Today, Mark 11 introduces the famous story of the Triumphant Entry. Allow me to give you a quick summary of this marvelous event:
The Triumphal Entry marks a moment when Jesus entered Jerusalem, welcomed by crowds who hailed Him as a king. He humbly rode a donkey. People believe that He fulfilled ancient prophecies with this very act. It symbolized peace rather than conquest. The Bible says that many in the crowd lined His path with palm branches and garments, shouting “Hosanna!” and calling Him the “Son of David.”
Now, You and I celebrate this wonderful procession on Palm Sunday almost every year. But, not much justice has been done to the young colt of the story. Nevertheless, today we look at this amazing story from the lens of that little colt.
“As soon as you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks, ‘What are you doing?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it and will return it soon.’”
Mark 11:1-3 NLT
Firstly, our little colt was prophesied about in the Old Testament.
The Prophet Zechariah spoke about him, when he said;
“Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt.” ~ [Zechariah 9:9 NLT]
Secondly, our little colt was tied up and stagnant.
This colt was prophesied about and meant to carry the savior. However, our Bible informs us that he had never been ridden upon. This colt also had no idea that some men had been sent to untie him by the instructions of Jesus. No one needed him. Yet, on that precious day, the Lord of the Universe needed him and his service.
“The two disciples left and found the colt standing in the street, tied outside the front door. As they were untying it, some bystanders demanded, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” They said what Jesus had told them to say, and they were permitted to take it.”
Mark 11:4-6 NLT
Thirdly, when his time of freedom and usefulness came, certain bystanders questioned his liberation.
Nonetheless, Jesus had given specific instructions to the two disciples to answer these bystanders. He told them to answer such men by saying; ‘The Lord needs it and will return it soon.’
Many of us are in the same position as this young colt. We are bound and declared to be good for nothing. And in that state, our only cry has been freedom. But then you see, Freedom is such a fascinating word. To fully understand freedom, you need to know that it is akin to slavery. Like two sides of a coin, one cannot be truly free until they have someway or somehow experienced slavery.
Now, the question is, how many of us know what it means to be bound in chains?
The greatest chains that bind us are not merely, manifestly physical but moral, behavioral, and intellectual as well. We are shackled to the belief of our worldly system, sin, fear, and so much more. This causes us to shortchange ourselves and miss the destined experience of the life made available to us in Christ.
Like this young colt, we too encounter moments of stagnation. These moments occur in our relationship with God and in the journey of our lives. These moments weigh us down, and as we long for freedom, people around us question our desire, our very need, for it. But in those suffocating moments, ask yourself: what truly justifies your freedom? What calls you to break free? Is it just a want; a right, or a deep-rooted need to pursue purpose, growth, and fulfillment?”
I believe it goes beyond a justification made in self.This is the ultimate answer to our justification of freedom.
We are free because the Lord needs us. We can never fully know and experience freedom unless we are used in the light of God’s need for us. “They brought the donkey and the colt; then they laid their robes on them, and He sat on them.” – You and I must understand that our freedom is justified only when the master’s will reigns over us. Only then do we achieve freedom. Until then anything can send us back into slavery, i.e. our ideologies, addictions, desires, and irrational needs.
“Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessings on the coming Kingdom of our ancestor David! Praise God in highest heaven!””
Mark 11:9-10 NLT
Our Justification is fully met when the name of the Lord resounds in the praise of people around us. This happens as a result of His work through us. We all have our personal cages of slavery, just like you and I. Today, I share with you the hope I have received. Many, like you and I, have been set free for a greater purpose. One that involves being commissioned to set others free for the lord. But know this, We are now free in the light of Christ and our freedom has been justified.
This is not just a tale of a donkey, who was set free to carry Christ on his back through the streets of Jerusalem. It is the tale of anyone who decides that they will please God, live their days for his agenda, and carry Christ everywhere.
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