“TALENT ON LOAN FROM GOD!”

Mark 11:1-11

INTRODUCTION:

            Any Rush Limbaugh fans here, this morning?  Rush Limbaugh has a classic saying.  Every day, in his less than humble opinion, he spews forth a description of himself: “talent on loan from God.” 

            Rush is a little like the well-known Christian businessman who was visiting a church. While there, he was asked to give his testimony.  He said, “I have a fine family, a large house, a successful business, and a good reputation.  I have plenty of money, so I can support some Christian ministries very generously.  Many organizations want me on their board of directors.  I have good health and almost unlimited opportunities.  What more could I ask from God?”

            As he paused for effect, a voice shouted from the back of the auditorium, “How about asking Him for a good dose of humility?”

            Truth be known, we could all make the same Rush Limbaugh statement because we all come as “talent on loan from God.”  But hopefully, we can be much more humble in sharing the fact with the world. 

            This morning, we are sharing a story of “the absolutely greatest talent on loan from God” there ever was.  That “talent on loan from God” was Jesus Christ.  Jesus’ talent was such that no other person in the history of mankind could ever have it.  Jesus talent was being the sacrificial Lamb for our salvation. 

Remember the story of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22?  God tested Abraham by telling him to sacrifice his only son.  Remember Isaac asking his father where the lamb was for the burnt offering?  Abraham answered, “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.”  God was providing that Lamb on that Palm Sunday.  Jesus was truly “talent on loan from God.”    

SO WHAT?—He entered Jerusalem as a humble servant:

            Jesus entered Jerusalem as a humble servant.  He was certainly not doing his Rush Limbaugh imitation, was he?  Rush Limbaugh would never lower himself to riding a donkey colt into town—no matter what the circumstances—you can be sure of that!  His ego wouldn’t have permitted it.  He would have been on the biggest, baddest horse he could have found.

            Well, what is this humble ride into Jerusalem all about?  And why were people praising Jesus as he rode in?  We have been studying Mark’s Gospel for about a year now.  We are very familiar with what Jesus had been doing, aren’t we?  He had been preaching, teaching, healing, and driving out demons.  The crowds who came to him were getting larger/larger wherever he went.  Many followed him from town to town. 

            Now he comes to Jerusalem from where he had been working in the area of Galilee.  Many of these people followed him to Jerusalem.  It was the Holliday of the Passover which we know went way back to the time of the Exodus.  And, it was the custom for Jews from all over to go to Jerusalem during the Passover Feast. 

            And, that is what the people following Jesus had on their minds—going to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast.  Of course, Jesus had something totally different in mind, didn’t he?  He knew what the week of Passover would bring for him.  So, here are all these people following Jesus, all in a festive mood.  Jesus was their hero—they knew the powers he had. 

            Just outside of Jerusalem, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples to get a donkey colt.  Jesus said the colt would be ready for him.  V.3 says, “If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”  They returned with the colt, and Jesus mounted him for the ride into Jerusalem.

            Jesus enters Jerusalem in dignity/grace.  Riding the donkey was a contrast from Roman emperors riding into town on a prancing horse, riding ahead of his warriors and those whom were conquered.  Jesus on a donkey was a symbol of peace, not war; of humility, not pride.  Behind him came his disciples, a rabble of common folk whom he had healed and set free.  He entered Jerusalem as a humble servant!

HERE’S WHAT!—He Ushered In The Beginning Of His Kingdom:

            As Jesus rode on the donkey, the people were aware of the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9: “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 donkey was considered to be the beast of the Messiah. 

            The action of the crowd was spontaneous.  They knew of God’s long awaited promise of a Messiah.  This had to be him—it just had to be.  It was!  But, they had the wrong idea of what the Messiah was all about.  They thought he was there to usher in an earthly kingdom.  The return of David’s kingdom was finally here!  Jesus would drive the hated Roman army from their land!  They would be free forever more!    

            No wonder they cried out, “Hosanna!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!  Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!  Hosanna in the highest!”  Can’t you just feel the excitement as they entered Jerusalem?  And the closer they got, the more the crowd gathered.  And, the more the excitement became. 

            Jesus was ushering in a kingdom when he entered Jerusalem.  But, not a kingdom like they expected.  Jesus was ushering in the beginning of his heavenly kingdom—a kingdom far greater than they could ever have expected. 

The people following Jesus were kind of like a young farm boy who lived on the outskirts of town.  He was coming home from school one day.  And, he saw some men putting up a poster on a fence.  He hung around until they finished, and he went over to read it.  It told of a real live circus coming to town—one that had animals and everything!  The boy rushed home and told his father and asked if he could go.  The father knew they didn’t have much money, but told the boy he could go anyway.

            Come the day of the circus, the boy hurriedly finished all his chores and then changed clothes.  He went to his father and asked if he could go.  His father smiled and handed him a dollar.  That was more money than the boy had ever seen before.  His father told him to have a good time and to be careful.  Off the boy ran to town.

            When he got there, he saw the whole town standing on either side of the road.  And, then he heard the noises.  Here came the circus!  His heart raced.  And, his eyes got big as the band played their instruments as they walked past him on the road.  Next, came some animals in cages.  He was scared, but he stood his ground.  How exciting this was! 

Then, group after group, all kinds of neat people and things came by.  This lasted for the longest time.  And then, at the very end was a clown, all by himself.  He had the traditional clown garb on—complete with painted face and big floppy shoes. 

When the boy saw the clown, he ran to him and gave him the dollar.  Then the boy went home satisfied.  He only saw the parade, and he thought it was the circus!

And, that is what happened with those who followed Jesus into Jerusalem that day.  They thought this was the beginning of a great earthly kingdom.  They had no idea what really was there for them.

NOW WHAT?—He Will Return Someday As Our Eternal King:

Just like the boy who thought he had seen the whole show, it was as if they gave their dollar to the clown and went home.  After his triumphal entry, the rest of the week went downhill pretty fast, didn’t it?  What a let down after such a great promise. 

And you know what?  A lot of Christians, today, have the same attitude as those people with Jesus that day.  They know that people praised Jesus as he went into Jerusalem that day as a humble servant.  They know he ushered in the beginning of his kingdom.  But, NOW WHAT?  Are we to continue praising Jesus for what he did for us that day? 

Yes we are because what Jesus did that day was just the parade.  The real show is yet to come!  Jesus will return someday as our eternal king.  Jesus is coming back to get us—all who believe in him.  And, he is taking us to our eternal home.  We will spend eternity worshiping him in all his glory.

Jesus says in John 14, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in me.  In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for you.  I WILL COME BACK AND TAKE YOU TO BE WITH ME THAT YOU ALSO MAY BE WHERE I AM.”  Are you ready for him to return someday to get you?  Are you ready for him to return as your eternal king?

CONCLUSION:

            People praised Jesus as he humbly rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.  He was the servant sent from God to save us.  When he rode in that day, he ushered in the beginning of his kingdom.  Thankfully, it wasn’t the earthly kingdom the people thought it was.  Jesus will return someday as our eternal king.  Keep praising him until he returns.

            An old farmer had a grandfather clock that went haywire.  It chimed 14 times one midnight.  He jumped up out of bed and said, “Wake up, Nellie, it’s later than it’s ever been before.”  Yes, it is later than it has ever been before!

            The very last 2 verses of Scripture in Revelation say, “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.  Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus.  The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people.  Amen.’” 

            What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see.  Please stand as we sing Hymn #762—“What a Day That Will Be”