Mark 11:1-101And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples, 2And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him. 3And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither. 4And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him. 5And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt? 6And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go. 7And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him. 8And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way. 9And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: 10Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest. (Mark 11:1‑10)
“AND WHEN they came nigh to Jerusalem... He sendeth forth two of His disciples and saith unto them, Go... into the village... (and) ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.... And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and He sat upon him.... And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hanna; Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed be the kingdom of our father David.”
This is a very interesting event in the life of Jesus. We have seen how often He had been rejected by those whom He came to help, but now what a contrast with their “Hosannas.” God’s purposes are seen in this, for it was the fulfillment of a prophecy written about 500 years earlier: “Behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt, the foal of an ass.” Zechariah 9:99Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. (Zechariah 9:9).
In the Gospel of Luke we hear the Pharisees objecting, but the Lord answers that if the people were to withhold their praise, the stones would cry out. Thus God ordered that His Son’s true place in Israel was publicly proclaimed, in spite of all opposition. Actually this was a display of what His place will be when He later comes to be the true King to His earthly people. In our present chapter, however, it was only briefly that the people sang His praises. Soon they were to show their real hearts and shout: “Not this Man, but Barabbas.”
We don’t want to miss the lessons to ourselves in these Bible stories, do we? Did you notice that the colt had not been ridden before? Such an animal would normally be almost impossible to handle, but in the presence of its Creator it became obedient and quiet, even with so much excitement around it. Perhaps some of our young readers are like an unbroken colt — wanting each his own way and resisting efforts of mothers, fathers and others to direct them. Happy the boy or girl who learns to be obedient to the Lord Jesus, for that life will then all be ordered for his good. The Lord has a way for each of His own to serve Him and there is blessing in being submissive.
Perhaps you noticed, too (if you read this whole portion — and we hope you did so), that they found this colt “in a place where two ways met.” God speaks solemnly to us in every word of His holy Scriptures. It may be that you are now in a place in life where “two ways meet” — the way of the world and the way of God. While the way of the world often appears attractive to young and old alike, these are treacherous paths, about which it is said: “The end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 16:2525There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 16:25). Yielding one’s life to the pleasures of this world and its folly for a few years may seem tempting, but could mean a lost eternity. The choice is put before each of us in Deuteronomy 30:1919I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: (Deuteronomy 30:19): “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that [you] may live.”
Ah, young friend, learn early in life, with God’s help, to make that right choice and go in the Lord’s way, submitting yourself and letting Him have first place in your heart. “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” 1 Peter 3:1212For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. (1 Peter 3:12).
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