The colt

Luke 19 28-40 v 31 “If anyone asks” Why are you untying that colt? Just say “the Lord needs it”.

Today is the start of what is called Holy week by many Christians. Jesus rides on a colt, a young male donkey that no one has ridden. The disciples threw their garments over it and, as Jesus rode into town, the crowds laid garments on the road, and all of his followers started to shout and sing as they walked along. The Pharisees among the crowd said” teacher rebuke your followers, he replied” If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers”

Who doesn’t love a parade? I have sat on the side of the road and cheered and waved and clapped along with the bands and the floats as they roll by on many different occasions. Often on this Palm Sunday in church services the children would parade around the church waving palms, the congregation singing loudly, a whole lot of fun. Palm Sunday celebrates Jesus’ triumphant entry. That is the big picture. And an important one because when Jesus was told to quiet his disciples he replied” If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers”

However, with the quiet of the pandemic, with time to reflect, and look at the whole picture, what about the colt?  A donkey I am sure is more docile than a horse but still if it has never been ridden before wouldn’t it dance around a little or stand still and not move when garments were put on its back and then a person sat on it? How would it react to a loud cheering crowd? I have seen well trained horses in parades dance around a little at the different noises. And what of Jesus telling his disciples about the colt in the first place? Did he call ahead and arrange for the owner to give it to Him? How did he arrange the “password”, “The Lord needs it” to be used if anyone asked? This tranquil scene of rider and donkey shows us that Jesus has power over all the animals. That part of a spiritual life involves believing in prophecy, as this parade was foretold in the Old Testament, Zechariah 9v 9” Look your King is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey, a donkey’s colt” and Jesus knew what was going to happen as well as the owner of the colt. Maybe in your own life God was at work when you said” that was lucky .” The helping hand of a friend or an unexpected kind word from a stranger was guided by Jesus? Can you resist the call of the Lord? “If anyone asks” Why are you untying that colt? Just say “the Lord needs it”.

Prayer: Heavenly Father thank you for caring for each one of us so much that you sent your son Jesus for us to praise. Amen.