Pin the Tail: Missing Messiah's True Mark by Pastor Paul Becker

Zechariah 9:9 and Matthew 21:1-11

Palm Sunday testifies to the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem as the Messiah prophesied in Zechariah 9:9. The prophet foretells the arrival of a humble king riding on a donkey, a symbol of peace and humility.  This prophecy contrasts with the Israelites' expectation of the Messiah being a conquering hero, someone who would secure Israel's national sovereignty amidst godless and oppressive empires. As for Jesus' disciples, they too expected Jesus to be a political Messiah, though with divine power and wisdom as demonstrated in miracles and teachings.

The contrast between Jesus and everyone around him is stark, and we can liken it to a child's game, Pin the Tail on the Donkey. The game consists of a picture of a tailless donkey that is hung on a wall. Players are given a tail to pin or tape to the donkey. They are blindfolded, spun around, and sent forward to "pin the tail" on the donkey. Invariably, everyone applies the tail everywhere but where it belongs. Everyone gets a laugh from no one hitting the target.

The crowd and disciples were blindfolded by their own sin-rooted, self-interested religious and social expectations. They missed the mark of the true Messiah by anticipating a mighty, political liberator who would overthrow Roman rule and restore Israel's glory.

Jesus, not blinded by sin, entered Jerusalem to hit his true mark, to be the atonement for the sins of God's people by being nailed (pinned) to the cross of Calvary. We are God's people through faith in Jesus. Looking to the cross, we see that our past, present, and future sins were judged, crucified, and buried with Jesus. And through faith, we are risen with Christ in the power of the resurrection to live a new and eternal life.

We, too, can fall into the trap of fitting Jesus into our own expectations. We can want Jesus to take away our problems with little trust and effort on our part. We can want Jesus to bless plans we make without prayer or seeking direction from God's word or the godly advice of other believers. We can become so earthly-minded in the practice of religion that it becomes a means to serve ourselves, rather than a means to serve like Jesus.

Be blessed in knowing that Jesus hit His true mark. He is the Messiah who came to serve, to suffer, and to offer His life as the fullest expression of divine love. Jesus is our King. We are his subjects. We follow our King to live our lives for the glory of God by loving our neighbors and one another just as Jesus loved us. (Mt 22:37-40, Jn 13:3-35)

The Apostle Paul offers us this encouragement in Romans 1:1-2: Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.