1 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples 2 and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” 4 And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. 5 And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go.

~Mark 11:1-6

 

As Jesus prepares to enter Jerusalem as the prophesied King, we see some worship-worthy qualities of our Lord. I hope they will inspire worship in your heart for today’s devotional.

 

The Lord Knows

First, the Lord knows.

It never ceases to amaze how Jesus had divine knowledge of peoples’ hearts, motives and insight into circumstances.

Today, we see that Jesus knew exactly where and from whom to borrow a donkey to fulfill his prophesied entrance into Jerusalem. Notice the detail with which Jesus is in command of what he needs and where to acquire what he needs. Jesus was even on top of the detail of acquiring a colt on which no one had ever sat.

“Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat.”

If the Lord had the above knowledge and insight while on earth, then how much more does he know as the exalted Son of God? Certainly, this is why Scripture describes God as knowing even the number of hairs on our heads.

May this truth of Jesus Christ comfort you.

 

The Lord Has Needs that His Servants Can Meet 

Another astounding detail in today’s Scripture is that Jesus had needs.

3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’”

Jesus has needs?

This doesn’t seem right because Jesus is God. Jesus turned water into wine. Jesus was capable of turning a stone into bread if he chose to. Jesus multiplied fish and bread to feed multitudes. Jesus healed broken bodies. Jesus could certainly provide for any material need.

But in this situation, he does not.

Instead, he chooses to lean on the generosity of someone who would serve our Lord with his possessions.

Here is a beautiful mystery of our God! Though he is Sovereign God Almighty, he delights to involve his Church in building his Kingdom.

Let’s pause to reflect. Are you attentive to how the Lord might be asking you to serve him? Are you willing to participate in this beautiful, humbling mystery that our Lord God Creator Almighty who ultimately has no need nevertheless in some real way delights to “need” his children to participate as Kingdom builders?

More pointedly, have you missed serving the Lord in some capacity? Or more to the point, have you disobeyed and ignored the call of your Lord to serve him in some way?

 

Why the Lord Can “Need” Us

When we consider how Jesus was able to have the villager gladly lend the colt to Jesus, part of the answer is in the fact that this incident occurred in the village of Bethany (Bethpage was more like a larger suburb just outside Jerusalem; the village of Bethany lay between Bethpage and the Mount of Olives).

Here’s an analogy that doesn’t do this situation justice. Do you know the free-meal-for-the-MVP-who-brought-a-championship-to-your-city phenomenon? When the Toronto Raptors won the NBA championship, many restaurants announced that Kawhi Leonard would never have to pay for a meal at their restaurant.

Something similar is going on here. Recall, Bethany is where Mary, Martha and Lazarus lived. Yes, the famous Lazarus—the one whom Jesus raised from the dead. Jesus’ renown must have been strong in Bethany. The village must have been reverberating unceasingly with praise and wonder. Jesus’ instruction makes sense in this light. Jesus instructs the disciples to answer the owner, “If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” Did you notice Jesus instructed the disciples to identify Jesus as “The Lord”? Certainly, the villagers knew of Jesus and what he had done for Lazarus, Mary and Martha.

Because of Jesus’ renown and power to resurrect Lazarus, to defeat death, there is a willingness to worship and serve the Lord, even with the lending of possessions.

Do you gladly serve Jesus because of his greatness? Do you serve as an overflow of worship of your beautiful Saviour? Or perhaps the reason you are slow to serve is that your worship of Jesus is currently cold?

 

Prayer

“Father in heaven, keep my wonder of Jesus bright and warm. Let me know the joy of serving you and your Kingdom as an overflow of my delight in you. How glorious and beautiful it is that you delight in involving us in the building of your Kingdom! Amen.”

 

Questions for Reflection (try journaling your answers):

  • Are you attentive to how the Lord might be asking you to serve him? Are you willing to participate in this beautiful, humbling mystery that our Lord God Creator Almighty who ultimately has no need nevertheless in some real way delights to “need” his children to participate as Kingdom builders?
  • More pointedly, have you missed serving the Lord in some capacity? Or more to the point, have you disobeyed and ignored the call of your Lord to serve him in some way?
  • Do you gladly serve Jesus because of his greatness? Do you serve as an overflow of worship of your beautiful Saviour? Or perhaps the reason you are slow to serve is that your worship of Jesus is currently cold?