The Lord Needs It

Luke 19:28-40

Audio Link: The Lord Needs It

In today’s Scripture, Jesus sent two disciples to Bethany to get the colt and bring it back. The disciples went and found everything just exactly as Jesus had said. When the owners of the donkey asked the disciples, “Why are you untying our donkey?” the disciples simply answered that “The Master needs it” and the discussion was over. Two disciples only had to quote the words Jesus had told them to say, and the owners allowed them to take the animal.

The people who caught my attention in today’s Scripture are the owners of the donkey. I think if the owners had given the donkey for any other reason, there would have been additional questions such as, “How long do you need our donkey,” “How far will you travel,” and “Will you bring him back when you are finished?” But the gospel of Luke doesn’t tell us anything about that.

In Jesus’ time, donkeys were valuable animals. Donkeys were burden-bearing animals, which meant they could transport things. They were doing what trucks do today. They were able to help care for the land. They were doing what tractors do today. They were a means of transportation. They filled the need that cars fill today. A donkey is not a “little gift” that is just given away. However, the only reason the owners of the donkey turned it over without any restrictions or obligations were because “the Lord needs it.” “The Lord needs it” was all the disciples had to say, and the donkey’s owners gladly turned their animal over to the disciples.

Have you considered that Jesus has needs? That Jesus needs something from us? It sounds like it doesn’t make sense! Because Jesus is our creator and savior, we know that what we have all belongs to the Lord. God has given us many things: our talents, our resources, our time, our children, our jobs, and our interests. They belong to Him. God has given them to us as a gift.

Actually, there is nothing “mine,” “yours,” or “ours,” but that God has given us. Our time, our talents and our money have been entrusted to us so that we might use them for Him. They are ours to use but He can ask for them back at any time. At any time, He can request that what He has given be returned in some fashion. He can do this because He is the true owner. We are but tenants, managers, and trustees. Like the owner of the donkey, when Jesus needs something, our response should be to surrender the title and let the Lord use it.

Today’s Scripture teaches an important lesson to Moore’s Chapel. We just finished the fundraising campaign for the new building project. Thankfully, many of us willingly participated and promised to contribute financial help, resources, and talent to build the future of Moore’s Chapel. I believe God asked Moore’s Chapel to use our donkey, which is valuable; God asked us to untie our donkey (which is still tied to our pockets), for His plan and kingdom.
Like Jesus who sent his disciples without an explanation in today’s Scripture, God obviously didn’t show us a clear picture of the future or an accurate use of this building. He just told us, “The Lord has need of it.” What can we learn from the disciples who simply went on Jesus’ word? What can we learn from the owner of the donkey who just gave his property for Jesus to use, without hesitation? What would our answer to His request be? What’s going to be your answer to, “the Lord needs it”?

If we talked to the owners, they might very well have said, “Hey, it was no big deal.” But it was. If the owners had refused to give what they had, this donkey would have never transported the Lord Jesus. What we place in the Lord’s hands is used in remarkable ways. We may not feel that we have anything significant to give, but God sometimes takes simple and little things and uses them in great ways. When the owners gave their donkey, it was valuable to them. But look at how much more valuable the donkey became when placed in the hands of Jesus.

Even though we are insignificant servants, we have few material things, and our resources are limited, but if Jesus uses them, there will be unbelievable things happening. If you give your time to read to or visit with people in a nursing home, you may feel like you are doing little, but you will be surprised when you get to Heaven. If you are a Sunday School teacher who labors week after week faithfully giving yourself to your students while no one notices, you will be surprised at how God has used your service to mold the next generation of believers.

If you have time alone with God and fervently pray for others, it may feel like your prayers accomplish nothing, but you don’t see how God is changing hearts and circumstances in response to those prayers. If you faithfully put your check in the plate week after week, it may feel that your offering, tithe, and building pledge is insignificant. But you don’t see that God is using your faithfulness to make it possible not only to have good facilities and more rooms in which to teach and worship, but God is using those funds to reach people in our community and literally around the world.

What about the mission trip to Mississippi? Senior choir? Or Praise band? Ray of Hope? Youth ministry? United Methodist Women? Or cleaning the House of the Lord? We will never know what will happen with our donkeys. We will never know how God uses our simple obedience, small talent, little service, and faithful contributions for His mission, ministry, and His kingdom. This Palm Sunday, let us remember those disciples and the owners of donkey – those who were obedient and faithful to God’s untold plan.

All of us have a donkey. You and I each have something in our lives, which, if given back to God, could be more useful than if we hold and keep them. What we have is never more valuable than when we place these things in the capable and strong hands of Jesus. What is God asking of you? What does God want you to give? What is your donkey? A talent, time, money, commitment, or willingness to obey? It may be simple, it may be small, it may be little, but what we are supposed to know is that we have to give back what the Master asks for. And we know that the value of what we have is multiplied, more valuable, and more meaningful when it is placed in the Lord’s hands.

Today we celebrate Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter Sunday in the Church calendar. Today is the Sunday of the week that Jesus would be crucified and leading to the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The day commemorates the spreading of palms and clothing in Jesus’ path as He entered Jerusalem prior to His crucifixion. On Palm Sunday, palms are distributed in church and blessed during the worship. The ashes you receive on Ash Wednesday are from the prior year’s palms.

Every spring, hundreds of Hollywood “stars” gather for the Academy Awards. They walk down the long red carpet, smiling at the cameras and waving to the people in the stands, showing off their clothing, chatting with the reporters. People around the stars are yelling, shouting, welcoming, busy taking pictures, and some throwing flowers.

When Jesus rode into Jerusalem, the people lined the road, praising God, waving palm branches, and throwing their clothes in front of the donkey as it passed before them. The crowd’s spontaneous celebration honored Jesus; it was demonstrated when they spread their coats on the road for him to ride over. The crowd was chanting words from Psalm 118:25-26. Those in front and those behind Jesus exclaimed, “Hosanna.” It was a conqueror’s welcome they sought to give to Jesus. They greeted him as the Son of David, Conqueror, and Messiah, but they did not understand.

Even though Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem in today’s Scripture looked similar to a red carpet entrance, his destination was not to be in the spotlight and on center stage but to be taken to bloody Golgotha and the execution of the cross. Rather, Jesus’ entry in today’s Scripture was exactly like Dead Man Walking. Dead Man Walking refers to what the people on death row are called as they take that final walk towards their execution by electrocution or lethal injection. Jesus on the donkey already knew well what will happen to him a week after on Friday.

He knew that He would die if He came into Jerusalem. He could have saved His own life but He would not. He humbly accepted the plan of God and silently walked the Dead Man Walk as the days, hours, and minutes tick down to the condemned man’s execution. They were expecting a military king. They believed Jesus’ kingly glory will be theirs’ too. However, they never dreamed of the kind of conqueror Jesus wished to be. Their only focus was on victory in Jesus and never dreamed of the possibility of death and sacrifice on the cross.

He came into Jerusalem to die. Jesus came into Jerusalem to die on behalf of us. Jesus was coming to sacrifice his life on the cross. He will be the king of the cross. He will have the glory of the cross. This Palm Sunday morning, do you find yourself among the the people of the waiting line to see Jesus’ victorious entry? Are you in the crowd to welcome and celebrate Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem? Who are you looking for? Are you looking for a king? What kind of king are you waiting for? Unlike the people on the road to Jerusalem that day, we have to find the king of the cross today. In excitement and celebration, please don’t forget, “No cross, No crown!”

The Lord Needs It

The Lord Needs You - Audio Sermon On-line - Reverend KyungMo Koo