Many, many years ago a poor man from a very small town rode into a big city on a borrowed donkey.  The story of that ride is more famous than “the midnight ride of Paul Revere”.  It is the world’s most famous donkey ride and is remembered and celebrated every year by several billion people worldwide.  But why? 

The man on the donkey was a miracle worker.  He had helped and encouraged and healed hundreds of people.  And most of them were very grateful. 

The donkey rider was also a teacher.  He had told the people many beautiful and inspiring stories with powerful lessons about how to live a happy and productive life.  And many people were inspired. 

The donkey’s passenger was a compassionate man who made people feel important because he showed them so much love.  He sincerely cared about the broken, the discouraged, the homeless, the immoral, and other rejects of society.  And many people felt loved for the first time in their lives in his presence. 

The One mounted on the donkey claimed to be God in human flesh — but how?  Look at Him — a poor carpenter, without formal education, with no religious credentials, from the wrong side of the tracks, associating with sinners and those half-breed Samaritans.  God in the flesh?  But . . . 

But something made His claim ring true.  There was a mysterious sense of awe about Him.  People acted differently, acted better, in His Presence.  And many in meeting Him were changed for the rest of their lives.  Some explained it this way:  “All I know is that once I was blind but now I see.” 

So it is no wonder that a crowd gathered that day to watch that Donkey Rider enter Jerusalem.  And it is easy to understand their enthusiasm for His ride as they rejoiced and shouted and acted like Pentecostals or American football fans. 

Some religious folks along the way, however, objected to the celebration.  (It just wasn’t proper.)  They even told Jesus to tell His followers to be quiet.  But Jesus told them that if His followers got quiet, the rocks would cry out.  Christians are so quiet and reserved nowadays that I often think that somewhere in the world a bunch of rocks are ”getting down” loudly praising the Lord. 

Oh yeah, did I mention that the people were also laying palm leaves in front of the donkey to honor the Rider?  And also, it happened on a Sunday, the first day of the week.  That is why we call the day we remember that ride, Palm Sunday.  Got it?

Five days later, the Donkey Rider was dead.  He was crucified on a Roman cross on the day we all call Good Friday.   

Well, you may have the historical details now, but actually there is much more to the One on the donkey than that!  The Donkey Rider lives today and He rides in your world — at your job, in your house, and even in the places where you don’t want Him to see you.  Will you praise Him, honor Him, and obey Him with your lifestyle?  Or will you watch and criticize those who do praise and obey Him?  Or will you ignore Him?  Or will you yell “Crucify Him” and try to ”eradicate” His memory with the angry crowd?