A Bible Reading: Luke 19:29-31
As Jesus approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' say, 'The Lord needs it.'"
A Thought
Tomorrow we celebrate Palm Sunday, the time when Jesus rode in triumph into Jerusalem amidst crowds of people praising God. Jesus may have been centre stage here, and sometimes we lose sight of the people working behind the scene making it all happen.
There is his accommodation in Bethany. As we read through Mark chapters 11 and 14 we see that Jesus travelled between Bethany and Jerusalem on at least three days. Where did he stay? Maybe with his friends Mary, Martha and Lazarus, or maybe Simon the Leper. Then there is the person who made his donkey available to Jesus, and the person who lent him the upper room where they could celebrate the Passover. And there are the disciples who seemed to be overseeing his plans and making sure it all fell into place..
When Jesus sent the disciples to fetch the donkey he said to them, “If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' say, 'The Lord needs it.” What do we have that the Lord might need at this time? What do we have that we might offer to support someone else in our community? It won’t be a donkey or a meeting room, but it might be a phone call or a card, it might be getting them something they need when we go shopping, or a simple treat – a bunch of flowers or a box of chocolates. Or it could simply be putting their bins out! Small acts that are all part of the wider ministry of Jesus in our world.
A Prayer
Lord Jesus, we know that you are working out your purposes in our world. Show me today how I can share in your plans to show the love of God amongst my family and friends and in my community.
Amen.
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