Monday’s thougths for the sermon
Sermon for April 1st; Palm Sunday
“Is This Trip Necessary?”
Something I’ve never looked at is the Palm Sunday event from the perspective of the owner of the donkey Jesus asked his disciples to “rent”.
It’s in the 19th Chapter of the Gospel of Luke. “When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the diciples, saying, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’”
This is an interesting story and it raises all kinds of questions.
Here are some of the issues the text presents:
1. Why did he choose to ride a colt that had never been ridden?
2. How did he know it would be there?
3. What was the owner of the donkey thinking and why did he permit them to borrow the animal?
4. Was the donkey ever returned?
5. If Jesus was a “Master” why wouldn’t he have had his own means of transportation and if he were a “Master” (i.e. wealthy) why would it have been a beast of burden?
This story and the implications of what was going through the owner of the donkey/colt is something I’ve never considered and I’ve been preaching Palm Sunday sermons for 37 years.
What do you think about it? If you have thoughts email me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net or if you are willing to have the congregation see your ideas and respond to you click the “comments” box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
