Many years ago, the King of Greece and his family wanted to see America, and boarded a ship to sail to the new world.  The king had a dog he was rather fond of, and while on the ship, the king’s son would walk the family’s beloved pet.  At first, the dog was a bit wary on the ship’s swaying deck, but he eventually became used to it, and got braver, running and playing around.

One day, the ship was in choppy water, and the dog was running on the hardwood deck.  A little too close to the edge, he jumped, and when he landed, he slid into the ocean.  The king’s son ran and told the Captain of the ocean liner about the dog going over, and about how much the king’s family loved that pet dog.  But the captain refused to turn it around for a “dumb old” dog.  The son said, “It isn’t a “dumb old” dog, it’s the King’s pet!”  The captain replied, “I’m sorry, you should have been more careful!  But I cannot turn this great ship around for a dog!”

The son started running as fast as he could toward the back of the ship.  He could see the swimming dog in the distance.  He pulled his shoes off, grabbed a life jacket, and jumped off the back of the ship.  The crew started yelling, “MAN OVERBOARD!  MAN OVERBOARD!”  The Captain turned the ship around and went to save the boy.  When they found him floating in his life jacket, he had the dog safe in his arms.

This story is very similar to the story we’re part of.  Doesn’t it remind us Jesus and his love for us?  Jesus’ passion and desire to save a lost, hopeless, worthless, drowning humanity?  Jesus said: “Father, I will!  I’ll go and give myself for them!” He was willing to leave the “safety of the ship,” the safe dwelling with his Father, the glory of heaven, to dive down here and save us.  His determination to do that is made clear by his entrance into Jerusalem today on a donkey.

In a Peanuts cartoon, Charlie Brown and Linus are standing next to each other, staring at a star-filled sky.  “Would you like to see a falling star?” Charlie Brown asks Linus.  “Sure…” Linus responds.  “Then again, I don’t know,” he adds, after some thought.  “I’d hate to have it fall just on my account.”  Well, my friends, a “star” did fall on our account!  All because of us.  God came down to us in person.  He gave up his place with God.  He humbled Himself completely.  Jesus was led like a lamb to the slaughter.  He died on our account.  A “star” fell on our account.  What humility!  What love!  And what amazing things He accomplished for us!

Today’s scene pictures Jesus, almost at the end of his journey, entering Jerusalem for the last time.  The ultimate humility is coming.  But look at Jesus’ attitude on Palm Sunday:  A Roman leader would have entered on a chariot pulled by magnificent stallions… Jesus entered the city on a donkey.  A borrowed one.  A political leader would have been surrounded by security guards who would have kept crowds from close physical contact to prevent any personal harm to him… Jesus was surrounded by his disciples representing many walks of life and rode into the midst of the people, almost at their height.

A military leader would have galloped along the road, passing the crowds with perhaps a wave of the hand or nod of the head if anything at all… Jesus on a donkey moved slowly with the people, accompanying the people, as well as being accompanied by them.  A religious leader in priestly robes would have moved sedately through the crowds surrounded by religious leaders who would’ve prevented anyone unclean from touching him… Jesus, dressed in his usual attire, moved humbly through the crowds, surrounded by his diverse band of disciples, not shrinking from the touch of anyone.

Now, we do see and hear the people praising Jesus on Palm Sunday.  Giving Him, as best they could, a king’s treatment.  Palm branches. Cloaks.  But do you see the humility of it?  Do you see Jesus’ attitude?  He didn’t let the praise go to his head.  He knew what was coming.  He knew what was in their hearts.  He knew what He had to do.  He didn’t try to rise above it or get out of it.  He calmly rode forward, turning Himself in.  Every step that donkey took carried Jesus one step further in his obedience to God.  In his obedience to death.  His death on a cross for us.

See Jesus’ humility?  “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”  It’s easy for us to be critical of the way Jerusalem treated Jesus.  But let’s be honest:  What city even today wouldn’t be shaken a bit by Jesus’ entry into it?  Imagine Jesus entering Toronto,  Montreal, New York, London, or even Mississauga.  Oh, I’m sure we would welcome Him with our hosannas – at first, anyway.  We’d line up the streets and have a grand parade right down Hurontario St.  But I’m equally sure that by the end of the week, we’d nail Him to a cross, too.

Why?  Because the kingdom Jesus came to establish still threatens the kingdoms of this world!  Your kingdom and mine!  The kingdoms where greed, power, and lust rule instead of grace, mercy, and peace.  Who among us really want to surrender our lives to that kingdom?  I know the new person that Christ created inside each of us wants to.  But what about that other person in us?  That sinful nature?  The old Adam?  That part of us doesn’t want to give up what’s coming to us, does it?  Material comfort.  The easy life.  Influence in this world.  Selfish pleasures above anything else.  That part of us doesn’t want to live Jesus’ way - submitting ourselves to others, putting the interests of others before our own.  God first in our lives.  Humility.  But friends: “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus!”

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.  Jesus was still God!  Being God, He had all divine powers at his disposal!  It just wasn’t something He held on to.  He didn’t display that “trophy” in his case.  And it may have made it difficult for people to accept his deity – his outward appearance just didn’t show that He was equal to God.  But made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  Jesus didn’t empty Himself of his deity, his status as God.  He just emptied Himself of the full use of his power as God.  He was a King who exchanged his kingly robes for sackcloth.  God became man in every sense but sin.  Now that is humility!

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross.  Jesus’ humiliation went all the way!  To death on a cross!  Notice, our Lord chose this!  Jesus was obedient!  No one did this to Him!  Jesus chose to do this!  He said in John 10:18: “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life – only to take it up again.  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.”  Jesus chose to give his life up at that humiliating cross because He was obeying his Father.  Even if it meant sacrificing his life!  Your attitude should be the same!

At a pee-wee baseball game, a young boy got up to the plate, looked over to the coach, and saw him give the signal to sacrifice bunt.  He then promptly proceeded to take three big swings and strike out.  The coach ran up to him and said:  “Didn’t you see me give you the signal to sacrifice?”  “Yes,” the boy replied.  “But I didn’t really think you meant it.”  Isn’t that what we so often say to God?  “Yes, Lord, I heard that talk about sacrifice… but I really didn’t think You meant it.  Yes, I heard that You want me to give up the temporary, fleeting things of this world.  I know you want me to give up putting all of my needs and wants first, so that I can think of You and the people around me instead.  I know you asked me to sacrifice pride and ego, but I didn’t really think You meant it!”  Friends, the Cross says emphatically that Jesus did mean it!

And “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”  Look what happened when Jesus obeyed his heavenly Father.  God exalted Him!  He rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and sits at God’s right hand in eternity!  Our text puts it this way:  “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord…” but friends, here’s the kicker…  “to the glory of God the Father.”  When Jesus is confessed as Lord, God the Father ultimately receives the praise!  From beginning to end, Jesus humbly serves to glorify his Father!

So don’t ever forget, my friends: Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus!  If Jesus lives to glorify God the Father, than we better believe that is our purpose here!  Let’s learn from Jesus!  Let’s imitate his attitude!  With God’s help, let’s become more and more like Him!  You’re probably feeling pretty bad now, aren’t you?  Because you and I have done a terrible job at this.  But friends, as you read this text, as you picture Jesus riding along on that donkey, know this:  His obedience to God by doing all that was for you!  He was being perfectly humble to make up for the times you haven’t.  He was obedient to death on the cross to pay for the times that pride and selfishness ruled your day.  He did that for you.  Out of love for you.  And because of Him, God has exalted you to the status of his forgiven child!

And how can you thank Him?  Make your attitude be the same as Jesus’ is.  One morning, a donkey woke up, his mind still savoring the afterglow of the most exciting day of his life. Never before had he felt such a rush of pleasure and pride. He walked into town and found a group of people by the well. “I’ll show myself to them,” he thought. But they didn’t notice him. They went on drawing their water and paid him no mind. “Throw your garments down,” he said crossly. “Don’t you know who I am?” They just looked at him in amazement. Someone slapped him across the tail and ordered him to move. “Miserable heathens!” he muttered to himself. “I’ll just go to the market where the good people are. They will remember me.” But the same thing happened. No one paid any attention to the donkey as he strutted down the main street. “Where are the palm branches!” he shouted. “Yesterday, you threw palm branches!”

Hurt and confused, the donkey returned home to his mother.  “Foolish child,” she said gently. “Don’t you realize that without Him, you are just an ordinary donkey?”  Just like the donkey who carried Jesus in Jerusalem, we are most fulfilled when we are in the service of Jesus Christ. Without Him, we are just ordinary donkeys. When we lift up Christ, however, we are no longer ordinary people, but key players in God’s plan to redeem the world!  Friends, you are not worthless!  You are the opposite!  Exalted by God as his forgiven children!  You matter to Him deeply!  And you are part of his plan!  He is using you to carry Jesus to the world!  Nothing in this world is more valuable than you!  But just remember, without Him, you are nothing.  So, you want to honour God?  Then let your attitude be the same as that of Christ Jesus.   Amen.