24.170 | THE LORD HAS NEED OF IT | Mark 11:1-6 | God’s Word for Today with Pastor Nazario Sinon

Text: Mark 11:1-6 (ESV)

 

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples 2 and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” 4 And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. 5 And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go.

 

THE LORD HAS NEED OF IT

 

Jesus and His disciples approached the town of Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives. It was in Bethany where they ate with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus (John 12:1). Then, Jesus sent two of his disciples, and said, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.”

 

Interestingly, Jesus knows exactly about this colt and where they could find it. He is sure. Otherwise, He would be just bluffing. We are not told how old the colt is. It has never been ridden before. According to Matt 21:2, the colt is tied with the mother indicating that it is still young. The fact that the colt is also tied shows he is at least old enough to wander from his mother.

 

Doesn’t Jesus know everything that will transpire in His life in the next few hours? This is in line with the prophecy in Zech 9:9, in which God tells Israel "your king is coming to you…humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." Jesus will enter the streets of Jerusalem riding on a donkey. In reflection, does He not know the details of our lives as well? Even a hair that will fall on the ground, the Lord knows.

 

Jesus also warned the two disciples, on the other hand, to anticipate that they will be asked, “‘Why are you doing this?’ The reason is obvious. The owner of the colt should be surprised. In His authority, Jesus coached them to just say, “The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’ Jesus asserted that He is Lord. He has been called "Lord" by the Syrophoenician woman (Mark 7:28), a leper (Mat 8:2), a centurion concerned about his servant (Mat 8:6), and the father of the mute, possessed boy (Mat 17:15). This word as used by Jews usually refers to God.

 

So they left and did just what they were told. These two disciples show faith when they agree—in their limited understanding—to seemingly steal the donkey just because Jesus told them to do so. They seemed not worried about it.

 

We have seen here examples of pure faith on Jesus’ authority – the disciples, the owner of the colt, even the untamed colt! Nobody has ever ridden it yet the Lord Jesus Christ has tamed it that someone has to ride its back.

 

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