Mark 11:1-3
‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone says to you, “Why are you doing this?” just say this, “The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.”’
The followers of Jesus have gone from Jericho and the blind man of yesterday and we next hear they have reached Bethany, not that far from Jerusalem. Jesus’ friends Mary, Martha and Lazarus live there and we suspect Bethany will become his headquarters til Passover. Jesus sends two disciples into the next village to find a colt. Matthew and Luke include the same incident and tell it the same way. Interestingly, Jesus anticipates that the two men will be questioned for taking the donkey’s colt and tells them to reply, “The Lord needs it.”
I wonder what two people from church might ask for from me today, saying that “the Lord needs it.” The most equivalent would be if they came to borrow my new car or my new unridden motorcycle. We could let our imagination run a bit and perhaps they might ask us to sing in an Easter program or work in the kitchen for the youth pancake breakfast. And of course there are always financial needs or need for help around the church.
I find it more interesting to think on the word “need” today. I don’t particularly think of the Lord as needing anything from me. He wants my love and service but does he need me? It is usually me standing in the need of prayer … and help.
The word “need” speaks to the relationship, the partnership that Christianity believes exists between the creator and the creation. We do not see faith as a master/slave, top down arrangement. It is easy to see my relationship as a power play by God but I think of the partnership as more collaborative. Through prayer we are in constant give and take communication. God shares with me the master plan through his Word. Life is not a guessing game.
Let’s ponder in prayer today what God might need from you. He may need you to be his arms hugging someone. He might need your voice speaking truth to someone. He may need your feet carrying help. God not only wants relationship with you, he needs you. Wow, that is worth praying over.
On the Way to Wonder 