Saint George's Anglican Church

 

 

In today's Epistle, we hear that Jesus "emptied Himself". What do you suppose that means? There is a saying that might help us, and I'm sure you know it. What do people think when they meet somebody who is conceited and proud? Quite often they think to themselves, "He is some full of himself!" In other words, he thinks that he is better than everyone else, and he acts like a 'know-it-all'. In contrast to that kind of arrogance, this morning's Gospel shows us the Lord Jesus dying on the Cross. There He is, the very Son of God, Who knows all things and has almighty power, riding into Jerusalem on a donkey to 'empty Himself'.....It is astonishing, if you stop and think about it, that Christ Jesus, 'being in the form of God', as the Epistle says -- that is, being pre-existent and Divine, of one substance with God the Father -- it truly is amazing that He emptied Himself and took up the form of a servant and was made Man.

 

Unfortunately, many of the people then -- including many of His disciples (as we saw last week with the sons of Zebedee) -- did not understand Jesus. Like us, they wanted what they wanted: they wanted freedom from the Roman rule; they wanted material comforts and earthly assurances; and they wanted physical signs and proofs. Like us, they were focused on the kingdom of this world -- the 'here and now', rather than the Kingdom of Heaven and the 'Jerusalem which is above'. That's why they lined the road on that first Pam Sunday and waved the palm branches and laid their coats on the ground for Jesus and His donkey to walk over. They did it because they wanted what He could give them then and there.

 

The loud 'Hosannas' which they yelled that day meant 'Save us now!' -- 'Give us success!' ...So they looked on Jesus as an earthly king who would restore the kingdom of Israel and win freedom for the Jewish people. But you would think that they would have thought differently when He chose a donkey instead of a horse. Unfortunately, they missed the significance of the donkey, or ignored it. Power, instead of peace with God, was on their mind; they decided to target the Roman government instead of the tyranny of Satan and his ally of sin. Like us, they were too full of themselves to understand the mission of Him Who emptied Himself.

 

Who would have thought that a donkey would have such an important role in the Story of the world's redemption? Just think: it was a donkey that carried our Saviour to Bethlehem while He was still in the womb of His blessed Mother. And it was also a donkey that carried Him into Jerusalem where He would die for us. But why? Why a donkey? Well, imagine how it would have looked if Jesus had chosen a horse? High in the saddle, trotting towards the holy city, with all the people cheering -- what a different picture from the lowly, slow-moving donkey. Writing in the fourth century, St. John Chrysostom laid out the comparison in this little illustration:

 

 

The point here is that the choice of the donkey was not a last-minute, random selection. Jesus wanted to send a message, a message that had been foretold of Him long ago by the Prophet Zechariah. Inspired by God to write this, he said, "Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Lo, your King comes to you; triumphant and victorious is He, humble and riding on an ass, on a colt the foal of an ass." (Zechariah 9.9) In this short prophecy we find a confirmation for all that has been said. Listen again: "triumphant and victoriuos is He, humble and riding on an ass...". Jesus chose a donkey to emphasize that the Way of Divine Charity is humble and low. And that was His way throughout His time on earth: He Who is Love Himself rode on a donkey. He was also born of the Virgin Mary, a little person by society's standards. He was born in a stable and laid in a manger. His disciples were common men, and He washed their feet. And, at the center of His mission were the great sufferings and agonies of the Cross. Although this emptying of self is scary to us, Jesus embraced it, trusting in God's invisible power. He knew that triumph and victory would come without a display of worldly might.

 

As we close, let us reflect for a minute about the signs of Christ's mission. The donkey was one -- what others have we missed? St. Paul, in urging us to think with the mind of Christ, calls us to look for the humble and lowly around us. His perfect Mind is always concerned with humilty and love and sacrifice and servanthood. But that worries us! Who wants heartache and misery and sadness? Don't worry. Instead, remember that after the Crucifixion came the Resurrection. And that is the second part of today's Epistle: St. Paul first speaks of Jesus emptying Himself, but he also reminds us how God "has highly exalted His Son and given Him the Name that is above every Name." Through Christ, death has been changed and defeated; the grave now leads to everlasting Life. Friends, with Him, let us empty ourselves so that we may also be filled with His peace. Let us take the lowly path so that He may one day lift us high. Let this mind be in you.