Have you ever had someone ask you what to do next, but you know that they already know – or could figure out – the answer? I’m not asking about someone quizzing you to see if you understand the process, but rather someone who has been educated on standard solutions. This group of people (which I’m sure that I’ve been a part of at times) either doesn’t want to do what needs to be done, or hasn’t paused to think about how to address the situation.
In situations like this, whether it is a colleague or one of my children, I can ask questions like, “Do you know what I’m going to say next?” or “What do we usually do when…?” At this point, the response might be, “I know, but this is different…” or “I know, but I was just…” Or, sometimes the answer is simply (and humbly), “Yeah, I know.”
Let’s take a look at a situation that was somewhat unique, but where the next steps were made clear to two of Jesus’ disciples:
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just 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 doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’ ”
Mark 11:1-3 NIV
Looking ahead, we know that Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives later in the week (Thursday night, if my math is correct). As this phase of His ministry on earth comes to a close, He’s getting close to Jerusalem, and the Passover is coming soon, but there’s a prophecy to be fulfilled (see Zechariah 9:9).
There’s much that could be said about prophecy and the colt here, but I’d like to step back and consider a few lessons that are perhaps even simpler:
When Jesus tells you to do something, do it! Now, some might argue that Jesus returned to Heaven before we were born, so we don’t have this same kind of clear instructions on what to do next. However, not only did Jesus give plenty of instructions before He left (both directly, and through His followers), but He left us the Holy Spirit, to provide us with specific directions for our own lives.
Don’t be like the person who wonders things like, “Should I tell the truth?”, “What should I do when my neighbor needs help and I’m able to do something about it?”, “Is it OK to hate my enemies?”, or “How should Christians handle conflict among themselves?” Jesus spoke clearly about these things, and if we were to ask Him what to do in these situations (where He has already told us exactly what to do), I imagine Him lovingly asking us, “What did I tell you to do?”
Another fact is that sometimes we are asked to help in God’s plan. I suppose that Jesus could have had a colt miraculously appear (like the ram that God provided on the mountain with Abraham and Isaac; see Genesis 22:1-19). However, there were roles in this plan for two of His disciples.
Note also that Jesus gave His disciples what they needed to follow His instructions. I suspect that just taking a tied-up colt without permission could have made the disciples the equivalent of Western movies’ “horse-thieves”, but Jesus knew that there was a good reason, and told them what to say.
I like that Jesus told the disciples to mention that the colt would be returned. We’ve said before that we are merely stewards of what God has provided for us to manage, and this seems like a good example. What if the owner (or those nearby) had chosen to not participate in God’s plan, here? Compare missing out on that opportunity with the joy of finding out that the promised Messiah had ridden on their colt. Let’s remember that the next time God asks us to do something with “our” material goods, money, or time.
And, as we learn in verses 4-6, when Jesus Himself tells you something, it’s going to happen. We could speculate whether the people nearby recognized the disciples (when they were untying the colt) as followers of Jesus specifically, or if perhaps Jesus had previously made arrangements, but the details aren’t nearly as important as the realization that Jesus knew what needed to be done and His instructions would not be in vain.
Let us remember that when we question what will happen when we follow Jesus’ instructions today!
From Sunday School lesson prepared for April 2, 2023
References:
- The Lookout, April 2, 2023, © 2022 Christian Standard Media.
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – Mark, by Allen Black. © 1995 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 