Fancy donkey carpet

The Polo Purple Label Donkey Carpet

 

Matthew 21:8 (NLT)

 

8 Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

 

I walked into the children’s Sunday school classroom and sat towards the side. It was Palm Sunday and I was intrigued to see what the children were saying. The teacher asked a simple question. “Why do you think the people spread their garments on the road?” The response dropped my jaw and made me laugh a bit. A little kid raised his hand and before being called on blurted, “Because they didn’t have anywhere to hang them!”

 

It was the last week of Jesus’ physical life on earth. Knowing that his time to die was near, Jesus directed his disciples to enter the town of Bethphage to secure a colt for Him to ride. In the Gospel of Matthew 21:2 Jesus said, “As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me…”. I find it interesting that Jesus asks for both the donkey and the colt yet only planned to ride the colt. The Gospel of Mark explains that the colt was unbroken. The mother of the colt is only mentioned in The Gospel of Matthew. Wait for it…

Could it be that the mother was brought along to keep the colt tame? Parents need to walk with their children as they carry the awesome responsibility of being a reflection of God. 

 

The thought of Jesus on something so simple makes me even more excited about our Savior. With the ability to ride into the city of Jerusalem on any noble steed or even an army of majestic angels – He chose to ride the back of an untamed colt, a child per se - with his mother in tow. Yes, the colt was to fulfill the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.” But when we expect adult revelation Christ speaks as a child. Here is my first point. I believe that we need to get back to the simplicity of who Christ is to us. Instead of the theatrics that we expect from His entrance into our lives and our circumstances, look for the little things. As a matter of fact look for that thing that makes sense in a place that seems senseless. The colt carried the king and not the mother donkey yet Jesus required them both. When we apply our grown up understanding to God’s grasp on our lives we miss the miracle. However we can catch the blessing if we stay connected to the unconventional and TRUST that God always has a plan. 

 

The story continues… 

 

The disciples removed their garments and placed them on the animals then placed Jesus on the colt. As they made the Triumphal Entry to Jerusalem most of the people removed their garments and laid them along with palm branches for the colt that carried Jesus to walk on. The people cried hosanna because they were looking for salvation or better put, deliverance from Rome. They needed a savior for their soul but only desired a release from the circumstances. 

 

The point…

 

I can imagine the regalia that the people donned to witness Jesus, the Messiah, entering their city. Then, to see them remove their fancy clothes to make a carpet for an animal to trample is awesome. The reason many people have not been able to truly welcome the savior into their lives is because they are making gestures and not giving their all. I believe they placed down their good clothes for the Triumphal Entry but was their heart in it? Even so - when we give, what is our intent. Remove what is necessary, stop hanging your identity on what you think is substantial, and lay your all at the feet of the one who can make change and provide sense.

 

It’s that simple. 

 

Are you looking for Him? What will you (completely) remove to welcome Him home?