DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- DOES JESUS NEED ME?

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – DOES JESUS NEED ME?

"Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples; and He said to them, 'Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. And if anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The Lord has need of it,' and immediately he will send it here.' " (Mark 11:1-3)

"The Lord has need of it." What an amazing statement. It is amazing to think that Jesus would need anything.

It was time for His triumphal entry into Jerusalem just before His encounter with the Cross. So he told His disciples to get a donkey's colt which was not yet broken or trained. This was in fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9 – "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, you King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey."

He – Who could create wine out of water, multiply the loaves and fish, heal the lame and bring people back from the dead – asked His disciples to get something for Him – a colt to ride on. He could have created a colt out of nothing, just as He did in the Creation. Or He could have asked for a Stallion. But He didn't. He used a common donkey, untrained at that.

So the disciples did as they were told. I can only imagine the surprise of the disciples when they found the colt, just as Jesus had said. And I can just see the question on the face of the owner when the disciples told him that the Lord needed the donkey. Strange, indeed. I would probably have required some kind of payment, security, or at least an IOU. But he allowed them to take the colt. And Jesus rode into Jerusalem on it, just as the prophet had prophesied.

I guess the thing that strikes me is that Jesus – the Lord of Heaven, of Earth, and all the Universe – would need anything. I don't know that He needs me – a dumb donkey, a jackass as we used to call them. However, He allows me to be a part of His plan. In a way, He does need us to spread the good news of the Gospel. He could use angels or some other method, but He has chosen us. We may be like the colt, untrained, but He can use us when we say, "Yes! Here I am. Use me."

I'm reminded of the song that Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir sings. "If You can use anything, You can use me. Take my hands Lord and my feet touch my heart Lord, speak through me, If you can use anything Lord, You can use me. I remember a story in the Bible days. You took a man called Moses with a rod in his hand. You told Moses, "Take the rod in your hand, stretch it forth and walk on dry land:" – If You can use anything, Lord, You can use me. I remember a story, I remember I well. He took a shepherd boy, David with a sling in his hand. Flung the rock and the giant fell dead, and I know if You can use anything, You can use me." From my childhood, I have sung the song, "Jesus use me, O Lord, don't refuse me. Surely there's a work that I can do. Even though it's humble, cause my will to crumble. Though the cost be great, I'll work for you." God really doesn't need us, but can use us if we will allow Him to.

Love,  Dad