach the city on the donkey, implying that he is coming humbly, rather than arrogantly, in peace instead of war, and as many had no clue as to His true identity, He was of no reputation. The gathered notables of the city rejected Him and that is what the current age is all about. Many a preacher has pointed out that the next time He approaches Jerusalem it will be a far different story with a vastly contrasted outcome.

There seems to be several different sub-stories and that is the part of the account that really meets the road. Central is Christ, the disciples, the man who owned the donkeys, and the colt. For sermonizing purposes it is pointed out that Christ is engaging in the events of Easter week as a man who is under complete submission to His Father's will. He is our exemplar and therefore we are to follow his example and we agree, but make all kinds of excuses as He is, after all is said and done, God in flesh, thus we are kind of off the hook. That the disciples also did as they were commanded gives us inspiration, but also an out, as they were so committed to Him that they with but one exception died a martyrs death. The man who owned the donkeys certainly gives a glowing testimony as to how we should view our "ownership" of things, and be willing to give them up for the Lord's use. But seeing as how we believe the literal things of the Bible and do not have a donkey we again are off the hook.

And then, and then there are the donkeys. The colt, obviously a male, never had a person set on him, yet behaved grandly in the worst possible setting for animal training, simply takes all of our excuses away and walks under the burden and guidance of Jesus into the city, with not so much as braying let alone bucking.

The surrender of the donkey to the will of God takes away all my excuses. Here the lowly donkey again, remember one was used by Joseph and Mary, is used of God, therefore I am faced with permitting a donkey to outshine me, or to get with the program and say with Isaiah of old, "Here am I Lord, send me."

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2009 Use with credit.

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