Departing on his GREY DONKEY, Silver, the Lone Ranger would shout, “Hi-yo, Silver! Away!” As they galloped off, someone would ask, “Who was that masked man anyway?” — Kind of takes away from the gallant effect of it all doesn’t it?
Mark 11:4-10 (TNIV)
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 to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” 10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
Can you imagine Jesus entering Jerusalem on a stallion, with an entourage of riders flanking Him on both sides? But…he didn’t. Jesus entered the Holy city, knowing that He would soon die. He entered on colt, a young donkey, in humility, love and peace. It was a low-key arrival of the long-awaited messiah….our Savior!
Two things I want to point out: One is that wealth and power are not what leads us to ultimate success and fulfillment in life. I am not saying that wealth is sinful. In fact many people get this saying from the Bible wrong. Money IS NOT the root of all evil. However, “THE LOVE OF MONEY is a root of all kinds of evil…” Let’s look closer at the wisdom that IS ACTUALLY in Scripture:
1 Timothy 6:9-10 (TNIV)
9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
I also would note that there is nothing at all wrong with having little and living humbly. If we can wrap our minds around what truly makes us rich, our relationships with God, indeed, our relationship with Jesus as well as our relationships with others…..we become very rich!
2 Corinthians 8:9 (TNIV)
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
The second thing that I want to point out is that as Jesus entered Jerusalem, humbly and in peace, on a young colt, the crowds burst into joyful praise. I would expect that kind of response if He were in a limousine or on the back of a mighty stallion! Yet….he wasn’t. The people were happy, joyful, and full of expectation. Something wonderful was happening and they knew it!
This is the essence of why we gather together as a church……to joyfully welcome Jesus, to praise His name and to affirm that we are His children…..a part of His story in this life….. and forever! We celebrate this great breakthrough in humanity, when God came to earth as a man to demonstrate the true essence of His wisdom and love. Jesus rode into the Holy city Jerusalem humbly knowing that he would soon die for each one of us, for our sins that we might have this new life in Him. Because He loves US!
Don’t be bashful! Recognize, express your love, praise and celebrate the riches that you have in Christ. Do this every day, not just on Sunday.
As Jesus rode into the Holy city of Jerusalem, humbly on the back of a simple colt….as people greeted Him in love and praise, there were probably those in the crowd that asked, “Who was that man anyway?” Be prepared if someone ask you. Our answer of course is, “That is Jesus, our Messiah and Savior who has come to set us free”. In some way’s Jesus is kind of like the Lone ranger, isn’t He?