David Bahn – Reflections

And when Jesus had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. ²⁹ When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, ³⁰ 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. ³¹ If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’” ³² So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. ³³ And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” ³⁴ And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” ³⁵ And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. ³⁶ And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. ³⁷ As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, ³⁸ saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” ³⁹ And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” ⁴⁰ He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

I was struck as I read “You shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’” What does the Lord have need of? And why does he need it?

Jesus needed the donkey in order to ride into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. (I’m jumping ahead with this blog post because we will have this text on Sunday at St. John.) He needed it because this would fulfill the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

Matthew directly quotes this passage in his account of the Palm Sunday parade. Even though Luke does not quote the passage, he recounts the events that directly fulfill the prophecy. Jesus needed the colt in order that he could fulfill the prophecy of Zechariah.

He needed to fulfill that prophecy – along with many others – because he is the fulfillment of all the Old Testament’s prophecies and promises of a coming Savior – the Messiah.

And he needed to do that because God is intent upon redeeming a lost world, reconciling the world to himself, rescuing lost sinners, and uniting all things in heaven and on earth under Christ Jesus who is Lord of all.

On the one hand God doesn’t need anything from us. Paul says as much in his sermon on Mars Hill: “The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything” (Acts 17:24-25).

On the other hand God uses people to advance the cause of his reign and rule in the hearts of people, by grace, through faith. What a privilege it would be to provide even a manger for Jesus to be laid in. What a joy to know that you could give a drink of water to Jesus on a hot day at noon. How thankful you would be if Jesus used your gift of pure nard to tell of his coming death and said that your action would be told for generations to come. What would it be like to have offered your upper room for Jesus’ last Supper with his disciples. What an honor to provide even your tomb on loan for Jesus’ lifeless body – if only for three days.

Hosanna! Blessed is the King who has come in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest! Are we ready to offer whatever Jesus needs to honor him?