Mark 11:1-6: a reflection

1When they came near to Jerusalem, to Bethsphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples 2and said to them, “Go your way into the village that is opposite you. Immediately as you enter into it, you will find a young donkey tied, on which no one has sat. Untie him and bring him. 3If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs him;’ and immediately he will send him back here.” 4They went away, and found a young donkey tied at the door outside in the open street, and they untied him. 5Some of those who stood there asked them, “What are you doing, untying the young donkey?” 6They said to them just as Jesus had said, and they let them go.

As Jesus prepares to enter Jerusalem, he sends two disciples to fetch a young donkey, telling them exactly what to say if anyone questions them: If anyone asks you, Why are you doing this? say, The Lord needs him. And so it happens: the owners, hearing that the Lord had need of the colt, let it go. The Lord had need of what belonged to them; and when they heard it, they released it for his use. What was theirs was given up, at a word, for the Lord's need and use.

Notice the simple claim, and the response: the Lord has need of it, and the owners let it go. Jesus laid claim to what belonged to another, saying simply, the Lord needs him. And the owners, hearing this, did not cling to their possession, but released it for the Lord's use. What was theirs, they gave up at the Lord's word of need. The Lord's need was enough; they let their possession go for his use. They did not hold tightly to what was theirs when the Lord had need of it, but released it freely.

That is worth taking to heart, for the Lord may have need of what is ours, and we are to release it for his use. We hold possessions, resources, things that are ours; and the Lord may have need of them, for his purposes, his use. We can cling to what is ours, unwilling to release it; but the owners let the colt go when the Lord had need of it. When the Lord has need of what is yours, your possessions, your resources, your time, for his purposes, do not cling to it, but release it freely for his use, as the owners released the colt. Hold what is yours loosely, ready to release it when the Lord has need of it for his purposes, rather than clinging to it, as the owners let the colt go at the word, the Lord needs him; for what is ours is to be held ready for the Lord's use, released freely when he has need of it, as the disciples were sent to say, the Lord needs him, and the owners let it go.

Lord Jesus, as you prepare to enter Jerusalem, you send two disciples to fetch a young donkey, telling them exactly what to say if anyone questions them: if anyone asks you, why are you doing this? say, the Lord needs him. And so it happens: the owners, hearing that the Lord had need of the colt, let it go. The Lord had need of what belonged to them; and when they heard it, they released it for his use. What was theirs was given up, at a word, for the Lord's need. Show me the simple claim, and the response: the Lord has need of it, and the owners let it go. You laid claim to what belonged to another, saying simply, the Lord needs him. And the owners did not cling to their possession, but released it for your use. What was theirs, they gave up at your word of need. They did not hold tightly to what was theirs when you had need of it, but released it freely. Take that to my heart, for you may have need of what is mine, and I am to release it for your use. I hold possessions, resources, things that are mine; and you may have need of them, for your purposes. I can cling to what is mine, unwilling to release it; but the owners let the colt go when you had need of it. When you have need of what is mine, my possessions, my resources, my time, for your purposes, keep me from clinging to it; help me release it freely for your use, Lord, as the owners released the colt. Help me hold what is mine loosely, ready to release it when you have need of it.