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INJ
St Matthew
21:1-11
The King on the Borrowed
Burro
1st Sunday in Advent
27
November 2005
Hope Lutheran Church
Aurora,
CO
Dear Saints of God,
From ancient times the church has
heard on the first Sunday in Advent the account of Jesus' triumphal entry into
Jerusalem, recorded in St Matthew 21:1-11. These words we will consider under
the theme: The King on the Borrowed Burro.
Alexander the Great, the warrior and
king of the ancient world, entered Babylon as their new king. The ancient
historian Rufus describes the scene for us:
A large number of the
Babylonians had taken up a position on the walls, eager to have a view of their
new king, but most went out to meet him, including the man in charge of the
citadel and royal treasury, Bagophanes. Not to be outdone by Mazaeus in paying
his respects to Alexander, Bagophanes had carpeted the whole road with flowers
and garlands and set up at intervals on both sides silver altars heaped not just
with frankincense but with all manner of perfumes. Following him were his gifts
- herds of cattle and horses, and lions, too, and leopards, carried along in
cages. Next came the Magians chanting a song in their native fashion,
and behind them were the Chaldaeans, then the Babylonians, represented not only
by priests but also by musicians equipped with their national instrument. At the
rear came the Babylonian cavalry... Surrounded by an armed guard, the king
instructed the townspeople to follow at the rear of his infantry; then he
entered the city on a chariot and went into the palace.
Now this is the entrance of a king.
Riding on a chariot, surrounded by mounted soldiers in full military regalia.
Followed by legions of infantry men, and then herds of cattle and horses and
even lions and leopards. The incense is burning, the choirs are singing, the
people are crammed on the top of the city walls to get a look at this triumphal
entry of Alexander, and the vision they saw inspired awe and fear at the
greatness and might of this new king. So it is with kings of this world; they
come with great pomp and might and glory and power. The greater the army, the
greater the calvary, then the greater the king.
Now enters Jesus. He makes His
triumphal entry, “lowly, riding on a donkey,” and it's not even His donkey. It's
a borrowed burro. Jesus enters Jerusalem humble, poor, as a beggar. He has no
spurs or saddle, the disciples let Jesus borrow their cloaks to lay them on the
donkey. He has no chariot or war horse; no armies, no sword, no might, no glory.
No outward pomp to inspire awe or fear. Jesus and His kingdom comes with great
meekness, with great humility, with nothing to dazzle the eyes, nothing amazing
to touch.
All we have to indicate what a
marvelous event is Jesus' triumphal entry are the simple and wonderful words of
the prophet Zechariah:
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter
of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you;
Righteous and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal
of a donkey.” [Zechariah 9:9]
The Word of God, that is the only way
we know that this Jesus, riding on a borrowed donkey, is the King of kings and
Lord of lords, that He is the Son of God, begotten, not made, of one substance
with the Father. It the the God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God
riding on a donkey. It is the Author of Life riding to His death. Jesus' kingdom
is a hidden kingdom, a kingdom not of this world, a kingdom not see with eyes.
His kingdom is heard and believed. Jesus comes lowly, humbly,
hidden.
This hidden kingdom still comes.
Hidden in the same words and promises of the Holy Scriptures. Hidden in water,
and bread and wine. There is no glory in the font, no splendor in the sacrament
of the altar. The word of the Gospel goes out not with the strength of horses or
armies or the sword, but in humble, lowly preaching. We must impress this on our
hearts, for Jesus' kingdom, His church, is so very easy to despise.
Our sinful flesh will never be
content with the lowliness and meekness of Jesus' kingdom. We want a church we
can be proud of, a church we can brag about to our friends. “Look at how big the
Missouri Synod is! Look at how fast Hope is growing!” We want a more glorious
kingdom, a more splendid church, a more impressive worship, lives without sin,
and sickness, and pain... We want a more powerful king.
But our Beggar-King comes only with
the glory of His Word and the splendor of the forgiveness of sins and the power
of the Gospel.
Why does Jesus come in such meekness
and humility? He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death,
even the death of the cross. He comes in humility because He comes to die.
He comes in meekness because He comes with the cross, and He comes with the
cross because there, on the cross, He won for us Righteousness and Salvation.
Behold, your King is coming to you; Righteous and having salvation. He
comes with the gifts of life, salvation, and the forgiveness of sins, gifts
greater than any earthly king could give. The treasures of heaven, wrapped up in
the humble things of earth, water, and bread and wine.
This is the way Jesus would have it,
for He is the lowly, humble, meek King, the King on a borrowed burro, the king
crowned with thorns, mocked, beaten and murdered. This is our only King and
Lord, and this, dear saints, is our salvation: that we believe and cling to this
lowly King, that we trust in His promise of salvation, and this faith He reckons
to us as Righteousness and Perfection, taking away all of our sin. And so we
live under Him in His kingdom by continuing to receive His gifts.
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of
Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you;
Righteous and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey.
Amen. Come Lord Jesus.
Amen.
+ + +
Pastor Wolfmueller
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