Rejoice that Jesus is in Control (Mark 11:1-6)

Mark 11:1-6

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.

            On the Sunday prior to his resurrection, Jesus traveled from somewhere around Jericho to Jerusalem, a pretty difficult trek, uphill all the way.  As Jesus approached the Mount of Olives, a rise that slopes down into the Kidron Valley before the final ascent into Jerusalem’s east gate, he called for something special to be done.  Jesus sent two of his disciples on a little errand.

            Jesus sent two men to the next town to commandeer a donkey’s colt that had never been ridden.  Somehow, Jesus knows exactly where they will find this colt, exactly what the people who are keeping the colt will say to the disciples, and exactly what the disciples need to say to succeed in their mission.  Was this because Jesus is the omniscient God?  Was it because Jesus had worked out an agreement with the donkey’s owner in a previous visit?  Either Is possible. 

            When the disciples head off to the next town, they find things just as Jesus had told them.  There is the colt, tied up just as Jesus said.  The disciples start to untie it, and the folks sitting around there say, “Um, excuse me, that’s not your colt.  What do you think you’re doing?”  Can you just feel the disciples tense up and give each other one of those funny looks?  Have they just been punked?  I wonder which of the disciples ended up being the one to recite the line, “The Lord needs it.”  Under his breath, was he saying, “We’re about to get arrested”?  But, it all works out.  The folks say to the disciples, “OK then, just be sure to bring it back with a full tank.”

            Now, before we watch the celebration unfold, let’s make sure we don’t miss an important truth.  Jesus is in control.  Jesus sent his disciples off on a crazy-sounding mission.  He gave them crazy-sounding words to say.  And, you know what, Jesus took care of every crazy little detail in the process.  Jesus provided everything his disciples needed in order to accomplish the mission he sent them to accomplish.

            What was true of Jesus then is still true of Jesus now.  He still calls us to do things that the world around us thinks to be crazy.  He still tells us to go places and do things that just don’t make any sense to the lost.  He still calls us to take on challenges that we have no way to provide for or fulfill on our own.  And Jesus still provides everything we need.  Jesus will never call us to do something that he does not also provide for us the means of doing.  It might require faith and sacrifice on our part; but we can be sure that Jesus will always provide everything that we need to accomplish the ministry for his glory.

            Christians, this truth should give you joy and call you to action.  It is a call for joy, as we know that we are in the hands of our Lord who will supply all our needs as we serve him.  We need not hide from ministry.  We need not fear to serve him.  We can trust him and do his will.  We are called to action, because we can trust him and do his will.  Christians, rejoice that Jesus is in control.