Category: Prophecy

  • Donkeys – Beasts of Burden – and a sign of Jesus

    donkey

    I’ve always had a soft spot for donkeys. It likely stems from a  giant stuffed donkey I had as a small child. Donkey-Burro was nearly as tall as I was and a constant companion.

    Donkeys and I have an affinity. I have never met one that didn’t like me. If there is more than one person around, the burros seem drawn to me.

    I remember one occasion in South Africa. The place we stayed had a donkey that I visited. Each time Kathy drew near, the donkey got between Kathy and me, moving her away so it could have my exclusive attention.

    Donkeys (or asses, in some older translations) appear in several places in the Scriptures. They are shown as beasts of burden, the mouthpieces of God (Balaam’s donkey), symbols of wealth (see Job), and symbols of peace. It’s the latter I want to touch on this morning.

    A donkey is used prophetically to symbolize the coming of the King of Peace.

    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 ESV

    We know from the gospels that this prophecy was fulfilled.

    Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’” The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Matthew 21:1-7 ESV

    The Jews were expecting a conquering, military messiah. That sort of king would ride in on a stallion, symbolizing wealth and military might.

    Instead, Jesus rode in on the donkey, a humble beast. He shattered their expectations and showed that He would be a different sort of king. He was a King of Peace, changing things by winning hearts and souls, not crushing them under His feet.

    There will be a return at the final judgment when all things are weighed and all of His enemies banished, a time when justice reigns perfectly and supremely, and a time where love conquers all.

    The humble beast brought the victor into Jerusalem that day. His ways are not our ways, and for that we can rejoice.

    The next time you see a donkey, remember the humble King of Kings and praise His name.

    Kevin

    Check these out

    Celebrate your identity in Jesus

    Why everyone knows – even if they deny it

    The burden of sin

  • Pin Oaks

    New Creations in Christ

    The pin oak is a tree common in the US that we do  not have in most of Canada. I find it fascinating because it often does not lose its leaves in the autumn. Instead, they fall off once the new growth starts in the spring, which pushes the old leaves off.

    I see a remarkable parallel between the pin oak and the Christian faith walk.

    We are new creations once we come to Jesus.

    All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.   2 Corinthians 5:18-19

    As new believers we are left with the old dead leaves of our sin and our past hanging on us. As we continue to draw closer to God and grow in maturity as Christians, He reveals the things that need changing, and with new growth in those areas, He pushes the old dead leaves off.

    The problem is that, as Christians, we often want to do God’s work for Him. We start trying to pull the old dead stuff off under our own power instead of allowing Him to work.

    We forget that He has a master plan. He knows the order in which He has decided for us to grow. Sometimes, parts of our lives must be transformed/healed /corrected before we can grow in other areas. 

    We get frustrated when we try to circumvent God’s plan by picking what we want to change. Our efforts often fail because new growth is not ready to push the old away in that area yet.

    Sometimes, God pushes large clumps of our dead leaves off at once, and sometimes, it is a leaf here and a leaf there. We need to learn to trust what He is doing in our lives.

    Our part is to draw close to Him. We need to start walking in obedience to what He has shown us, to praise, pray, and study His truth. Then, we get out of the way and let Him work on our lives. When the time is right, He will show us what and how to change the things that He has prepared for us.

    For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 NIV

    No two-pin oaks ever lose their leaves in precisely the same way. Why would we think that any two Christians would be transformed in precisely the same manner? He has created each of us individually, has a personalized plan for our lives, and draws each of us from a different place.

    Instead of comparing ourselves to others and plucking our leaves like theirs, we should trust God and let Him work in us according to His perfect plan.

    And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 NIV

    Oak trees do not mature overnight. It takes many seasons for a sapling to become a mighty oak. God is transforming you into an oak of righteousness, and that takes time.

    The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn: to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. Isaiah 61:1-3 NIV

    Until next time, rejoice in your uniqueness and let God work.

    Kevin

    You might also enjoy

    Your identity in Christ

    Your local church needs you

    Purpose in the process

    Profound Change