#DailyDevotion Jesus, The King, Receives Trusting Obedience

Luke 19:28–35

And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.  When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here.  If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’“ So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them.  And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?”  And they said, “The Lord has need of it.”  And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it.

 

This passage always tends to put me in a quandary. It’s probably not a serious one. It gets me thinking is it a miracle there was a donkey and a guy there who let the disciples take the donkey or is this something Jesus has planned ahead. Does it make a difference? It probably does to some people but I have decided it doesn’t to me. The text doesn’t say.

 

Now I don’t know a lot about colts and donkeys, I am familiar with horses, but if there is a miracle here it is that a cold, the foal of a donkey on which no one has ever sat would be likely to try to buck off any riders at first. It doesn’t seem from the rest of the text that this was a problem. The beast knew his creator and submitted willfully to Jesus.

 

What I believe we can take from this text is submission to the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, Jesus in terms of willful, trusting obedience. The disciples went and did as Jesus told them to do. They did not question Jesus. The owners’ of the beasts did not question or haggle with the disciples when they were told the Lord had need of it. The unbroken colt allows Jesus to mount it without a fuss. Jesus then takes prominence in their lives. His disciples even put their cloaks on the donkey so he could ride it.

 

What in your life is Jesus asking you to trust him on? As you read and hear the Scriptures, is there something you recognize you have not given him prominence in your life? He wants you to trust him. Jesus as shown in the Scriptures he can be trusted and that he loves you. Trust Jesus and love him back. You will ultimately be the better for it.

 

Heavenly Father, grant us willing spirits that we may trust the commands of your Son Jesus Christ do all he says with cheerful and trusting hearts. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.