People rarely think about the miracle that took place the moment Jesus sat upon the donkey colt. A king usually chose a stallion to ride on, and it would be considered unwise for anyone to choose an unbroken animal that had never been ridden. But this is exactly what Jesus chose, and 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 old, because, if he were any younger, the donkey’s frame could not carry human weight without damage to the animal’s structure. 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. We decide this colt was not exactly a good choice for a ride through a crowded street in a major city.
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 usual behavior, as those people would have known, I would have been filled with wonder as I saw a wild and uncontrollable donkey colt meekly submit to Jesus. Truly, Jesus 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.
When Jesus was riding upon him,
He went just the way that he should,
A quiet, submissive young donkey
Made so by the blest Son of God.
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? Your age doesn’t matter. He loves you and wants you to be finished 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 5:1717Therefore 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-12/13/2015