Trusting Beyond Knowing
This expert summary synthesizes Bishop T.D. Jakes’ message, “Trusting Beyond Knowing,” based on the narrative of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:2–9). The core theme is the imperative for believers to cultivate trust in God’s plan even when the details of the process are unknown, uncertain, or contradictory to human expectations. This biblical mandate, celebrated traditionally during Palm Sunday, challenges believers to value faith over sight and performance.
The Profundity of Trust Over Knowledge
The message establishes that trusting beyond knowing is a higher form of faith than believing based on evidence. Jesus told Thomas, “you have believed because you have seen but blessed are they who have not seen and yet they believe”. The early church, specifically the apostles, knew nothing of Palm Sunday as a holiday; it was four centuries after Jesus’ departure before it began to be recognized as a day of memorial.
The Anxiety of Uncertainty
The disciples, who walked closely with Jesus, were privy to information the crowds did not have: Jesus was going to Jerusalem to die. This knowledge created a palpable feeling of anxiety and stress among them because they knew the story was not going to have a happy ending from a worldly perspective. This experience mirrors modern life when individuals are involved in situations where they don’t know for sure how the story will end.
The True Test of Discipleship
The real test of discipleship is not following a leader during miracles and victories (like raising Lazarus or feeding the five thousand) but walking with them when they walk through the valley of the shadow of death. The disciples’ willingness to remain loyal and follow Jesus, even to the point of death, proves their commitment. The stress they carried led to moments of snapping, such as attempting to dismiss Blind Bartimaeus because they were overwhelmed by their own impending tragedy.
The Threefold Operation of Deity: Prophecy and Preparation
During Holy Week, Jesus exhibited a threefold operation of deity: Prophet, Priest, and King.
- Priest: He acted as Priest when serving the last supper and instituting the sacraments of communion, previously the Passover.
- Prophet: As Prophet, Jesus demonstrated awareness of distant things, knowing exactly where a donkey and its colt were tied up in the next village. This detail reassures believers that God knows exactly where they are and their situation, eliminating the need to explain their circumstances to Him.
- King: His entry on the donkey fulfilled the prophecies of Zechariah 9:9–12, confirming His identity as the messianic King.
The Divine Delay and Purposeful Tying
The scripture highlights that the ass and the colt had been “tied up for years” waiting for the right time. This emphasizes that the “tie is as much God as the calling is”. God will tie you up until the time is right, regardless of how many others go ahead. When God is ready to release a person, no force, including the devil, can hold them back. The rope is not holding the believer; their divine purpose is.
The Mixed Expectations of the Crowd and the Disciples
The inaugural display of the text is marked by the mixed expectations of the people, which control disappointment. Expectations, if not managed, lead to disappointment.
The Crowd’s Expectation (Fixing Lowliness)
The masses viewed Jesus as the Son of David, their liberator—a King who would defeat the Roman oppressor (Caesar) and restore their nation, giving them double for their trouble. They were oppressed, feeling like second-class citizens in their own city due to Roman dominance and compromise of their culture and religion (such as through Herod’s influence on the Temple). The crowd interpreted Jesus riding on the colt as a sign that the time for war and liberation had arrived.
The Disciples’ Knowledge (Facing Death)
In contrast, the disciples knew Jesus was going to Jerusalem to die. This difference in knowledge meant the crowd felt joy, while the disciples felt pain.
Process Versus Promise
The Old Testament prophets often saw the peaks (the first and second advents) but missed the valley (the death of Christ). God rarely provides details about the process because if He gave you the details about the process, you would give up on the promise. The crowd expected the promise (the crown) without the process (the cross).
Sacrifice, Submission, and Spiritual Power
Jesus’ entry on the donkey highlights the importance of sacrifice, submission, and the source of true power.
The Sacrifice of Others
Jesus rode on the benevolence of a follower who gave up their donkey simply because “the Lord has need of him”. This is an example of success requiring sacrifice. Furthermore, the disciples took their own expensive coats (which cost time and labor) and covered the ass so Jesus could sit on their sacrifice. This act is true worship: giving something that costs you something.
The Symbolism of the Donkey
Jesus, the Lord of Glory, chose not to ride a stallion or chariot but a donkey, symbolizing that He is the God of the downtrodden, the broken, the oppressed, and the forsaken. He brings His glory within the reach of the common person, using ordinary things they already possess, like a jawbone, two fish, or a pot of oil.
The Scapegoat and Carrying Away Sin
Jesus rode on the ass because He was fulfilling the role of the Scapegoat. In the custom of the Book of Leviticus, the priest symbolically laid the sins of the people on a goat and sent it into the wilderness. Jesus, as the Lamb of God and the Scapegoat, carried away the sins of the world to the cross. This means believers should stop carrying guilt and worry about sins that God has already carried away and nailed to the cross, along with every ordinance, curse, hex, and spell.
True Power: Integrity of Name
Power is not physical strength, but having the integrity behind your name so that a statement made in your name opens doors and accesses others’ resources.