In the synoptic gospels of Mark, Matthew, and Luke they each record that just prior to Christ’s triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, Jesus sent His disciples to procure for Him a donkey (Mark 11:3; Matt. 21:3; Luke 19:34). And He told them that if anyone asks why they are taking the animal, to say, “The Lord has need of it.”
This is a rather amazing statement because, when did God ever “need” anything? As it is stated in the Psalms, “The world and all that is in it is mine” (Ps. 50:12). Yet this was a systematic paradox to our Lord’s earthly life.
- He was rich, but became poor (2nd Cor. 8:9
- He owned all things, but possessed nothing
- He created the stars, but had nowhere to lay His head (Matt. 8:20)
- He fashioned everything out of nothing, yet borrowed a boat from which to preach (Luke 5:3)
- He created every drop of water that exists, yet cried, “I thirst” from the Cross (John 19:28)
- He created every tree, but died upon a borrowed wooden Cross
- He created every rock, but was buried in someone else’s tomb hewn from stone (Matt. 27:59-60)
- He “made the clouds His chariots and rides upon the wings of the wind” (Ps 104:3), but borrowed a donkey on which to humbly ride into Jerusalem
The Lord could save sinners and accomplish His earthly ministry just fine without us, yet He chooses to use us (even though we are weak, frail, sinful human beings) for His glory, allowing us to “co-labor” with our Creator and spread His Gospel.
Therefore, just as a humble little donkey was used to carry the King of Glory into the Holy City of Jerusalem, Jesus so desires to also use us as apostles to build, be, and perpetuate His Church and continue His ministry.
