Reading the story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem – perhaps for the thousandth time – instead of just focussing on the palms and the shouts of the crowd, it also got me thinking about the significance of the donkey. There are 94 donkeys mentioned in Scripture. Clearly, the most appropriate to the Gospel story is the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9, concerning the coming King: ‘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 prophesies that Jesus, the Saviour and Redeemer, will be victorious through service, humility and sacrifice as opposed to the expectation of Messiah as triumphant warlord, setting Israel free by virtue of military might. This is hardly what they expected – but such is the magnetism of Jesus that they can’t help but shout their praises – ‘Hosanna’ – meaning ‘Save us’ But there are other donkey stories relevant to our understanding; two in particular; the story of Balaam and the Nativity image of Joseph and Mary on the road to Bethlehem. Balaam is summoned by the wicked Moabite king Balak to curse Israel. He is prevented from so doing by his donkey, which refuses to pass the angel of the Lord on the road three times, and is cruelly beaten with sticks each time. But it is loyal to its master, and even speaks to him proclaiming the Word of the Lord to prevent him from a sinful act. We all know the picture of the Holy family; although not in scripture, the image is enduring – the donkey carries the saviour of the world to be born incarnate, a human being. And just as the donkey is a figure at the beginning of the Gospel story, so a donkey is present at its end. Loyalty despite unjust punishment. Beast of burden. Humility. The attributes of a donkey. The same attributes of our Lord, the King of Kings.

The raising of Lazarus. One of those Gospel stories that most people know, in particular including the famous ‘shortest verse in the Bible’: John 11:35 – ‘And Jesus wept’.

There are so many aspects to the story that can form the basis of a sermon, if not a full-blown detailed analysis of Jesus’ actions that would need a whole book. His friendships, not least including women; His anointing by Mary; the delay in His arrival; His willingness to face hatred and rejection; His prophetic proclamation that Lazarus is dead; Martha’s confession of trust in His God-given authority; His declaration that faith in Him will conquer death; His human emotions; the muttering doubt of the people; and then the earth-shattering demonstration of the Glory of God as He raises His voice to command Lazarus walk from death back to life.
But there is one detail that can often be overlooked in the midst of such drama.

Verse 16: Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow-disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with him.’

Thomas speaks with a sense of resigned inevitability – but is still prepared to follow Jesus without reservation. His response speaks volumes about Jesus’ leadership – and Thomas’ role in the disciples as well, in that when you might expect Peter to be the one who is prepared to rush headlong into trouble, it is Thomas – the one who would later look for concrete proof of resurrection – whose faith in Jesus will extend to accept suffering and potential martyrdom.

We have to ask ourselves if, like Thomas, we are prepared to follow Jesus at whatever cost, trusting that in walking in His light we are equipped to serve and proclaim salvation and freedom in His name.

Whoever we are, we share two things in common. The first is that we all had parents. Most of us – although sadly not all – have been blessed in them, and on this Mothering Sunday, we give thanks for their love, guidance and example. It’s important, because I also suspect that at times, we took them for granted; disobeyed; caused pain and heartache – perhaps mothers feel it most. It’s only really when you become a parent yourself that you realise the worries that go alongside the joys of parenthood. Worry about their safety, their vulnerability (they would deny that, but it’s a lot more true than they think), the decisions they make, the company they keep. We know the story of the Prodigal, and his fathers’ rejoicing on his return – but we don’t hear about the agony his mother would have felt when he was away. In Rembrandt’s famous painting, she is in the background (top left) – no doubt preparing the meal with tears of joy in her eyes. I hope that the son remembers to thank her too

This last week saw International Women’s Day – the vision being a world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. So our Gospel reading couldn’t really have been more appropriate. The story of the woman at the well has been described as one of the most significant to our understanding of the Gospel message.

Jesus asks for a drink of water. From a Samaritan. And a Samaritan woman at that. He would become ritually unclean. Even worse, she is living out of wedlock – she has to draw water in the hottest part of the day, because she would be shunned by the ‘ upright’ women getting their water in the cool of the early morning. None of this causes Jesus to reject her. She knows her history and her religious traditions, and He is prepared to engage her in conversation. She doesn’t appear to be fazed by Jesus, even though she recognises Him as a prophet; then when He declares Himself to be the Messiah she has heard about, she is prepared to accept Him for who He claims to be, to the extent she is prepared to testify to her neighbours, resulting in His invitation to stay – sharing the hospitality of Samaritans.

Shock! Horror! What will the disciples think? What if the Jewish leaders hear what Jesus is up to now?

Jesus doesn’t care. When she woke that morning, she had no inkling that her life would change forever. He gives her the gift of life for her future. He doesn’t care about our past, either – He waits to meet us where we are, whoever we are. Women. Sinners. Foreigners. Heretics. Proselytes. He treats everyone equally – condemning the hypocrites irrespective of rank or title, eating with tax collectors, talking to women, healing the ritually unclean.

Jesus’ world is now, and has always been, free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. Let our world be the same.