Don't Miss the Donkey: Embracing Jesus' Humble Path

But what fear does death hold if you've already surrendered your life? What fear does death hold if you've already surrendered your life? Death holds no fear for those who are already surrendered in Jesus. It is not the thing to fear to run away from, but we have no fear because we have already followed Jesus to that cross. And so he goes on from verse 23 and verse 24. Jesus says, for whoever tries to save their life will lose it. But whoever loses their life, whoever gives up their life, whoever surrenders their life for me will save it. You see, the thing that Jesus wants us to see and know and not miss today is that death in him is not an end to existence. It's the start of life. True life, full life, and abundance of life. This is what he wants us to see. [01:08:47] (68 seconds)  #SurrenderToLife

Rather than looking past this image of humility, seeing it as a nice add on to the story, a cute little addition, the kind of shtick of Jesus. He's always doing this humble thing. What if we took Jesus at his word? What if we listened to the words of Jesus and embodied them and carried them and lived them out? Luke nine twenty three, if anyone wants to be my disciple, Jesus says, they must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow me. Jesus' journey to the cross is a journey that we are asked to replicate in our lives. It's not just something he did for us. It's a story. It's a way. It's a life that we are to embody and live into as well if we had to be his disciple. [01:06:38] (59 seconds)  #TakeUpYourCross

Surely, these are the most terrifying words that we could read in all of the Bible. Surely, these are the most terrifying words that come out of the mouth of Jesus that many will fill the crowds. Many will fill the places of worship. Many will come and shout out his name and praise him and lift him up singing songs, walking the walk, talking the talk. Many will even be known for doing the sort of things that Jesus asks us to do, and yet, when it's all said and done, they'll be found wanting. You don't even know me. I never knew you, Jesus says. Like my bike shorts, once they come and they're open, they don't fit. It's too late. The time's passed. [01:04:35] (52 seconds)  #MoreThanLipService

And so, friend, what image are you holding of Jesus today? Who is he? What's his work? What's his goals? What's his ambition in your life? Or in other words, more bluntly, why are you here? Why'd you come? What difference is Jesus meant to make in your life? Who do you see him growing you to be? Are the answers to these questions images of loneliness, humility, service, and self sacrifice? Or if we're honest, would you love for him to do that work in someone else? And in you to do that amazing thing of power and strength and success and worth? [01:02:28] (64 seconds)  #WhoIsJesusToYou

They give thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars, but it means nothing to them. It doesn't affect their lives at all. And then he points to this poor old widow who comes into the temple, quietly flicks her last $2 into the offering plate. And he says, she is the model of faith. They give out of their wealth, but she gives her all. And in effect, Jesus says to anyone who's listening, are you in? Are you all in with me? Is every part of your life, every part of your being, are you all in with me, or are you gonna half do it like the rich who give out of their wealth? [01:00:53] (45 seconds)  #AllInNotHalfIn

And it is the vision, it is the image that he calls all who would name themselves Christians, followers of Jesus. It's the image he would call all of us too. It's not an image of bigger and better ways of life, but instead, it's an entirely upside down, inside out, back to front vision to all we have known and thought and understood that this kingdom of god that he has brought to into the world will not be like any other kingdom that we have ever encountered. The donkey matters. It is the pursuit of peacemaking, mourning, meekness, and humility. Jesus says, blessed is the people who embody these virtues. They will be the ones who inherit and who carry and who lead this kingdom. [00:57:13] (53 seconds)  #UpsideDownKingdom

The donkey matters because it's the symbol of another path, another way, another journey to fullness that goes beyond politics and power and wealth and instead works from the soul, from the inside out, that the world would be changed, redeemed, and set free as people themselves step into life. A life of fullness and abundance that is found through the practice of surrender. An all in, no holding back, all of life full hearted surrender. There is no other way. There is no other truth. There is no other life than the humble offering of a life like this. [01:09:55] (44 seconds)  #InnerSurrender

The vision, the meaning, the significance, the importance of the donkey, it matters. It's not just an incidental part to the story to look past and move on. It's not just a means of transportation from point a to point b from Jesus. It's not just that his legs were tired from walking so long. No. There is reason and meaning to the donkey in this story. It is the central image of what it is that Jesus is doing as he comes into Jerusalem. The underwhelm, the awkwardness, the frailty, the humble nature of the donkey, it matters. It is the picture that Jesus casts for himself in the middle of this royal procession. [00:56:30] (43 seconds)  #HumilityMatters