Jesus Needs You

Mark 11:1-6 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “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. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?' tell him, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’” 4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go.  
 
JESUS is the Living Word. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:3) Once again the LORD God of the universe shows us he is attentive to particular details to reveal his rule.
   With his instructions to his disciples, Jesus is essentially telling them, “I’m going to enter Jerusalem as the long-awaited King.” In past visits to Jerusalem he had entered as a rabbi with his disciples (John 2). And he has entered on his own (John 8) to preach. He has also avoided direct answers to the question, “Who are you?” (John 1, 8, 21). Jesus’ method was to guide his questioners to answer their own question with evidence of his life. Most, though, remained locked in their own misunderstandings. But now it’s time to boldy answer, “Who are you?” with, “I am the Christ!”
   Even the donkey colt is crucial to Jesus’ answer. God spoke to the prophets to prepare Israel for this day: Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9) Jesus is the King, who will confront the Jews with his deity. On that day his followers will, indeed, rejoice because God’s promises are coming true in Jesus of Nazareth.
   Bethany is a strategic starting place for this kingly encounter. Jesus raised Lazarus from the grave here. (John 11). Lazarus’ sister Mary anointed Jesus with expensive perfume (John 12). The people of Bethany were eager to see the one who could raise the dead go to Jerusalem to raise Israel from its Roman and religious bondage.
   That’s why Jesus could send two disciples to untie a colt he did not own. From eternity past this animal, its owners and others had been ordained for this day. They were willing to permit the Lord to borrow it because they knew Jesus. We can be sure the Spirit was moving events and men’s thoughts to God’s purpose.
   We understand once again that the Lord works in unity with mankind. He used the prophets to prepare Jerusalem for his coming. The disciples became his instant messengers as they obeyed Jesus’ instructions. The donkey’s owner and friends easily released the donkey colt, entrusting it to Jesus’ care. As this week moved from Sunday to Good Friday, Jesus will even use the Jews’ hatred to advance the Father’s salvation promise into a living, active community called the church.
   Jesus needs the church. We are the chosen to advance his kingdom on earth. When someone asks you to help in the church, if you feel a responsibility to tell someone about Jesus, if you have an urgent desire to pray for someone, stop and consider, “The Lord needs me to do this. He has planned the details for this moment, and I must respond.” How beautiful it is to know God welcomes us to serve his kingdom with him.