May 22 2025

Thursday May 22

Luke 19:28-36 – We Are Sent to Loose a Tied Colt

28 When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 And it came to pass, when He came near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples, 30 saying, "Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. 31 And if anyone asks you, 'Why are you loosing it?' thus you shall say to him, 'Because the Lord has need of it.' " 32 So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them. 33 But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, "Why are you loosing the colt?" 34 And they said, "The Lord has need of him." 35 Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. 36 And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road.

Today as we look at this passage in Luke 19, we need to remember that in the last several chapters, Jesus has been on his way to Jerusalem with his disciples. He is giving His last lessons and messages, teaching them things about the coming kingdom. Now, on this particular occasion, in verse 28, it says, "And when he had said this, He went ahead, going up to Jerusalem." We believe this is Jesus' last trip to Jerusalem, where he will be crucified. The events we read about here in verses 28 and following take place on what we call Palm Sunday.  Over the next several days we will be talking about the events of this week leading up to his crucifixion.

This event takes place on the east side of Jerusalem on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sends two of His disciples to a nearby village to loose a colt that is tied by “a door outside, where two ways met.” Of course this event is about what takes place on Palm Sunday, but I think the great lesson here is, especially as we were looking at the previous parable Jesus just gave about the ten minas that was given to the ten servants by their master (vv. 11-27), He was talking about how we, as the servants of Jesus, have been entrusted with the Word of God, with the seed of God's Word, and we are to take this seed to the world. We are to invest it in the lives of others, showing them the way to Jesus.

Then we have Luke recount this event that takes place. You also read this event in detail in the Gospel of Mark chapter 11. In Mark chapter 11, it talks about how Jesus sends two of His disciples. You have a great illustration and application of how Jesus sends out His disciples two by two. The Bible teaches us that we should have a companion to go with us as we share the gospel with others. There are many reasons for that.

As we go out two by two, we are to find a colt that's tied by the door. I love how Mark's Gospel says it: “They went their way and found a colt tied by the door, outside in a place where two ways met, and they loosed him.” This colt represents a lost sinner. It was a colt that had never been ridden, a great picture of a sinner who is lost in his sins. He is tied by the door, and isn't it interesting that Jesus says, "I am the door"? He's tied by a door that's outside. The people who are lost are tied to sin, outside the door of salvation, Jesus Christ.

They are also in a place where “two ways met”. This is a place of decision. You either go to heaven from here, or you go to hell. When you meet Jesus Christ, you have to make a choice: Is He indeed the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world, or is He just someone else you don't care to know? If you decide that He is Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, my friend, you want to be loosed from the bondage of your sin. And you need someone to bring you the power of the Gospel Word to loose you.

So, what should we be doing as servants and disciples of Jesus Christ? We should be obeying Him, going to the place where two roads meet, a crossroads for a lost sinner tied to his sin. Our job is to share the good news of Jesus Christ, loose him, and bring him to Jesus. Jesus said, "I have need of him." 

Oh, my friend, Jesus has need of every lost sinner, who is someone who will bring Him glory, praise, and honor like no one else can. And serve Him to bring others to Christ also. Today, let's apply these scriptures to our lives and be like these disciples who went and did as the Lord told them. We have been given the Great Commission also. We are sent by Jesus to loose a tied colt today! He or she is at the crossroad of decision! Be looking for him or her as you go!

Yesterday, my friend Ben and I had the opportunity to begin “loosing” a tied colt (a waitress), as we were eating lunch at a local restaurant. How exciting!!!!

God bless!