Matthew 21:1-11

One of my pet peeves is fickle fans, those people who support their team when times are good, but abandon them with things begin to go bad. Baseball fans who go to the ballpark to support the team are notoriously fickle. Our Scripture for today is about a fickle crowd.

As Jesus rode to Jerusalem the crowds were ecstatic in their praise: "HOSANNA! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD! HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST!"

Just a few days would pass before some of those same people would lift their voices in scorn:"CRUCIFY HIM! CRUCIFY HIM! WE HAVE NO KING BUT CAESAR!"

What could Jesus have done? The clue is in their expectation and the answer is in the donkey.

Expectations: Jesus came riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. But I am convinced that everyone saw a mighty horse instead.

The crowds who were there that day saw in Jesus their messiah riding into Jerusalem on a great and mighty steed. But Jesus came riding on a donkey.

The Pharisees who were there that day were afraid of Jesus. Jesus moved their cheese!

Even the disciples, who had been with Jesus throughout his ministry and had heard him speak, saw Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a might steed. But Jesus came riding on a donkey.

Jesus wouldn’t come riding into Jerusalem on a great and mighty horse. He couldn’t. He was a king who came gentle, riding on a donkey.

There is a fundamental difference between the kingdom of the king who rides on a steed and the kingdom of the king who rides on a donkey:

The king who rides on a steed says, "Power is the difference." The king who comes riding on a donkey says, "Power is made perfect in weakness."

The king who rides on a steed says, "You must climb to the top to lead." The king who comes riding on a donkey says, "The one who would be first must be servant of all."

The king who rides on a steed says, "The one with the most toys wins." The king who comes riding on a donkey says, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

The king who rides on a steed says, "Love your friends and hate your enemies." The king who comes riding on a donkey says, "Love your enemies, anyone can love friends."

The king who rides on a steed says, "Keep score of wrongs, you never know when you’ll need an edge." The king who comes riding on a donkey says, "When you are wronged, forgive and forgive and forgive and forgive …"

The king who rides on a steed says, "Take care of number one. After all, who will if you don’t?" The king who comes riding on a donkey says, "Consider the birds of the air and the lilies of the field, aren’t you more valuable than they? Your heavenly Father knows what you need."

The king who rides on a steed says, "To the victor go the spoils." The king who comes riding on a donkey says, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God."

The king who rides on a steed says, "Save your life." The king who comes riding on a donkey says, "The only way to save your life is to lose it for the king."

The kingdom of the king who rides the mighty steed … or the kingdom of the king who comes riding on the donkey. There really is a fundamental difference. Which will it be? You cannot be a citizen of both kingdoms!