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Day 237

Luke 19 : 28-48 "THE LORD HAS NEED OF HIM" Luke 19:34"

Day 237 – Luke 19

Text: Luke 19 : 28-48

“THE LORD HAS NEED OF HIM” Luke 19:34

The Disciples brought the colt of a donkey back to Jesus. In Matthew’s Gospel, he added that the Disciples brought back the mare, the mother of the colt as well (Matthew 21:7). This observation was not in vain. A young colt that has never had anyone ride upon it is essentially an unbroken animal. It would naturally resist being led by strangers, in this case the two Disciples of Jesus. The colt would be more easily led if the mother had been brought along as well. The owners who loaned the colt to Jesus must have understood and allowed the Disciples to have the mare as well.

All the Disciples needed to say to the owners was what Jesus had spoke to them. It was just a simple statement, but fraught with deep meaning.

“The Lord has need of it.”
Luke 19:31

The owners must have been believers or disciples of the Lord Jesus. They may not have been able to follow Him as the other Disciples did, but they bowed their knees to Jesus just the same!

All the Disciples needed to do was to use the name, “The Lord” and the owners would recognize that phrase. Jesus was indeed their Lord. This phrase was not just the pre-arranged code-signal for the release of the colt to the Disciples. These words represented much more. They symbolized faith in Jesus. They represented obedience to the Master. Jesus was their Lord. If the Lord needed anything, they would be more than happy to comply!

If Jesus has need of our things, would we yield them to His cause? If He has need of our money, our time, our energy and He says, “The Lord has need of them…” how would we respond?

“THEY THREW THEIR OWN CLOTHES ON THE COLT, AND THEY SET JESUS ON HIM…” Luke 19:35

The Disciples must have loved their Master dearly. How would He master an unbroken colt? Why choose such a colt anyway?

We are reminded of a passage in Numbers 19 that dealt with a special purification ordinance. This special ordinance had to do with the sacrifice of a carefully selected animal.

“Speak to the children of Israel,
that they bring you a red heifer without blemish,
in which there is no defect
and on which a yoke has never come.”
Numbers 19:2

The mention of an animal that has never been yoked was also associated with another special sacrifice mentioned in Deuteronomy 21. Again it is associated with offering to the Lord a sacrifice for the purpose of pleading God’s mercy and atonement.

“And it shall be that the elders of the city
nearest to the slain man will take a heifer
which has not been worked
and which has not pulled with a yoke.”
Deuteronomy 21:3

The idea behind the use of a colt may well be tied to the idea found in both Numbers and Deuteronomy. The owners were giving to Jesus something that was new and unused.

An animal that had already seen better days would not be a fitting gift to Jesus as He rode into Jerusalem. It was right that the owners gave their best gift, and this was a fresh, young colt that no one had ever ridden on. It was right that the first Person to sit on it would be Jesus – their Lord and Master!

The Disciples showed their affection for Jesus when they brought the colt to Jesus for Him to ride upon. Were they concerned or worried about how Jesus would sit on a donkey that had not been broken? It is far more difficult to sit on an unbroken donkey than most people realize.

The Disciples felt that they would make His ride more comfortable by taking off their cloaks and then placing them on the donkey. That would certainly make it more comfortable. They also helped Jesus to sit on the donkey. They must have thought that Jesus needed some assistance, for all these three years they had spent with their Master, He had never sat on a donkey!

The Disciples need not have worried. He who calmed the angry sea would surely be able to ride upon an unbroken donkey-colt. The colt would have felt at ease, for it must have known instinctively the hand of its Creator. What a privilege to carry Jesus, the Messiah King into Jerusalem! (If only donkeys could talk, what tales they would tell)!

Nevertheless, their affection for the Lord Jesus must not go unnoticed! How the Disciples must have loved their Master. How could they not love their Master? If other believers could give their donkeys way for the Master to use, why could they not take off their cloaks and put them on the donkey-colt so that Jesus could have a gentler and more comfortable ride into Jerusalem?

“AND AS HE WENT, MANY SPREAD THEIR CLOTHES ON THE ROAD…” Luke 19:36

As Jesus began his procession into Jerusalem, many people began to throng the streets. Soon, the people took off their cloaks and placed them on the road. This was an ancient way of paying homage to one acknowledged as King (2 Kings 9:13 described how some people placed their clothes before Jehu and acknowledged him as king of Israel).

Jesus had chosen wisely and well. The enactment of what Zechariah prophesied was indeed a powerful object lesson for the multitudes. He was their Messiah-King.