When King Jesus Sends, His Disciples Go and Do.

When King Jesus Sends, 

His Disciples Go and Do.

Serving Him Makes Even the Menial Meaningful. – from Matt. 21:1-11

“So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them.” (NKJV)

In the middle of Matthew’s telling of the “Triumphal Entry” of Jesus into Jerusalem, Palm Sunday, we read: “The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them” (21:6 - NIV). That is pretty straightforward. Even the Greek is simple: πορευθέντες δὲ οἱ μαθηταὶ καὶ ποιήσαντες καθὼς συνέταξεν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς. (Don’t be too impressed, I cut and pasted.)

 “The disciples went and did exactly what Jesus told them to do.” (The Message)

This is not just filler, or merely some literary device to move the narrative along. This simply profound verse could be one’s life verse. Hardly incidental, it is monumental. Jesus gives the orders. We go and do. What a wonderfully basic, bottom-line, bare-boned life-mission statement.  Does this describe your discipleship? 

“The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them.” (ESV)

            Jesus regal entrance to Jerusalem – finally - is about celebration & expectation. After years of trying to keep His Messiah-ship secret – “don’t tell anyone” - Jesus now parades His identity for all to see. “Here I am." This palm branch parade has many powerful points.  Jesus proclaims His:

Ø  Messianic Majesty: “your King comes”, cloaks & branches (Is. 62:11; 2 Kings 9:13)

Ø  Praise Worthiness: “Hosanna!” Lord Save! (Jer. 31:7; Lk. 19:37-40)

Ø  Surprising Humility:  “on a donkey” (Zech. 9:9) A horse later! (Rev. 19:11-16)

Ø  Salvation Has Come!  (Ps. 118:25, 26; Mt. 1:21; Rev. 19:11)

Let’s be clear: the Disciples are NOT the point of this story, or any story; nor are the adoring crowds, adorable donkeys, or the palm branches. Jesus is. As has been said, history is His Story.  Yet…

To be faithful in our supporting role in His story:

Ø  Do even the odd, awkward:  “Go heist two donkeys.”  Not really, but may have felt awkward.

Ø  Do the seeming menial: “Bring them to Me.” Not a bad way to live! (Col. 1:16-18)

Ø  Go Where He sends you: They went, untied, brought them & prepared for His parade. His will, His way: how, when, where, what…  (compare 1 Sam. 3:7-11; and 15:1-35)

When we go and do just as Jesus instructs, We:

Ø  Prepare for His presence:  Matt 5:13-16, Acts 1:7-9

Ø  Proclaim Him “Lord”:  Matt. 21:6-11; Read Acts 1-28!

Ø  Fulfill His Word:    2 Peter; Jude; 2 Thess.

Ø  Are doing what should be assumed of us: Luke 6:46-49; 17:7-10

Ø  Are in good company: Noah, Abram, Moses, friendship with Jesus (Gen. 6:22; 12:4; Ex. 40:16; John 15:14; Heb. 11)

Lord, let it be said of YOUR disciples at CCF, that we

“did as Jesus commanded.” (NLT)