As he approached Bethpage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it.'"
Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them (Luke 19:30-32 NIV).
What would you do or how would you react if you were placed in the same situation as the disciples were in this passage? What would you do if someone you greatly respect told you to go to another town and take something from someone you didn’t know, without asking permission? And then, if you were questioned, to simply respond, "John Smith [the person you greatly respect] needs it"?
Would you do it? Would you protest just a little? Would you ask some questions? Would you try to clarify exactly what you were told to do and/or why you were told to do it? Or, would you go and do what you'd been told simply because you were told to do it--even if it didn't make any sense to you?
Now, while I'm not advocating your going out right now and stealing something that doesn't belong to you, there is still great value in the principles this passage presents.
Jesus said to do something. His disciples may not have understood why. They may have thought His request was a little odd. But, regardless, they did what He asked them to do. Luke 19:32 proves they did: Those who were sent ahead went... They went. Jesus told them to do something and they did it--even without understanding.
That, in and of itself, should be a huge lesson for you and me. As followers of Jesus, we're called to obey Him. ("If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete...You are my friends if you do what I command" [John 15:10-11, 14].)
But, there's something else worth noting in this verse: Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. Their obedience allowed them to find that what the Lord had told them would happen did.
They had to step out, not knowing whether the colt would really be where Jesus had said it would be or if they'd encounter any resistance to taking the colt. But, they obeyed anyway and found Jesus' words to be true. The colt was there and, when they were questioned, the response Jesus had given them was sufficient.
How often can that be said of you and me? How often do we obey without questioning--believing that what He's said or asked us to do is true or will come to pass--even if it doesn't make sense to us at the time? Consider what the writer of Hebrews wrote in chapter 10, verse 23: Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. He is faithful. We need to hope in Him, trust in Him and believe that all He's said is true.
The beauty of this lesson is that it sets up a wonderful pattern in our lives:
1. God asks us to do something.
2. We obey God.
3. God fulfills what He told us.
4. We have faith and hope for the next time He asks us to do something.
Lord, help me to obey everything You ask me to do. May I obey even when it makes no sense or seems impossible. And Father, show me Your faithfulness when I’m obedient—that all You say does come to pass. May my obedience to You build and breed true faith in me.
-Natalie Grillo
© 2004 Kingdom Building Ministries.
