“[Jesus] sent two of the disciples, saying… ‘You will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, “Why are you untying it?” you shall say this: “The Lord has need of it.”‘ … And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. And as He rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road.”
(Luke 19:29b, 30b, 31, 35-36 ESV)
I love those words, “The Lord has need of it.” God, needing something from us? My mind boggles. But that is what we get, at the moment of Jesus’ greatest earthly glory. It’s all borrowed.
Jesus borrows a donkey because He has nothing of His own to use, no horse or cart. Jesus has no saddle—so His disciples volunteer their cloaks. He has no royal carpet to ride on, no courtiers to go before and after Him—so the townspeople supply everything He needs.
This is the great courtesy and kindness of God, to give us the honor of supplying His needs, even on this day of His glory. For how should it be, that the great God should become a human being—should need milk and clothes and a manger to sleep in, parents to change Him and wash His diapers? How should it be, that the God who came to save us should let us cook for Him, run errands for Him, anoint Him for His burial?
And now that He has saved us forever through His death and resurrection, He still gives us the chance to serve Him—to take care of “the least of these My brethren,” the people in need around us. For He says, “What you do to them, you do to Me” (see Matthew 25:31-40). What an honor!
Prayer: Thank You, dear God, for allowing me to give to You. Amen.
Lenten Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Originally published in The Lutheran Hour on April 10, 2022
Used by permission from International Lutheran Laymen’s League, all rights reserved
Reflection Questions:
* What have you “lent to the Lord,” small or great?
* How did it make you feel?
* Why do you think God makes our small services a part of His great work?