“The Lord Has Need of It” (Luke 19:28-35)

When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 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, 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. And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’" (vs28-31)

Reason enough is given when the Lord has need of something, when something must be done His way.  You believe this by the gospel and surrender all.  We bow to Christ because the Lord needs it to be this way. He's been exalted and given all preeminence, being the only Name whereby we must be saved.

First, we bow because we see Jesus' glory (vs31).  This man gave up his young horse, not on the disciple's authority, but on the Lord Jesus Christ's, who is the disciple's Master and Boss. He said, “Because the Lord has need of it”. Thus, demons come out and people are changed, not because we say, but because it is written, and it must be according to God's word.  Authority isn't in us, as if, “I've been great”, “I say so”, or “because of me”.  Authority is in Christ, whereby we please the Son, because this is what He says to do. Acts 4:12 says, “Nor is their salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved”.

Secondly, Christ's commands give life and salvation; they are freedom from sin (vs30). He said, “Loose it and bring it here”. Thus, young horse is loosed into high honor and service, and so are we. We read, “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God” (Rom 6:12-13).  There is no bondage in the kingdom. We're liberated into the SLAVERY of service.  We're free to walk as sons, serving God IN newness of life, rather than for it.

We obey because it's best for us!

Thirdly, the Lord takes care of His followers (vs32-35). We read, “But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, Why are you loosing the colt? And they said, The Lord has need of him. Then they brought him to Jesus”. Just like this colt is loosed according to plan, the Church isn't helpless in our mission.  On their own, it was thievery for the disciples to take the colt, but with Christ, they're given all that they need, for He cares for us.  Not merely is it, “Do what I say”, but it is also, “I'll care for you as you do My will”, which is saving sinners and glorifying the One who's worthy.

Finally, where do you stand with Christ?  Do you do His will because of who He is, Lord and Savior? It's because you've seen His glory!  His will for us is freedom from sin to serve in holiness, and He cares for us along the way, providing all that we need.  He's not left us orphans, but He comes to us in the Person of the Holy Spirit, comforts us, and give us all that we've been promised, even eternal paradise (John 14:18).