Daily Devotions

When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’” They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it.  Mark 11:1-6

Today just happens to be the 24th anniversary of my ordination.  Today’s text reminds me of one of the great stories I have learned along the way.

Pastor Don Carlson was my senior pastor in my first call.  He began his ministry as an associate pastor and part time camp director.  One time he was planning a trip for the youth of his congregation and they were one van short of what they needed for a cross country drive.

Don just happened to notice that a businessman in the small town in which he lived had just bought one of those big old brand new luxury vans with the fancy paint jobs.  But Don didn’t really know the guy.  He wasn’t a member of his church.  He wasn’t even a Lutheran.  But he had a great van.

One day Don was at the local minister’s meeting and he happened to sit beside a wise old Episcopal priest.  As they were talking, Don told the priest the story about how they needed a van and how Don had noticed the new van in town.

The old priest told Don (and this is why I remember this story): Never hesitate to ask for what you need to do the Lord’s work.

It doesn’t even look like the two disciples even asked.  Jesus told them they would find a colt tied up and they should just take it.  Jesus gave them an answer should anyone ask, but still, this looks an awful lot like horse thievery. (A hanging offense in the American West, I’m not sure about the cultural rules in Bethpage or Bethany.)

They take the colt and, sure enough, they get caught.  “The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.”  It works.

Jesus has a divine appointment.  He is following a path that will lead him straight into the teeth of worldly power and authority.  That he “saw” the colt helps us see that Jesus knows where he is going, he knows what is going to happen, and he knows what he is doing.

He is doing the Lord’s work.

Never hesitate to ask for what you need when you’re doing the Lord’s work.

Let us pray:  Dear Lord, we come back now, in our journey through Mark, to join you as you enter Jerusalem.  We know what lies ahead and just knowing that feels like opening an old wound that seems impervious to healing.  Yet we know that the pain of healing is often worse than the pain of the initial injury.  As we follow you in your own calling, make us all the more mindful of the ways that our own callings echo yours.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

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