Go

Luke 19:28-36 NIV

²⁸After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

²⁹As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, ³⁰"Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden.

Untie it and bring it here.

³¹If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it.' "

³²Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. ³³As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?"

³⁴They replied, "The Lord needs it."

³⁵They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it.

³⁶As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.

This first part of the Palm Sunday story has always seemed so strange to me.

Why include these details?

I don't mean that he rode in on a donkey...we know that was part of prophecy and fulfills what had been said about the messiah.

Why the specific instructions?

Why the story of where they should go and what they should say? Why the questions from the colt's owners (well, that makes sense actually), and the phrase, "The Lord needs it?"

I've wondered before...if we need anything that we don't have for a ministry...how would it work to go into a store, take what we need, walk out and answer anyone who questions us with, "The Lord needs it."

I think we'd get some free room and board at the Douglas County jail.

So, what could we learn and apply from this strange little story?

Maybe we just learn to "Go" when sent.

Maybe there's a huge value in simple obedience. If Jesus had given me those odd instructions, I feel sure that I'd have said, "yeah...but..."

Today, let's really try to sense and receive God's instructions. Then simply act.

Don't steal a donkey. But if you are deeply urged to act in a way that is loving and full of grace, there's every chance that sense is from God. Let's just go, and do it, and see what God provides.

Grace and Peace,

Adam