Luke 19:28-40
To Bear our Sin
Have you ever had to get a present for someone and not known what to get? This might be especially the case for getting something for adults, be they parents, friends, spouse, or grown children. We know to a certain extent that there’s almost an aging out of getting presents for birthdays or Christmas. This isn’t because no one wants to get gifts for you, but because you eventually reach a certain age or hopefully a certain level of wealth that anything you want, you’re able to buy for yourself. Presents for kids are so much different than presents for adults. Kids get things they can play with. They want toys, games, crafts, and so on. As an adult, gifts become things we need. It’s pots and pans. It’s maybe furniture or clothes. It’s simple things that fill a need in your life. But what about someone that has no needs? What about someone that already seems to have everything that they could possibly want or need? It becomes much more difficult. Imagine having to buy a present for someone who’s a billionaire. Don’t ask me what type of situation this would be... I know it’s not realistic... but back to the point... it would be really tough because we know they don’t need or want anything. But let me take it one step further. What about getting a present for God? How much more impossible of a situation is that? We know God is the creator of everything and has no need for gifts or presents. There’s nothing he could ever want that we would be able to give him, right?
Except today, we follow Jesus in his journey to Jerusalem. Jesus sets his face towards his ultimate fate where he’ll give up everything to us. But in the preparation, we hear Jesus say something we never would have expected. For let us hear and learn why as Jesus says:
THE LORD HAS NEED OF IT!
I.
Jesus knows this is his last stop on his journey. Once he enters Jerusalem, he won’t leave. We call this his triumphal entry; we celebrate like the crowds in the city with praises and singing. But Jesus knows these praises won’t last. For I wonder what all Jesus was feeling at this point. What was he thinking as he road throughout the city? Was he joyous? Was he celebrating? Or did the gloom and sadness of the coming days overwhelm him? Consider the way Jesus enters Jerusalem, as Jesus instructs, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it,” Luke 19:29-31. A donkey isn’t quite the noble steed of conquering kings that Shrek makes us believe. Donkeys were beasts of burden. They were used for farming, hauling, and other heavy manual labor. But this is also what the prophet Zechariah foretold: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey,” Zechariah 9:9.
The Lord has need of it. Yes, Jesus spoke rightly. He came to fulfill the Scriptures and hence, he needs his noble steed. But there’s something more to this than the surface level interpretation. We know what it’s like to be in need. We’re human. We need food, water, shelter, clothing, and so on. We need a job and companionship. To need something is an everyday occurrence for us. But not so much with God. God needs nothing. Thus, we must understand the level of humility that Jesus has taken. The fact that Jesus needs anything should speak volumes. For needs are a human thing… because they’re also a sin-thing. Being in need is the effect that sin has had upon us. Yet, as Paul writes, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men,” Philippians 2:5-7. As Jesus rides into Jerusalem, he does it in humility. He does it in need… not for his own needs… but ours.
II.
Jesus rides into Jerusalem in need. He rides in on a lowly donkey, a beast of burden. He rides in because he needs more than just the ride. He needs you and me. For the donkey isn’t the only one carrying a load. Rather, Jesus goes to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders. In this way, Jesus’ need isn’t just the donkey, but even our own sins. Jesus has need of them that he may take them to the cross! This is why Jesus finds himself in need. “God made him to be sin, who knew no sin…” (2 Corinthians 5:21). In Jesus’ humility, he becomes just as we are. He humbles himself to the lowest form of mankind, that he should become the worst of sinners. Even so, we hear the crowd say, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Luke 19:38. Yes… we need a king, but not just any king. We need one who comes in the name of the Lord… in the name of Yahweh. This is the great mystery of the incarnation brought front and center even this week. We need a man who can pay our debt, but we need God who can afford to pay it. We need God to so humble himself that he should come down to our level… and that’s Jesus!
The Lord has need of it…. And yes, we know that “it” is the donkey, yet it’s so much more also. It’s you and me. It’s his creation renewed. It’s salvation for all who believe. It’s a kingdom filled with people. Jesus rides into Jerusalem knowing full well what awaits him. He knows the sorrow and misery he must endure. But he also knows the end. For as Paul writes, “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross,” Philippians 2:8. Jesus needed to die so that you and me may be free! Jesus needed to be buried so that our sins may be buried too. Jesus needed to rise so that he may be king over all of creation, so that every knee should bow and every tongue confess that he is Lord!
Today begins the passion of our Lord. It begins his journey… a journey he takes for you. For our needs have become Christ’s needs. Our sins have become his sins… so that his death may become ours… and his victory should be our victory. So, Hosanna, we say! Save us, Lord! In Jesus’ name! Amen!