URC Daily Devotion Saturday 22 March 2025

St Luke 19: 28 – 40

After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, “Why are you untying it?” just say this: “The Lord needs it.”’ So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ They said, ‘The Lord needs it.’ Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying,

‘Blessed is the king
    who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven,
    and glory in the highest heaven!’

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, order your disciples to stop.’ He answered, ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.’

Reflection

I often feel annoyed when I see pictures that the artist claims are of Jesus, He is so often depicted with blue eyes and blond hair wearing a spotless white robe.  Jesus was a Jew, he lived in Israel, He had worked as a carpenter.  He was not the physically weak person that artists like to portray.  I’m sure his clothes were dusty from walking many miles.

This passage reminds me of just how physically strong Jesus was.  Many years ago, I worked for Scripture Union and led a camp for schoolboys and one of the activities was pony trekking.  One day I was asked to walk up a hill and ride a pony back down, riding bareback was extremely uncomfortable but this pony was used to being ridden, Jesus rode a colt that had not been ridden before.  It can’t have been a comfortable ride. 

There are many parts of this passage that show how God was at work.  The owner of the colt was willing to let it be taken.  Would you let a stranger take your car?  It must have been the Holy Spirit who worked to make this person lend his colt to a stranger.

Jesus showed human and spiritual strength as he rode this previously unridden colt.  People recognised that something very special and called Jesus King.

The Pharisees were concerned, maybe they feared retaliation from the Romans if any Jew claimed to be a King.  Jesus was a King who was bringing peace, peace on earth and peace in heaven.  Jesus did not stop the people but reminded them that the very stones would cry out that He is King and Lord of all.  We should remember that Jesus was with His Father when the universe, which includes those stones, was created.

Prayer

Loving God, I thank you for your son, Jesus.
I thank you that He was willing to come and live amongst us.
I thank you for His strength and determination and that He never deviated from the path He had to follow.
Help me to follow His example and be strong despite opposition.
Help me to be like the owner of that colt, willing to give away my possessions if You need them.
Help me to follow Jesus more truly day by day
Amen