Do you have a new colt??? (Luke 19:28-35) 300408
This is a strange passage. I have read this narrative many times and often found it strange. It is strange because of Jesus’ request to ride a colt into Jerusalem (vv30-31). Although scholars had explained that this serve a them of Jesus’ royal personage and to fulfill Old Testament prophecy (Zech 9:9); I still find it strange. Why Jesus need to portray His royal personage in order to enter into Jerusalem to face His death? Perhaps the author, Luke, is reminding his readers (including us) that Jesus is King and deserves and demands all of our obedience and submission. On the other hand, I also see Jesus demonstrates obedience to the Word (OT) which was prescribed by the Father for Him to fulfill. As Christ demonstrates obedience, He has the right to demand obedience from you and I.
I also find it strange that Jesus’ disciples went and did as Jesus told them: Go into the village opposite and find a colt which no one yet has ever sat and untie it and bring it to Jesus; if anyone asks, just says the Lord need it (vv30-32//vv33-34). I imagine that I am one of the disciples, I would ask Jesus some more questions to make sure what He asks me to do make sense. To go and untie other people’s colt and bring it to Jesus by simply saying the Lord need it, does not make sense. I am not sure if you are ask to do so, will it make sense to you and will you do it! Just imagine you hear Jesus tells you today to go to the car park nearest to your office and you are to tell the next person who owns a SJD plate BMW that you are to drive away his car because Jesus needs you to use it to fetch Abel to NTU next Sunday for his graduation! Does this make any sense to you? Will you do it? Don’t you find such narrative strange? But this is exactly what the disciples are taught to do. You and I who claim to be Jesus’ disciples of today, do we do what Jesus tells us to do? Even if it does not make sense. I do not claim that I am all obedience, but at least I am trying to find out what the Lord is teaching in His word and obey them as much as I can. Do you know what Jesus has taught through His words?
Matthew 28:19-20, the Great Commission has been a slogan for many churches and even Christians today to make disciples. The question is what kind of disciples are we making? The Great Commission actually spells out very clearly: Disciples who observe all that Jesus has commanded in His words. Therefore, we need to know His words well.
Lastly, I find the owners of the colt the strangest people on earth! Firstly, I am not sure why there are so many owners of a colt (v33). In Greek, the word ‘owners’ is the same one use to translate as the word ‘Lord’ but in plural tense. Commentators say that the claim of Jesus as Lord (v31, v34) supercedes the rights of ownership, just as the requirements of a king supplant those of his subjects (cf 1 Sam 8:10-18). This is another affirmation for Jesus’ kingly status. But what is really strange is that who are these colt owners? Why are they so willing to give up their new colt for Jesus’ use?
It is ambiguous from the text and the context. I don’t think we will know until we meet these colt owners in heaven one day. But their willingness and obedience suggest to me that these people could be anticipating to serve the Lord in such a manner. These colt owners are simple folks but they are simply waiting the opportunity to be of used to the Lord. I do not want to further speculate if these colt owners had received special revelation or vision ahead to tell them to keep a new colt for Jesus, or whether they are fervent Jews who had read Zech 9:9 and waiting to help to fulfill the prophecy by setting aside a new colt, just in case the Lord needs it. I can let my imagination runs and come out with more possibilities, but one thing for sure: these colt owners has denied their ‘lordship’ over their possession and submitted to Christ Lordship and obeyed as the Lord needs it.
Are you a colt owner? Do you have a colt that the Lord is asking you to give up? Not any old and useless colt, but a new colt? I have a classmate who need a laptop for doing his assignment, I lend him my old laptop, as I have a new one which I am using now to write this devotion. Recently, that old laptop crashed and my classmate has no laptop to use to finish his assignment and has to rely on the PC in the college library. I have finished my assignments ahead of time, I can lend him my new laptop so that he may finish his assignments too, and this surely bring glory to God. But I am not willing to lend him my new laptop. I know the Lord is speaking to me concerning this. I am not suggesting that we must always give up our new stuffs to other people, but the point is if God is requiring some new and dear to you, are you willing to give it up? Do not answer before you really think through it and understand what it means, especially if you are a parent.
I pray that as the Lord speaks to your heart today, be a willing colt owner.
HHS…
Abel…
