Be the Donkey . . .
Today's musings are taken from John 12 and are excerpted from my notes of this past Sunday's sermon (https://vimeo.com/218483565) with some further extended musings as I have meditated on these concepts. Our Pastor was taking a look at the Triumphal Entry scene and under the primary topic of "Demonstration" and the sub-point "Demonstration of His [Christ's] Authority", he brought up something Ron and I had never considered before - and, for us, it was profound.
Take a look at the donkey - have you ever considered the beauty of this animal's role in this scene? With cross-referencing to Luke 19:28-36 and Mark 11:2-3, we can be inspired to BE the DONKEY :-)
First, because of the culture of the day and the Levitical law that the Jews followed, we can consider that this donkey may have been redeemed (Ex 13:13 and 34:20). We can't say this with certainty because the Scripture does not tell us if this was the first-born or not. I like the analogy though and would like to believe this is most probable because of the rest of the image that is painted. If we allow this presumption (bearing in mind that it IS a "presumption"), we see an animal chosen for the Lord's use that was redeemed by the blood of a lamb.
Second, the donkey had to be released. It was tied up when the disciples found it (as Christ said it would be). Consider how many things we are tied up to in life - especially life before Christ, but even after. I get tied up by work obligations and housekeeping and facebook and family obligations and TV and financial concerns and emotional stuff and so on and so on. Some are things that could/should be avoided, some are things I have no control over, some are not "bad" in and of themselves - but all of it are things/situations/thoughts/time-wasters/etc. that I allow to keep me from accomplishing my God-designed purpose in life. We've all got those things we need to be released from in order to truly accomplish the good works that God designed us for.
Third, the donkey needed to be ruled. Think about it - a colt on which NO ONE had EVER ridden. My teenage years were spent on 10 acres in Penrose, Colorado. We had horses & cattle & such so I have a personal understanding of the importance of that phrase. The colt was not broke in. Under normal circumstances, that would mean it would be difficult at best to get on it's back and really tough to stay there as it bucked and twisted to get rid of the unwanted weight placed on it's back.
I also have a unique perspective because of our experience with our own filly born to one of our mares. My sister is AWESOME with animals. Fearless and so full of love for them :-) She raised that filly - spending time with it every day from birth. That filly learned early to TRUST her. It also saw us taking it's momma and the other horses out - putting saddles and bridles on them and riding them out of the pen - around the block. That filly learned that freedom came in the form of a saddle & bridle and rider and that it was not a thing to be feared. So - when the time came, she willingly accepted the bridle and saddle - she was THRILLED to be ridden - there was a little jumping at the unexpected weight, but she adjusted quickly.
Two lessons from all this: One, Jesus authority was demonstrated in His ability to easily mount and ride that colt - it TRUSTED Him - animals have a sense for that and I'm sure the fact that Jesus was God and therefore the colt's creator probably had something to do with that. The colt trusted Him to guide him through crowds of people waving palm fronds and blankets (most horses would rear & shy at such an experience). We should trust Him the same way. Though the experience is new and maybe uncomfortable and maybe scary - if God is leading the way, we should follow confidently.
Two, we should gain confidence in our Creator when we see His work in the lives of our fellow believers. Those who have gone before with faith in God show us that taking up our cross and following Him is the true path to freedom. We are told to take up our cross and to take His yoke upon ourselves - and these would seem, logically, to be burdensome things - and yet we are told that His yoke is easy and His burden is light - and it is only in choosing to "be saddled and bridled" that we find our true purpose and true freedom.
So - my encouragement to you today is to BE THE DONKEY - be redeemed by the blood of the lamb, be freed from the things that keep you from your purpose, and be willing to be saddled, bridled, and ruled by the Lord Jesus Christ. Therein lies peace, contentment, hope, joy, and so much more.
Take a look at the donkey - have you ever considered the beauty of this animal's role in this scene? With cross-referencing to Luke 19:28-36 and Mark 11:2-3, we can be inspired to BE the DONKEY :-)
First, because of the culture of the day and the Levitical law that the Jews followed, we can consider that this donkey may have been redeemed (Ex 13:13 and 34:20). We can't say this with certainty because the Scripture does not tell us if this was the first-born or not. I like the analogy though and would like to believe this is most probable because of the rest of the image that is painted. If we allow this presumption (bearing in mind that it IS a "presumption"), we see an animal chosen for the Lord's use that was redeemed by the blood of a lamb.
Second, the donkey had to be released. It was tied up when the disciples found it (as Christ said it would be). Consider how many things we are tied up to in life - especially life before Christ, but even after. I get tied up by work obligations and housekeeping and facebook and family obligations and TV and financial concerns and emotional stuff and so on and so on. Some are things that could/should be avoided, some are things I have no control over, some are not "bad" in and of themselves - but all of it are things/situations/thoughts/time-wasters/etc. that I allow to keep me from accomplishing my God-designed purpose in life. We've all got those things we need to be released from in order to truly accomplish the good works that God designed us for.
Third, the donkey needed to be ruled. Think about it - a colt on which NO ONE had EVER ridden. My teenage years were spent on 10 acres in Penrose, Colorado. We had horses & cattle & such so I have a personal understanding of the importance of that phrase. The colt was not broke in. Under normal circumstances, that would mean it would be difficult at best to get on it's back and really tough to stay there as it bucked and twisted to get rid of the unwanted weight placed on it's back.
I also have a unique perspective because of our experience with our own filly born to one of our mares. My sister is AWESOME with animals. Fearless and so full of love for them :-) She raised that filly - spending time with it every day from birth. That filly learned early to TRUST her. It also saw us taking it's momma and the other horses out - putting saddles and bridles on them and riding them out of the pen - around the block. That filly learned that freedom came in the form of a saddle & bridle and rider and that it was not a thing to be feared. So - when the time came, she willingly accepted the bridle and saddle - she was THRILLED to be ridden - there was a little jumping at the unexpected weight, but she adjusted quickly.
Two lessons from all this: One, Jesus authority was demonstrated in His ability to easily mount and ride that colt - it TRUSTED Him - animals have a sense for that and I'm sure the fact that Jesus was God and therefore the colt's creator probably had something to do with that. The colt trusted Him to guide him through crowds of people waving palm fronds and blankets (most horses would rear & shy at such an experience). We should trust Him the same way. Though the experience is new and maybe uncomfortable and maybe scary - if God is leading the way, we should follow confidently.
Two, we should gain confidence in our Creator when we see His work in the lives of our fellow believers. Those who have gone before with faith in God show us that taking up our cross and following Him is the true path to freedom. We are told to take up our cross and to take His yoke upon ourselves - and these would seem, logically, to be burdensome things - and yet we are told that His yoke is easy and His burden is light - and it is only in choosing to "be saddled and bridled" that we find our true purpose and true freedom.
So - my encouragement to you today is to BE THE DONKEY - be redeemed by the blood of the lamb, be freed from the things that keep you from your purpose, and be willing to be saddled, bridled, and ruled by the Lord Jesus Christ. Therein lies peace, contentment, hope, joy, and so much more.
posted by Eowyn7 | 7:39 AM
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