Title: The Lord has need of it

Read: Mark 11:1-11
Scripture Reading: Mark 11:3
“And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately he will send it here.”

Main idea: Jesus needs workers. The Son of God needs you!

Entry into Jerusalem
Mark’s Gospel tells us what Jesus did when he was going out of Jericho (Mark 10:46–52). From Jericho they continued on its way toward Jerusalem (Mark 10:32, 33). It may be assumed that Bethany, about two miles from Jerusalem (John 11:18), was reached before sunset on Friday, that on the sabbath (Friday sunset to Saturday sunset) Jesus enjoyed the sabbath rest with his friends, that on Saturday evening a supper was given in his honor at the home of “Simon the leper” (Mark 14:3–9), and that the next day, being Sunday, the triumphal entry into Jerusalem occurred.

The command for the Colt
Jesus sent two disciples to Bethany to get the colt (a young donkey) and bring it back. Once again Jesus sent not one, but two disciples (as on the preaching mission Mark 6:7). This was a mission of faith, for the disciples simply had to go on Jesus’ words. His instruction was, “Go into the village opposite you” He assures them that immediately upon entering the village they will find a colt tied up. The colt that the two disciples were instructed to bring back to the Lord was to be one that had never been ridden by anyone else. This colt was special just like the mother of Jesus and the tomb where He would be laid. Our Lord was birthed by a virgin (Matthew 1:25). The tomb, too, in which the body of the dead Jesus was laid had never been used (Luke 23:53). It will be a colt “upon which no one ever sat,” hence, an unbroken or unbacked colt, by God reserved for sacred use. A colt on whom no one has ever sat—recalling Old Testament stipulations that an animal devoted to a sacred purpose must be one that has not been put to any ordinary use (Num 19:2; Deut 21:3; 1 Sam 6:7). The tethered colt call forth Gen 49:10-11, Jacob’s prophecy of a king to come from the tribe of Judah (Matt 2:6), another clue to the messianic significance of Jesus’ action. As the ark of the covenant needed an unyoked carrier (1 Sam 6:7; Num 19:2; Deut 21:3), so the true ark of the covenant, the Lord Jesus, required an unridden animal. It is bringing the Holy One into Jerusalem the holy city.

Why would Jesus want this colt?
When a king went forth to battle, he rode upon a horse. When he came in peace, he rode upon a donkey. The entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem upon a colt was a message of peace. He was emphasizing His kingship to His people in fulfilling the prophecy of (Zechariah 9:9). Jesus knew exactly what He was doing and the message He was sending to the Jews. We notice, therefore, that there is nothing accident about the triumphal entry. Everything has been carefully planned and is orderly and appropriate, exactly as it should be. Jesus has planned everything out to the last detail and is in complete control. Riding on a colt symbolized the fact that the person was coming in peace. Riding on a horse symbolized preparation for battle or war. When Christ returns again to Jerusalem one day, He will be riding a white horse into battle (Revelation 19:11-16). In Acts 1:10-11 Jesus said He would come again in the same way they had watched Him go. Zechariah 14:4-5 tells us what will happen when those holy feet touch down Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem: the Mount of Olives will be split in half from east to west.

The significance of this Colt
When we look at this colt, we find that it is a picture of people that have trusted Christ as their Savior (John 8:32). First of all, it had been redeemed just as a Christian is redeemed by the Lord. Secondly, the colt had been bound to a post, having life but not liberty. It was freed that it might be used of the Lord to lift up the Lord Jesus Christ. In the lives of redeemed believers, Christ breaks the bondage of sin (Galatians 5:13). Thirdly, this colt also pictures Christians in the fact that it had been released for service. Through Christ, we have been given the power to overcome sin in our lives so that we might be free to serve the Lord and exalt Him with our lives (1 Peter 2:16). The colt also fulfilled its purpose when it was mastered by the Lord Jesus. The disciples did not let the colt go so it could run wild, but to serve Jesus, for the Lord had need of him. In the same manner, we were not saved to run wild either (Galatians 5:1).

“The Lord has need of it”
Our Lord instructed them, “And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it”. Jesus prepared His disciples with an answer for those who would question them about the colt. Jesus foresaw the problems and gave them an answer they would need. The Lord called Moses from a burning bush because He needed him to deliver his people Israel from Egypt. God called Gideon because the Lord needed him to defeat an enemy of Israel. The Lord saved a man on the road to Damascus named Saul because He needed him to declare the Gospel to the Gentiles.

Application
God moves men and women to do His will because He needs them for His service. The passion of God is to work in us and through us. We are benefitted by being used of the Lord, and others are blessed by our lives. Two simple lessons. First, Jesus has needs of a colt. He sent disciples to find one. Today, Jesus needs workers too. The Son of God needs you! The Lord has need of you and will use you if you are willing to be used as He used others in history. Second, Jesus is the owner of all by virtue of his work in creation and redemption. When Jesus needs something, the appropriate response is let the Lord use it. Today, we call that stewardship or giving. If the Lord needs something today, give generously with love and gratitude. Apart from Jesus, you wouldn’t have your life, so don’t hold back anything.

Let’s pray together
Heavenly Father, Thank you for speaking to us. ‘The Lord has need of it,’ we don’t want to hold back anything from You. Help us Lord. In Jesus Name Amen.