Thank you to Karen for this message for our Palm Sunday Family Service.

Palm Sunday from the donkey’s perspective

Wow look at all these people! Hi everyone – my name is Donkey!

Seeing you all together today reminds me of when it was Palm Sunday all those years ago. 

Did you know that today is Palm Sunday? It’s the day we celebrate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem the week before Easter. This is one of the most joyful days recorded for us in the Bible, although it still doesn’t match the joy of Jesus’ resurrection that we look forward to celebrating next week.

And you will never guess what – I was there on that exciting day. There were many people present who witnessed that first Palm Sunday. Jesus was certainly there, as were his disciples. The crowds were there, along with the children, singing praises to God and cheering Jesus on from the side of the road. The Pharisees were there, asking Jesus to tell off the crowds for calling him king. I am sure that if you stopped and interviewed different people from these groups, you would get a different perspective from each of them.

But there was another witness there that day, one that we forget all about. And this witness can also provide us with a valuable perspective on that first Palm Sunday. I am talking about me!

“The donkey?” you say. “What can we possibly learn from the donkey?” Well, God once used a donkey to speak to someone in the Old Testament. I guess he can use a donkey to speak to us today if he wants.

Did you know – that in biblical times donkeys, like little old me, were different from the grey ones that we see today. We were beautiful, graceful and friendly animals with a reddish brown coat.

Donkeys carried heavy loads and were also used for ploughing/farming. They were highly thought of and were a symbol of a person’s wealth. At the time of Jesus, horses were connected with war, so in peacetime kings rode on donkeys instead. The donkey represented humility and peace. A donkey that had not been used before was thought of as especially suitable for religious purposes. I was told later that Jesus choosing to ride me, a little donkey, showed that Jesus was the Prince of Peace and he fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy of Zechariah. 9:9.

Anyway, back to my story –

On that Palm Sunday, it was a hot day and I was tied up alongside my mother. Two men arrived and one of them began to untie me. I heard someone ask them what they were doing and they told him that “the Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.” Wow the master needed me! Without any more argument I was led away. I was a bit worried about being separated from my mother, but they spoke kindly to me as we walked along. I wondered if someone was going to ride me.  I had never carried a man before. I hoped that I would be strong enough. I decided that I would do my best. I was a little worried about the person who was going to ride me. I had seen some pretty mean people ride the other donkeys before. Sometimes they yelled at the donkeys or even hit them with a stick. But I didn’t need to worry at all – I was taken to a man who had a very kind face. He stroked me gently on my neck and his friends put their cloaks on me. The man, who they called Jesus, carefully climbed on to my back.

I was really careful as I walked to the city gates. As we arrived it got really noisy!

There were crowds of people shouting praises and singing. They shouted (v9/10)

“Hosanna”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

It was really noisy!

I didn’t understand all the words, but I felt like the most important donkey in the city, perhaps the most important donkey in the whole world! And so, I held my head high as I marched strongly and bravely into the city carrying Jesus on my back. It was the proudest moment in my life. Little me carrying this kind important man.

Some people put their cloaks on the ground for me to walk on. Others cut branches from the palm trees and spread them in our path. It was wonderful. I knew I was carrying a very special man. I heard people calling out his name. We spent several hours walking through the streets. Everyone seemed so happy. They were praising him for healing the sick and for teaching them about God.

I did notice several men in the crowd who didn’t seem so happy. I didn’t like the way they were watching Jesus. I’m sure they were planning to do something bad. I hoped they would not hurt him.

It was already late when we entered Jerusalem. At the end of the procession Jesus slid gently from my back and went into the temple. He patted me kindly as if to thank me. In spite of the welcome the people had given him, he looked sad, as if he knew something bad was going to happen. The two men took me back home and tied me up again next to my mother. I couldn’t wait to tell her all about it. Wow what a day!

Days later I overheard some people talking. I could not believe what they were saying about the man I had carried. He had been captured and sent before the Roman Governor, who had ordered him to be crucified. I could not understand why this kind and gentle man had been put to death in such a way. I will never forget him and feel proud that although I felt like I was just a little donkey with nothing to offer that I was able to help and carry Jesus on his this special day.  

For us today as Christians, the story of Palm Sunday is a reminder to welcome Jesus into our hearts and to be willing to follow Him. For us to realise that no matter who we are, or how we are feeling that we can be used by Jesus to share his love with others.

Prayer

As we wait for Easter, we remember the story of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Even though he suffered death upon the cross soon after, we remember his words: ‘Remember, I shall be with you always.’ Lord may we feel the love and excitement of Palm Sunday each day. Amen.


Category: Easter , Family Service , Sermons

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