35th Day of Lent

Entering Jerusalem on a Colt

Mark 11: 1-7 The Message
When they were nearing Jerusalem, at Bethpage and Bethany on Mount Olives, he sent off two of the disciples with instructions: "Go to the village across from you. As soon as you enter, you'll find a colt tethered, one that has never yet been ridden. Untie it and bring it. If anyone asks, 'What are you doing?' say, 'The Master needs him, and will return him right away.'"

They went and found a colt tied to a door at the street corner and untied it. Some of those standing there said, "What are you doing untying that colt?" The disciples replied exactly as Jesus had instructed them, and the people let them alone. They brought the colt to Jesus, spread their coats on it, and he mounted.

Imagine the whirlwind that the disciples were feeling as they neared Jerusalem with Jesus. It seems likely that they must have experienced a mix of awe and wonder to downright nervousness, knowing all that was to come. And then, Jesus asks them to go fetch him a donkey.

The two disciples who were asked to go find the colt for Jesus were probably relieved to have something to do as the excitement surrounding Jesus mounted. They may, however, have wondered about the donkey, “He’s going to ride into the city on a donkey?” If they didn’t know it already, this certainly was a reminder that Jesus was royalty of another world order all together. In fact, Jesus had just settled a discussion about getting ahead in the kingdom of God:

Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:20-28)

While the significance of that donkey may well have been missed by the disciples and the crowd amid the excitement on that day as they approached Jerusalem, it echoes truth from the depth of God’s heart to us today, “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”