Gentle Mastery

“If Jesus rode down your street and pride stood in the way of your praise, would you lay it down before Him?” – from today’s sermon

To say Jesus thought outside the box would be the understatement of two millennia.

He needs a donkey. Does He dial 1-800-IDONKEY? Oh no. He sends two disciples to gently seize one. “It’s OK,” He tells them. “If anyone asks you about it, just tell them the Master needs it.”

Jesus never said that following Him would never involve awkward situations. But He certainly anticipated the potential awkwardness and gave them a ready-and abundantly true-answer. After all, He was the Master, and by gum, He needed a donkey!

This is the paradox: Jesus is Master of all, yet He comes gently.

He comes with an open heart, seeking those with open hearts. He could claim all; He could charge into our lives with all the force of a Roman potentate, seizing authority.

Instead, He comes peacefully, on a donkey, inviting us to share in the peace and joy which only He can offer.

As the preacher shared this morning about the people of that time: “They didn’t know what kind of Messiah was coming, but they knew what kind of Messiah they wanted.”

Perhaps I pictured a God who would take over my life by force; perhaps it’s tempting to ignore Christ’s gentle invitation because so many other vain things cry louder and tug harder.

Then may my false expectations be swept up into this true One-this one who rides gently on a donkey, glorifying His Father at every step, ushering in salvation to His people.

Pride, fear-whatever it is that’s keeping you and me on the outskirts of this crowd-let’s throw it away. Let’s take our cloaks, let’s take our throats, let’s offer everything to our Master!!

These thoughts were set in motion by today’s Palm Sunday sermon. As you left church this morning, did any insights from your service start nurdling around in your subconscious?