1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”
4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
5 “Say to the Daughter of Zion,
‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
Many a mile the Lord Jesus traveled by foot – dusty roads, weary steps, and dirtied feet were all His customary companions as He went about doing good. Seldom (if ever) did He seek creature comforts. It is unbecoming for a follower of the Master to be inordinately concerned or preoccupied over their own ease and comfort. Surely that was not the example He set forth. Jesus never made much of the things of this perishing world.
“Our Lord lived His life...to give the normal standard for our lives.” Oswald Chambers
“If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness, ‘which is my problem, my issues, my pain.’ But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.” Rick Warren
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. Phil 2:3-5 (NIV)
In our verses for today, however, as Jesus ventures towards suffering and death, He chooses to ride in triumph. Our Lord gives two of His guy’s pristinely clear directives - even to the point of supplying them with the response to the question they would most assuredly be asked. Our Lord will fulfill each prophesy spoken of Him in Scripture. You can take that to the bank. As He walked this earth, His eyes were ever attentive to all that had been prophesized about Him. Our Lord, of course, had full knowledge of where His disciples would find the donkey and its colt. When Christ gives us marching orders He makes the way and supplies the need – you can count on it. He can turn the heart of a king directing it like a watercourse however He pleases. Nothing is too difficult for Him:
1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases. Prov 21:1 (NIV)
The prophecy Christ fulfills in our verses for today are presented to us in Zechariah:
9 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. Zech 9:9 (NIV)
Jesus Christ was and is the church’s King. When a King arrived it was normally met with great pomp and fanfare – approaching as conquerors riding on horses. Something magnificent was expected. Yet there was nothing of that here. He comes gentle and riding on a donkey even the colt of a donkey. In lieu of majesty, Christ’s glory appears in His meekness and humbleness. His temperament was mild and He was willing to suffer the greatest injuries and indignities for mankind’s cause. The Creator stooped, came down and died for those He created - willingly. He was easily entreated, His government was lovingly gentle and mild and His yoke easy. This all was all particularly evidenced here by His humble appearance riding on a donkey a creature used for service not for show, for burdens instead of battles – slow yet sure, constant, steady and safe. I am reminded of our Lord’s wooing entreaty to us all recorded earlier in Matthew:
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matt 11:28-30 (NIV)
“The truly wise are those whose souls are in Christ.” Ambrose