When He approached Bethphage and Bethany, near the mount that is called Olivet, He sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village ahead of you; there, as you enter, you will find a colt tied on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of it.’ ”

So those who were sent went away and found it just as He had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?”
They said, “The Lord has need of it.”

They brought it to Jesus, and they threw their coats on the colt and put Jesus on it. As He was going, they were spreading their coats on the road. As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, shouting:

“BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD;
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (Luke 19:29-38)

What does Jesus need? One might believe that Jesus doesn’t need anything. But one day, a week before Passover, Jesus needed a colt and he had his disciples procure it.

Why would someone allow strangers to take a colt simply by saying that the Lord needed it? The word translated “Lord” is a word that in the first century was used by Jewish people to refer to God. So when the disciples asked to borrow the colt for “the Lord,” its owner would believe it was needed for a religious purpose.

Nevertheless, the story about the colt is presented as a miracle: Jesus knew beforehand what would happen. And ordinarily, people do not give property to strangers who ask for it. But Jesus is God and since God “owns the cattle on a thousand hills,” the animal was his regardless. The story once again reminds us that Jesus is more than just a man. And if Jesus wants something, he will get it. Jesus had the power to heal the sick, and he had the power to borrow something if he needed it, when he needed it.

God needs you. Don’t imagine that he won’t do with you what he needs to do with you. And since he loves you, it will be a good thing, for him, for you and for everyone else.

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