Donkey with a Destiny audio video notes. As you and I carry Jesus into the lives of people, a series of events will eventually bring them to the cross of Christ and to the path of redemption. People will find the way to God and God will find the way to reach them. If Jesus could use a donkey, he can use me. I am a Donkey of Destiny.
PALM SUNDAY
By Pastor Delbert Young
DONKEY WITH A DESTINY – Palm Sunday
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Donkey with a Destiny audio video notes
Scriptures: Luke 19:30-35, Zechariah 9:9, Luke 19:38-40, Matthew 21:10-11, Luke 19:41-44
If you can use anything, Lord, you can use me. On the Palm Sunday we celebrate today, the Sunday Jesus rode into Jerusalem two thousand years ago, Jesus used a donkey and the donkey had a destiny. Surely Jesus can use me if he could use a donkey. Surely he can give me a destiny. Let’s read a portion of the passage.
Luke 19:30-35
30 “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.
31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.'”
32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them.
33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”
34 They replied, “The Lord needs it.”
35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it.
DONKEY WITH A DESTINY:
Not only did he use a donkey, he needed a donkey. The donkey was born with a destiny to make a difference. Not only will the Lord use you and me, he needs you and me. We are born with a destiny to make a difference. I want to talk about the donkey ride Jesus made into Jerusalem today.
Many of us remember hearing about Palm Sunday from our Sunday school days. We know Palm Sunday as the Sunday before the Friday Jesus went to the cross and Easter Sunday. The image we remember the most about Palm Sunday is Jesus riding on a donkey. There are many verses in the Bible talking about Jesus riding upon the donkey. Every gospel writes about the donkey. Why is so much attention given to this ride on a donkey? Let’s look at the prophecy given about it.
Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
It was much more than simply riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. It was more than the simple fulfillment of a prophecy. Let’s look at two amazing points the donkey ride meant.
CREATE A NEW WORLD ORDER:
First, as Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a special donkey, he created a new world order. We call it the kingdom of heaven. Jesus declared he was indeed the king coming with salvation. He was the king coming with change, and he would change not only the order of Israel. He would change the world. No longer would Satan rule the world. Jesus came as king. The world order changed for all who will receive Jesus as King.
One obvious way to note change did happen is our calendar. The coming of Jesus as king is why our calendar is divided into BC/AD – Before Christ/Anno Domini (Latin – ‘the year of our Lord’). It does not matter if a person is a believer or not. Jesus left an indelible mark upon every person in this world because he rode into Jerusalem on the Donkey of Destiny. Isn’t it interesting a donkey was necessary and used to create this new world order in which we live today? The Lord needed that donkey.
EVENTS LEADING TO THE CROSS:
Secondly, the ride into Jerusalem upon the donkey began a series of events finally leading to the death of Jesus upon the cross. Had he not come to Jerusalem riding the donkey, Jesus would not have been killed and died on the cross for you and me the next Friday.
The death and resurrection of Jesus created a path to redemption not existing before Jesus gave his life. It created a way for anyone to approach God and a way for God to reach anyone. This path to redemption did not exist prior to the events that began upon the Donkey of Destiny. Isn’t it interesting the donkey ride set in motion the cross of Christ? The Lord needed this donkey. How important was the Donkey of Destiny?
THE LORD NEEDS YOU AND ME.
It is upon us Jesus rides today into cities and towns, into businesses and factories, into homes and lives and hearts. He continues to establish a new world order within every life we carry him into. Jesus will declare himself as King and bring salvation to every life we carry him. If you can use anything, Lord, you can use me. The Lord needs you to do this. If he could use a donkey, he can use me.
You and I help change the calendars in the lives of people. You can help change their lives from BC to AD. I watch it happen all the time.
As you and I carry Jesus into the lives of people, a series of events will eventually bring them to the cross of Christ and to the path of redemption. People will find the way to God and God will find the way to reach them. If Jesus could use a donkey, he can use me. I am a Donkey of Destiny.
As you see there are many areas where I relate to this donkey. I know some of you say, “I know that’s right. You are a donkey sometimes.” I won’t argue. I want Jesus to ride me into cities and homes and the lives of people anytime he wishes. Yes, I want him to use me to declare his new world order to anyone who will listen. Yes, I want him to use me to begin a series of events bringing people to the cross of Christ. If he could use the donkey to do it, he can use me to do it. In this regard, I am proudly a Donkey of Destiny.
The scriptures say the donkey Jesus rode was tied, but never ridden.
I was tied, but never ridden. I was tied to debt, and I was bound to my desires. Also, I was bound to things like habits holding me like a tied animal to a post. No one could ride me, and I bucked everything. Life was aimless. I had never allowed anyone to point or guide me in a direction that would bless my life and give my life meaning. I had no mentors, and I had no guides. Then one day Jesus said he had need of me and he sent some disciples to get me. Isn’t it awesome the Lord would need a donkey like me?
How about you? Do you realize how much the Lord needs you? I imagine some of you are like I once was. You are tied to something from which you can’t become free. You have tried. Yes, you have brayed and bucked and pulled, but you are still bound. However, you will never be untied until you allow Jesus to use you. Perhaps debt has you bound, or habits, or thoughts, or bitterness and hate. Jesus is sending someone to untie you at this very moment. If you will allow it, Jesus will climb into your heart. He will point you in the direction of your destiny. He will use you to change the world and bring people to the cross. The Lord has need of you today.
EXTENSIONS OF JESUS:
Luke 19:36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
Before Jesus reached the city, people began receiving him as king along the road. They began throwing their coats on the ground, breaking branches from trees, and waving them. It is interesting they were throwing their coats on the ground, not for Jesus to walk upon, but for the donkey to walk over. Would you do this? Would you lay your Sunday coat on the ground for a donkey to walk upon? I was thinking about this. The donkey had become an extension of Jesus. The donkey was received because Jesus was received.
The Bible says as we allow him to use us, we become extensions of him. We become his hands and feet and mouth. We become his body. He will make certain a way is made for people to receive us as they would receive him. People will listen to what we say if we are carrying Christ in our hearts. People will ask us to touch them with our hands and pray for them if we are extensions of him. If the people received a donkey, don’t you think they will receive you and me? The Lord needs you today. We have a destiny.
CHURCH SHOULD BE FUN:
Luke 19:37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
Luke 19:38-40
38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
Matthew 21:10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?
Matthew 21:11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.
Our bringing the presence of Jesus into a city and into lives brings joy. People are moved with joy and praise that cannot and must not be silenced. A church should be fun. A church should be loud. The church Jesus led was full of joy and was very loud with praise. Church should bother the Pharisees.
The Lord Jesus desires to use each of us to carry in his presence. When we do this correctly, the whole city will be moved. People will be asking, “Who is this?” Who is this person you are carrying around in your heart? Who is this person you are praising so loudly and with so much joy? We get to say, “This is Jesus.”
Most everyone in the parade on that Palm Sunday knew who Jesus was. He was the king who came in the name of the Lord. There were some who didn’t know who he was. They didn’t understand all the waving of arms and the laying down the garments of praise. They didn’t understand all the noise and jubilation. However, they knew something was happening. They did not understand exactly what was happening. They were given something to which they could relate. People were saying, “This is Jesus the prophet.” They could relate to a prophet.
People have questions when they come to Life Gate.
What is going on here? What’s all the noise about? I haven’t ever seen people do church like these people. We donkeys need to understand people have questions. We need to be sensitive to their questions and we need to answer their questions. Yes, we want people to know who Jesus is, but we must give them something to which they can relate. It may be a hymn, a prayer, or a special. They can relate to this.
OTHERS RIDING WITH JESUS IN TYPE:
I want to try to say something else about the donkey ride. In type, Jesus was not alone on the back of the donkey. Many others were with him in spirit riding on the Donkey of Destiny. Throughout history, we observe many who were so passionate they were willing to be crucified for which they stood if necessary. We see Martin Luther riding bringing the church out of the dark ages of Catholicism and changing the world order. We see the Pilgrims riding and crossing the Atlantic as they come to the new world bringing change to the world order.
Also, we see the Patriots and founding fathers of America riding as they changed the world order and created the United States of America which we love and cherish today. We see men and women like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks riding to change the world order concerning prejudice. Today some riding with Jesus may be George W. Bush and Tony Blair willing to ride even if it means a sure crucifixion.
My thoughts are concerning you and me.
I believe we are here to change the order of things. As it were, we ride with Jesus today changing the world. I don’t believe I exist to continue church’s “status quo.” I didn’t ride into this city to maintain. See, I rode into this city to declare the King and to begin a series of events changing things and bringing people to the cross of Christ. Amazingly, we are doing it. We have together brought something to this region. It has set in motion a series of events changing this region forever.
There is still much to accomplish. I asked someone this past week what they felt concerning Life Gate. The response was first they love it. Then the person said they see so much potential to bring change to this region. They see the potential to both ride with Jesus and to carry Jesus into this region so the kingdom of God can come and Father’s will be done on our earth.
How about you? Have you come to this world to change things? I pray you are not only carrying Jesus but also riding with Jesus.
JESUS WEPT OVER JERUSALEM:
Another event took place that Sunday morning that we do not hear much about. As Jesus approached Jerusalem, he stopped and he wept. Let’s read this part of the passage.
Luke 19:41-44
41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it
42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace – but now it is hidden from your eyes.
43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side.
44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”
The Greek word for wept is klaio (Strong’s #2799) pronounced klah’-yo and means (1) to mourn, weep, lament, (1.a) weeping as the sign of pain and grief for the thing signified, (1.b) of those who mourn for the dead.
We have all experienced or witnessed people weep at the death of a loved one. I have observed it many times at funerals. This grief is deep and often uncontrollable. The weeping person’s body quakes. Cries and wails come from deep within. Jesus did not simply have a sad moment. The Lord wept deeply and he wept over Jerusalem. He didn’t weep over the buildings. He wept over the people because of what would happen to those who had rejected him.
Jesus looked into time and knew in a few years the city of Jerusalem would be sieged by Roman armies. The abomination of desolation happened in A.D. 70. Over a million men, women, and children died and ninety-seven thousand were taken into slavery. (1) The temple was burned and taken apart literally stone by stone and not one stone was left upon another. (2) It was about those days Jesus wept and about what would happen to beautiful and precious people who did not recognize the time of God’s coming to them.
The truth is Jesus loves people.
It breaks his heart to know what awaits people when they reject him. Where are you concerning his coming into your life? Are you allowing him to untie you, direct you, and use you? Are you receiving his entrance into your life with joy and praise? Or, are you asking, “Who is this?” I tell you today this is Jesus desiring to ride into your world and change it to Anno Domini.
Where are we as a church? Are we, as the Donkey with a Destiny, allowing him to ride us into this region? Or, is he weeping over us because we do not recognize the time of his coming to us?
I want us all to be like the Donkey with a Destiny as we carry Jesus Christ in our hearts changing cities and beginning a series of events bringing people to the cross of Christ. I want us all to be in the very center of praise and joy. This is our destiny.
Let’s pray.
Donkey with a Destiny audio video notes
Donkey with a Destiny audio video notes
Other Related Sermons:
Did Jesus Plan His Easter Service – Palm Sunday sermon video audio notes
Palm Sunday Sermons Page video audio notes
Revelation Chapter 6, Horse and Four Horsemen – video audio notes
Time of Visitation audio and sermon notes
Also see:
- Josephus, Wars of the Jews, Book VI, ix, 3
- Josephus, Wars of the Jews, Book VI, v, 1, 2