Palm Sunday Message: From Worthless to God’s Glory
Scripture Focus: Mark 11:1-11

Scripture: “If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.” “ (Matthew 21:3, NLT)

Introduction: The Donkey’s Divine Moment

Today, we celebrate Palm Sunday, also known as Hosanna Sunday—a day of prophetic fulfillment, divine purpose, and triumphant praise! As Jesus entered Jerusalem, the crowds cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Mark 11:9). But this was more than just a celebration—it was a declaration of God’s sovereignty, humble obedience, and the power of surrender.

Palm Sunday is a day of celebration. A King rides into Jerusalem not on a warhorse but on a donkey. Crowds wave palm branches, shouting “Hosanna!”—a cry for salvation—yet within days, those same voices will demand crucifixion. At the center of this sacred drama is an unlikely hero: a donkey. Not a majestic stallion, not a symbol of power, but a humble, unridden colt. Tied up, forgotten, and dismissed as useless, this donkey becomes the chosen vessel to carry the Messiah into His city. Its story is a mirror for our souls.

How many of us feel like that donkey? Tied down by fear, insecurity, or shame. Stuck in cycles of failure or comparison. Overlooked, undervalued, or convinced we have nothing to offer. Yet, Palm Sunday proclaims a radical truth: God specializes in redeeming what the world discards. That donkey’s moment of purpose did not begin when it carried Jesus—it began when Jesus said, “Bring it to Me”(Mark 11:2). The disciples’ obedience to untie it (v. 4) was the first step in a divine reversal: the “worthless” became worshipful, the forgotten became foundational.

This is the heart of the Gospel. Jesus doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called. He doesn’t demand perfection; He invites participation. That colt, bound and sidelined, was never truly forgotten. God had marked it for a prophetic purpose centuries earlier (Zechariah 9:9). In the same way, your hidden struggles, silent tears, and seasons of waiting are not wasted. They are preparation. Palm Sunday invites us to see ourselves through Heaven’s lens: You are not defined by your past, your pain, or your limitations. You are defined by the One who calls you.

Today, as we celebrate Jesus’s triumphant entry, let’s also celebrate His triumph in us. The same power that transformed a donkey into a royal steed is at work in your life. Your story, like that colt’s, is proof that God’s glory shines brightest through surrendered hearts and unlikely vessels.

1. Divine Selection: God Chooses the Unlikely

In Mark 11:2, Jesus directs His disciples to a village where a colt, “one that has never been ridden,” is tied. This donkey, overlooked and seemingly insignificant, was chosen to fulfill prophecy (Zechariah 9:9). Its story mirrors our lives: God often selects what the world dismisses. The donkey wasn’t bred for royalty—it was ordinary, even disposable. Yet Jesus declared, “The Lord needs it” (v. 3).

Many of us feel unqualified for God’s work. We fixate on our flaws, past mistakes, or lack of resources. But divine selection isn’t about human merit—it’s about God’s sovereignty. Consider David, the shepherd boy turned king, or Rahab, the prostitute turned heroine of faith. God’s choice defies logic. That donkey, once ignored, carried the King of Kings into Jerusalem. Likewise, Jesus looks at you and says, “I need you.” Your insecurities don’t disqualify you; your ordinary life is a blank canvas for His glory.

Reflection: Are you resisting God’s call because you feel inadequate? Remember: He doesn’t call the equipped—He equips the called. Your value isn’t in your résumé but in His redemption.

2. The Preparation Process: Hidden Years Have Purpose

Before the donkey carried Jesus, it was tied up, unnoticed. Its “hidden years” were not wasted. The disciples had to untie it (v. 4), facing questions from bystanders (v. 5). Similarly, God uses seasons of waiting, failure, or obscurity to prepare us. Joseph’s prison years forged his leadership. Moses’s exile in Midian cultivated humility.

You may feel stuck in a dead-end job, a broken relationship, or a cycle of regret. But God is loosening the ropes that bind you. The donkey’s ties weren’t removed by chance—they were severed for a purpose. Your trials are training grounds. When Jesus says, “Bring it to Me,” He redeems your pain, your waiting, your silence. Those years of feeling forgotten? They’re building resilience for your divine assignment.

Reflection: What “ties” are holding you back? Trust that God is working in your hiddenness. Even now, He’s preparing you to carry His presence.

3. Surrender: The Pathway to Purpose

The donkey didn’t kick or resist—it surrendered to Jesus’ use. Its submission transformed a mundane task into one of eternal significance. Surrender isn’t passive resignation; it’s active trust. Like Mary saying, “Let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38), surrender unlocks destiny.

We cling to control, fearing God’s plan might cost us comfort. But true freedom comes when we release our plans to Him. The donkey’s surrender didn’t diminish it—it elevated its purpose. When we say, “Lord, use me,” our weaknesses become platforms for His strength (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Reflection: What are you gripping too tightly? Career? Reputation? Relinquish it. Surrender isn’t loss—it’s the gateway to walking in miracles.

4. Transformation: From Ordinary to Extraordinary

After carrying Jesus, the donkey faded from the narrative—but its role was eternally etched in Scripture. Likewise, our obedience creates ripples in God’s kingdom. You may never see the full impact of your “yes,” but heaven records it.

The colt’s story teaches that God’s glory isn’t about what we bring but who we carry. You are a vessel. When Christ reigns in you, even mundane acts—a kind word, a prayer, a step of faith—become sacred. That donkey didn’t need eloquence or strength; it simply showed up. And because it did, crowds shouted, “Hosanna!” (v. 9).

Reflection: Don’t underestimate small obediences. God multiplies them. Your life, surrendered, becomes a living hymn of His goodness.

5. The Donkey’s Lesson: You Are Not Worthless!

That donkey, once tied up and forgotten, became a vessel of divine purpose the moment Jesus said, “Bring it to Me.” Its story teaches us that nothing—and no one—is insignificant in God’s hands. For years, it may have felt useless, overlooked, or stuck in the same place. But Jesus saw its potential and chose it to fulfill prophecy. When the disciples untied it, the donkey wasn’t just freed—it was transformed into a living symbol of peace, carrying the King of Kings into Jerusalem. Like that donkey, many of us feel “tied down” by insecurity, past failures, or the lie that we have nothing to offer. But God is saying, “I need you.” Your past doesn’t disqualify you; your weaknesses don’t limit Him. Jesus takes ordinary lives and uses them for extraordinary purposes. You are not defined by what others think, what you’ve done, or what you lack. You are defined by the One who calls you. Surrender to Him, and watch how He turns your “hidden years” into a testimony of His glory.

Final Reflection: The Sacred Echo of Obedience

The donkey’s story doesn’t end when Jesus dismounts. Long after the palm branches wilted and the crowds dispersed, its legacy endured. Scripture doesn’t record its name, pedigree, or later life—but it didn’t need to. Its obedience in a single moment fulfilled prophecy and altered history. This is the power of surrender: One “yes” to God can ripple into eternity.

We often crave grand, visible platforms to feel significant. But the donkey teaches us that significance is found in submission. It didn’t preach a sermon or perform a miracle—it simply carried Jesus. And in doing so, it played a role no other creature could. Likewise, your faithfulness in small, unseen acts—prayers whispered, kindnesses extended, burdens shouldered—carries eternal weight.

Consider this: After Palm Sunday, the donkey wasn’t paraded as a relic or put back in its pen. It was released, its purpose completed. Why? Because God’s assignments are intentional and timely. He doesn’t recycle old victories; He writes new stories. You may feel like your season of purpose has passed, but God is always preparing you for what’s next. The “hidden years” of your life are not a pause button—they’re the training ground for your next assignment.

Reflect on the times God has untied you from toxic relationships, destructive habits, or limiting mindsets. Each act of liberation was a declaration: “I need you.” The donkey’s freedom wasn’t just physical; it was spiritual. Once bound by ropes, it was now bound to Christ’s mission. So it is with us: True freedom is found in being “tied” to His will.

Final Encouragement: You Are Needed

To anyone feeling unworthy, unusable, or unsteady: Jesus is speaking over you today, “Bring them to Me.” Your past failures don’t disqualify you—they highlight His grace. Your weaknesses don’t limit Him—they showcase His strength. That thing you’ve kept hidden? The dream you’ve buried? The hurt you’ve nursed? Bring it to Him.

The donkey didn’t earn its purpose—it received it. In the same way, you don’t need to strive for God’s approval; you already have it. His call isn’t a reward for your résumé—it’s an invitation to His redemption. Maybe you’ve believed the lie that you’re “too broken” or “too ordinary.” But brokenness is where God begins. Ordinary people are His favorite canvas.

This week, when you feel like that donkey—overlooked, undervalued, or stuck—remember: Jesus doesn’t see you as you are; He sees you as you will be. The same crowds that praised Him on Sunday abandoned Him on Friday, but the donkey’s act still mattered. Your obedience still matters. Your worship still matters. Even when no one applauds, Heaven records it.

You are not an afterthought. You are chosen. The King of Kings wants to ride into the world’s chaos through your life. Let Him untie you. Let Him use you. Your story isn’t about your ability—it’s about His sovereignty.

Life’s battles—whether it’s the ache of loneliness, the toll of aging bodies, the shadow of financial stress, the grip of anxiety, the sting of rejection, the weariness of chronic pain, the regret of past mistakes, the fear of an uncertain future, the strain of broken relationships, or the heaviness of unspoken grief—are not meant to be carried alone. Jesus, who rode a donkey into Jerusalem to bear the weight of the cross, invites you today: “Come to Me, all who are weary, and I will give you rest”(Matthew 11:28). Lay every struggle at His feet. He sees you, He knows your pain, and He is mighty enough to turn your burdens into blessings. Trust Him. Your King is near.

Short Message for the Week

“This week, if you feel like the donkey—bound, forgotten, or insignificant—remember: Jesus enters your ‘not enough’ and makes it holy. Just as He spoke freedom over that colt, He speaks purpose over you. The donkey wasn’t tied up again after its divine moment. Why? Because God’s liberation is permanent. You are no longer defined by what once bound you. Walk in the freedom of knowing: You were untied for a reason. God has not called you to smallness but to significance. He will use your surrendered life in mighty ways you cannot yet imagine. You are His masterpiece, ‘created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do’ (Ephesians 2:10). Carry Him boldly. You are not a footnote in God’s story—you are a vessel of His glory. This week, let your life declare: The King is still riding into the world’s chaos, and He chooses to do it through you.”

Prayer of Commissioning
Lord Jesus, today we surrender every chain—every fear, doubt, and lie that whispers, “You’re not enough.” Thank You for choosing us, for untieing us, for entrusting us with Your glory. As we walk into this week, fix our eyes not on our limitations but on Your limitless power. May our lives carry Your presence so brightly that others see You in our steps, our words, our love. Turn our “Hosanna!” into a lifetime of surrender. Heavenly Father, today we bring You our tangled hearts—the insecurities, the brokenness, the hidden years. Thank You for choosing us, not for what we are, but for what You’re making us. Loosen every chain of fear and doubt. Help us surrender, not just today but daily. May our lives carry Your presence into the world, turning ordinary moments into eternal victories. When we forget our worth, remind us: We are defined by the One who rode a donkey to save the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Go forth: Unbound. Chosen. Ready.

May this Palm Sunday rekindle your courage: You are seen, chosen, and destined for glory.

God bless you abundantly.