The New Testament Witness to Christ and His Kingdom, Student Workbook, SW13

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T H E N E W T E S T A M E N T W I T N E S S T O C H R I S T A N D H I S K I N G D O M

God enters into the great city–how does he do it? He borrows a donkey from a resident and comes into the cheering praises of the pilgrims entering the city for the annual Passover celebration. Where are the dignitaries, the glitz, the recognition, the hoopla? Where are the parades and tributes and monies and luxuries? The palms of trees, and coats of his disciples, the naysaying of his critics, and a donkey’s testimony? Like everything else in our Lord’s remarkable Messianic ministry, our Lord’s public announcement of his Messiahship to the nation at the capital is unceremonious and lowly. Who would think that the single greatest personage in the history of humankind would make his historic entry into the city as King on a donkey? The humility of our Lord is unfathomable and without equal; his willingness to serve the Father knows no bounds, and in his heart beats only one even pulse–the glory of his Father, the God of Israel. Do you, friend, have any idea what it means to have the same mind in you that was in Christ Jesus? Behold the grace, the humility, the lowliness, the meekness! Our Lord, the Most Famous of all, allowed himself to become a man, and as a man, humbled himself and became obedient to his Father, willing to enter into his city on a donkey, adorned with the good-will clothes of his rag-tag apostles, on a carpet of palm branches, with the pick-up band of the pilgrims. Nothing can describe the depths of love and lowliness of this gentle Carpenter, our Lord. Even in the face of such lowliness, the crowds cry out, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” Let’s join their cry, and demonstrate in every area of our lives our allegiance to this great King who is also the Suffering Servant of Yahweh God.

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After reciting and/or singing the Nicene Creed (located in the Appendix), pray the following prayer: O God, to save us you gave your Son to a painful death on the cross and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of the enemy. Grant us to die daily to sin that we may live closer to him, in the joy of the resurrection, through Christ our Lord.

Nicene Creed and Prayer

~ Gregory the Great. Praying with the Saints . p. 43.