Mark 11:4-7 "And they went their way, and
found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they
loose him. (5) And certain of them that stood there said unto them,
What do ye, loosing the colt? (6) And they said unto them even as
Jesus had commanded: and they let them go. (7) And they brought the
colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him."
This passage of Scripture has always fascinated me. Jesus had just sent two of His disciples into Jerusalem to bring back the colt. He would use it to ride into the city for the final time. It seems that Jesus already knew their apprehension about getting this colt. It seems they were wandering what if the owner does not want us to take it? What if we are accused of stealing the colt? Jesus addressed that before they even asked. We find it in verse 3, just prior to today's text. "And 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." (Mark 11:3) If you are asked, simply say the Lord needs him. They will let you take the colt.
Our text tells us they found the colt "in a place where two ways met; and they loose him." Mark had a way of expressing things that makes you stop and think about what is said. They found him in a place where two ways met. Yes I understand this was a geographical location; but, have you ever found yourself in a place where two ways meet? We call it a "fork in the road." You have a choice as to which way to turn. I think we all find ourselves at times with decisions in life where there are options. Life is filled with choices. How do we go about making the correct decision? How do we know if we have made the right decision? The answer to these questions seems to come with the corresponding peace that we experience afterward. But again, how do we come to that place of peace? It is most assuredly by seeking the guidance of the Lord and following the instructions that He places in our hearts to do. If there is peace, then we have chosen the correct way. If there is inner turmoil, then we probably need to stop and ask the Lord for redirection. There are many places in life where two ways meet.
The second thing about this text that has always fascinated me is found in verse seven. "And he sat upon him." We read the words of Jesus in verse two of this 11th chapter of Mark, "ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him." This was an untamed colt. No one had ever ridden him before. We see the sovereign power of Jesus Christ to be able to tame. The nature of the colt was to buck off anyone that would sit upon him and try to guide its path. Yet, Jesus sat upon him and rode him into town. I don't read that the colt became angry or tried to throw Jesus off its back. It was submissive to the will of its Creator. We can all look at ourselves and see the resulting work of the Master in our lives. He has tamed us. He has changed our nature. He has brought us from being dead in trespasses and sins to being alive in Him. I'm so thankful for the power of Jesus Christ to change, not only situations and circumstances, but to change me.
May I learn from today's passages that when I come to a place where two ways meet, a place where decisions must be made, that I use one criteria in coming to the conclusion. What would Jesus have me do?
This passage of Scripture has always fascinated me. Jesus had just sent two of His disciples into Jerusalem to bring back the colt. He would use it to ride into the city for the final time. It seems that Jesus already knew their apprehension about getting this colt. It seems they were wandering what if the owner does not want us to take it? What if we are accused of stealing the colt? Jesus addressed that before they even asked. We find it in verse 3, just prior to today's text. "And 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." (Mark 11:3) If you are asked, simply say the Lord needs him. They will let you take the colt.
Our text tells us they found the colt "in a place where two ways met; and they loose him." Mark had a way of expressing things that makes you stop and think about what is said. They found him in a place where two ways met. Yes I understand this was a geographical location; but, have you ever found yourself in a place where two ways meet? We call it a "fork in the road." You have a choice as to which way to turn. I think we all find ourselves at times with decisions in life where there are options. Life is filled with choices. How do we go about making the correct decision? How do we know if we have made the right decision? The answer to these questions seems to come with the corresponding peace that we experience afterward. But again, how do we come to that place of peace? It is most assuredly by seeking the guidance of the Lord and following the instructions that He places in our hearts to do. If there is peace, then we have chosen the correct way. If there is inner turmoil, then we probably need to stop and ask the Lord for redirection. There are many places in life where two ways meet.
The second thing about this text that has always fascinated me is found in verse seven. "And he sat upon him." We read the words of Jesus in verse two of this 11th chapter of Mark, "ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him." This was an untamed colt. No one had ever ridden him before. We see the sovereign power of Jesus Christ to be able to tame. The nature of the colt was to buck off anyone that would sit upon him and try to guide its path. Yet, Jesus sat upon him and rode him into town. I don't read that the colt became angry or tried to throw Jesus off its back. It was submissive to the will of its Creator. We can all look at ourselves and see the resulting work of the Master in our lives. He has tamed us. He has changed our nature. He has brought us from being dead in trespasses and sins to being alive in Him. I'm so thankful for the power of Jesus Christ to change, not only situations and circumstances, but to change me.
May I learn from today's passages that when I come to a place where two ways meet, a place where decisions must be made, that I use one criteria in coming to the conclusion. What would Jesus have me do?