People seldom consider the miracle which took place the moment Jesus sat upon the donkey colt. Although it is customary for a king to choose a stallion to ride on, it would be considered unwise for anyone to choose an unbroken animal that had never been ridden. But this is exactly what Jesus chose — on purpose. He told two of His disciples, “Ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither” (Luke 19:3030Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. (Luke 19:30)).
This colt was probably about two years of age because a donkey’s frame cannot carry human weight without damage to his structure if he is any younger. The importance of this age has great meaning, for this is the age when a male colt is most dangerous. He is at his prime with strong muscles and bones, and his “flight or fight” instincts have not yet been balanced with the wisdom of age and experience. He is unpredictable and flighty. His hooves have the power to smash a hole in a one-inch-thick hardwood board, and his teeth can bite off a human’s fingers. Not exactly the perfect choice for a ride through a crowded street in a major city, we conclude.
Why would Jesus choose to ride such an animal?
What better way to convince the people around Him that in all things He was, and is, in control! Like the people of that day, I work regularly with the various ages of animals in the horse family. Knowing a colt’s temperament, as those people would have, I would have been filled with wonder as I saw a wild and uncontrollable donkey colt meekly submit to Jesus. Truly, He had to be the King of all creation!
There once was a wild little
donkey;
He had to be tied to a tree,
And Jesus was thinking
about him;
He said, “Go and bring him
to Me.”
And when they had brought him
to Jesus
As quickly as ever they could,
That restless, that wild little
donkey
Was quiet, obedient and good.
And Jesus is able to make you
Whatever He wants you to be;
He loves you and longs to
forgive you
And make you both happy
and free.
Have you let Jesus work a miracle in your life? He loves you and wants you to be done with that willful, sinful nature that you were born with. If you will come to Him for forgiveness of your sins, He will give you a new life and nature that loves Him and happily submits to His leading. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
ML-07/18/1999