Palm Sunday:Fit for the Master's Use 1

Today ,we commemorate the Triumphal entry of Jesus to Jerusalem(Mark 11:1-11) . In many traditional  churches, palm fronds will be used for   decoration. These palm fronds represent the fronds along with the clothes  people put on  the way  which  the colt  stepped on as it  carried Jesus(Mark 11:7-8) .Several years ago, I learnt somethings about this colt which I would love to build on.

This colt  was tied and  had never been ridden before(Mark 11:2,Luke 19:30). Until a certain  day came, when Jesus sent for the colt  to be brought. Jesus did not only give a vivid description of where the colt was but an  answer to give  anyone who might oppose its untying.The disciples found the colt exactly as  Jesus described (Mark 11:4)  and untied it.They also answered the owners who asked the reason for the untying ( Mark 11:5-6 ).The colt now loosed carried Jesus into Jerusalem thus fulfilling prophecy( Zechariah 9:9,Isaiah 62:11).There is no doubt in our minds today  what would have happened if this colt had become rebellious and impatient  and left  the place where it was tied.

Prior to being loosed ,this colt although physically fit was tied. It was not free to move about like the other colts in town.The colt  may have sometimes  wondered, if it would be ever be used as it is also  possible that  some other colts may  have bragged and boasted to it about the places they had  traveled  to and the kind of people they had carried while it remained tied  in position  and under authority(it had owners).The  man who will be fit for the master's use is a  tied man  who is disciplined(2 Timothy 2:21) with  some restraint on his life. This restraint is what Paul referred to as the love of Christ compelling us (2 Corinthians 5:14). 

When this colt was  eventually untied , it was brought to Jesus to fulfil a need  (Luke 19:31).It was loosed to serve. A man who is fit for the master's use is one who  sees and uses  liberty as an occasion to serve (Galatians 5:13, 2 Peter 2:16).I have a feeling that as this colt carried Jesus into Jerusalem ,it became the envy of all the other colts who had been free all the while.Unlike them, this colt did not step on dust but rather on palm fronds and even clothes of people who were supposed to be his masters.

It is so comforting to know that  Jesus   cared enough to know  the address of the colt.He knows ours (Hebrews 13:8) .Like the colt, there is a place where God wants us to be(Acts 17:26,Matthew 24:46).For us to be fit for the Master's use,we must remain  there , tied and  ready  until the   master sends for us to serve. 

Happy Palm Sunday,
Grace Tom-Lawyer