Mind Meld of A Different Kind

MARK 11:1-11
As Jesus and his disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. “Go into that village over there,” he told them. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks, ‘What are you doing?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it and will return it soon.’”

The two disciples left and found the colt standing in the street, tied outside the front door. As they were untying it, some bystanders demanded, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” They said what Jesus had told them to say, and they were permitted to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it, and he sat on it.

Many in the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others spread leafy branches they had cut in the fields. Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting,

“Praise God!
Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD!
Blessings on the coming Kingdom of our ancestor David!
Praise God in highest heaven!”

So Jesus came to Jerusalem and went into the Temple. After looking around carefully at everything, he left because it was late in the afternoon. Then he returned to Bethany with the twelve disciples.

A Missed Double Entendre
In times past new kings rode into Jerusalem on a donkey as part of the coronation ceremony. They people remembered this. So, of course, they shouted, “blessing on the coming Kingdom of our ancestor David.”

Problem is, they got the timing all wrong.

Jesus was, and is, king over all that exists. King of kings. Mark has shown us time and again the authority of Jesus. Everything bends to his command. Jesus was king of the Jews just as Pilate posted on his cross. But he was also king of the Romans. What people couldn’t grasp, including his disciples, was Jesus’ timing.

Jesus showed himself king over everything but he would not show himself king over everyone until those he would rule, willingly and freely, invited him to be their king. To usurp rule over unwilling people, was within Jesus’ ability, but not his character. He is servant king not autocratic king. He is love not oppression.

We sinful humans are too easily convinced to coerce others in the name of righteousness, abuse human dignity in the name of holiness. Not Jesus.

One day, in a new heaven and earth, populated by those who willingly and freely named him their king, Jesus will rule absolutely. All hail king Jesus! Until then, he will refuse to mount any throne except the ones made available to him in the hearts of individuals.

First comes the spiritual kingdom of the human heart. Only then comes the political rule of a new reality populated only by those who willingly gave him their hearts. The first century witnesses to the king on his donkey completely missed Jesus’ kingship of their hearts.

Lord Jesus, king of my heart I crown you now and forever. Thanks to your gift of faith, I trust you as the absolute ruler of all that I am or ever hope to be when you return and your kingdom is finally and fully established. - Mike Leamon

Unquestioned availability
I have lived in both the suburbs and in the country and there is a big difference. I grew up on a farm and lived in the country until I went to seminary in New Jersey. Moving to NJ was a major paradigm shift. There were some advantages of life in NJ. If you needed something last minute at the store you just went and picked it up. We lived 5 minutes from the mall and within walking distance of Wendy’s which was part of a small strip mall with a grocery store. Anything we needed was close by. Because of this we hardly ever asked to borrow something from our neighbors.

In the country, it was just the opposite. You were a good 15 to 20 minutes away from anything so if you needed a cup of sugar it was much easier to ask a neighbor than to go to town. If you have lived in the county very long you are soon welcomed into a community of openness. I have stopped at our neighbors with a tractor for a few gallons of diesel fuel when I thought I might run out. I have walked into someone home when they were gone to use the phone when I broke down. These actions were not just allowed they were welcomed by each neighbor.

I find this openness, this unquestioned availability in the story of the triumphal entry. Not in the disciples or even Jesus, but in the unnamed owners of the donkey. The owner, without question of how Jesus would use it, when Jesus would return the animal, or what they would receive in return, released his possession into Kingdom use.

I believe this unnamed person demonstrates how God wants each of us to live. Unquestioned availability. No list of demands, no rationalizations, no excuses; just prompt and generous availability with all that we have and are. God is always glorified when we live like this, just as Jesus was glorified when he rode into Jerusalem.

Lord, I want to live in unquestioning availability to you today. Everything I have and am belongs to you. Use me today to bring glory to your name. - Dan Jones