Hope on a Donkey
April 13, 2025
Luke 19:28–40 (NLT) 28 After telling this story, Jesus went on toward Jerusalem, walking ahead of his disciples. 29 As he came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples ahead. 30 “Go into that village over there,” he told them. “As you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying that colt?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ” 32 So they went and found the colt, just as Jesus had said. 33 And sure enough, as they were untying it, the owners asked them, “Why are you untying that colt?” 34 And the disciples simply replied, “The Lord needs it.” 35 So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it for him to ride on. 36 As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. 37 When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen. 38 “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!” 39 But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!” 40 He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”
Today we celebrate Palm Sunday, also known as the Triumphant Entry.
This is when Jesus makes His “Triumphal Entry” into Jerusalem riding on a Donkey as crowds of people lay garments (cloaks) and palm branches on the ground.
John 12:13 (NIV) They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!”
This was a sign of Honor and Respect for their King.
Earlier, Jesus refused to be honored as King.
John 6:14–15 (NIV) 14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
Now, Jesus openly Announces and Demonstrates that He is King.
He does this to Obeying and Fulfilling Prophecy:
Matthew 21:4–5 (NLT) 4 This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said, 5 “Tell the people of Jerusalem, ‘Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt.’ ”
Zech. 9:9 (NIV) 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.
The happend: -Five Days before the Crucifixion.
-One week before Jesus was Resurrected from the Dead.
1. King Jesus Came to Give You Victory.
Palm branches symbolized Victory, Triumph, Peace, and Eternal life.
In Revelations, People in heaven show they are victorious over the devil
by wearing White Robes with Palm Branches in their hands.
Revelation 7:9 (NIV) After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
Jesus has defeated the enemy for us.
Now is the time to Walk in Victory.
1 Corinthians 15:57 (NIV) But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 2:14 (NLT) But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.
Don’t let the enemy make you feel defeated.
Revelation 12:11 (NIV) They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
You are More than a Conqueror.
Romans 8:37 (NIV) No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
To walk in Victory, Be Like a Palm Tree.
Psalm 92:12–15 (NLT) 12 But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon.
13 For they are transplanted to the Lord’s own house. They flourish in the courts of our God.
14 Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green.
15 They will declare, “The Lord is just! He is my rock! There is no evil in him!”
Palm Trees represent beauty and fruitfulness.
Grow Deep Roots.
Psalm 1:3 (NLT) They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.
To be Planted in the House of the Lord:
Is to live in Daily Fellowship with God.
Is to live in Fellowship with Faithful Believers.
Hebrews 10:24–25 (NLT) 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
2. Jesus is the Misunderstood King.
The Crowds of people were giving Jesus:
A royal welcome.
Honoring Jesus as King, Messiah.
Luke 19:37 (NLT) When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen.
Five days later (on Friday),
The same people that were shouting “Hosanna!”,
are now yelling “Crucify Him!”
Luke 23:21 (NIV) But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
Why was Jesus misunderstood?
The crowd of people thought:
Jesus would give Victory over the Roman Government.
Victory did not come through military force.
Victory came:
through the Cross.
through Sacrifice.
Jesus gives Victory over Sin and Death.
Jesus gives Victory over the real enemy, Satan.
Jesus came to save people spiritually.
1 Corinthians 15:54–57 (NIV) 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true:
“Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
John 10:10 (ESV) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.
I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
We can be the same and mis understand Jesus.
One minute, we are Praising God; the Next minute, we are turning away from God.
When we go through trials, we say things like:
“Why is this happening to me? I have been praying, going to church, giving tithes, living a holy life. I should not be having these problems.”
When life does not go our way,
We can easily change our opinion.
Turn on one another,
Turn on God.
We lose our Loyalty and commitment.
We lose our Faithfulness.
We Stop Praising.
We must understand the Mission Jesus came for.
Jesus came to save people from Sin, Death, Hell.
Jesus came to set people free from bondage, depression.
John 3:16–17 (NIV) 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Luke 19:10 (NLT) For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
1 Timothy 1:15 (NIV) Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
Jesus did not come to give us a life with no problems.
He came to give us Victory over our problems
John 16:33 (NLT) I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
3. Don’t Give King Jesus Substitute Praise.
Luke 19:39 (NLT) But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!”
40 He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”
Luke 19:39–40 (NKJV) 39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”
40 But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”
Jesus is saying to the Pharisees:
-If People don’t Praise Him,
Rocks will do their job.
It is our Job to Praise King Jesus.
Psalm 150:1–6 (NIV) 1 Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. 2 Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. 3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, 4 praise him with timbrel (tambourine) and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe (flutes), 5 praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.
6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.
It is a Privilege to Praise Jesus.
Example: Our society has decided that they don’t need human beings anymore.
Robots and AI (Artificial Intelligence) are taking your place.
AI is Driving Cars,
AI are Waiters at Restaurants taking your order.
AI is a Kiosk at McDonalds:
Order your food at a Kiosk instead of a person at the counter
Jesus does not want a Robot or AI to Praise Him.
He still wants Human Beings to Praise Him.
Jesus Died for Human Beings, not for Robots.
Song by Ron Kenoly:
So we sing and we shout, “Hallelujah!
Blessed is our King!”
If we hold our peace
Should our praises cease
The rocks will cry out instead
Ain’t gonna let no rock out praise me
Ain’t gonna let it sing in my place
Ain’t gonna let no rock out praise me
Ain’t gonna let it sing in my place