“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.'” So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them. 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. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road. Luke 19: 29 – 36 (NKJV)
A COLT TIED FOR MASTER’S USE
This particular passage is a record of the events that took place as Jesus Christ was moving towards His place of fulfillment. First, He had ordered for the preparation of a colt for His triumphant entry into Jerusalem and now He had been set on this colt as He continued in His journey to Jerusalem.
Let us pause to briefly consider the position of this colt. It was an unused one -the one that no one has ever sat on its back before. This colt had been tied down for so many years and it would have been looking at other colts moving up and down. Some of those colts might have been making jest of this tied colt. May be saying – ‘look at this good-for-nothing animal, all of us are going to farm now and helping our owners but this stupid one will always stay at home doing no work except eating and sleeping.’ May be the colt would have been lamenting its pitiable condition wondering if it will ever be well with its life. But do you that, God has a purpose for its life. Others had been carrying common men but this one colt at last carried the Messiah on its back. The honour others had never enjoyed, this colt began to enjoy because no colt had ever walked on the cloths of people before, none had ever had palm front set before them with many people following it with a loud voice of honour.
So many times we experience a kind of tying down in our endeavours in life and it seems God had forgotten us. Sometimes it will look as if we have come to the end of the rope of our lives. There is need for us to consider the story of this colt as at the end it turned out to be a success story. So, be rest assured that God has not forgotten you but may be keeping you for a higher calling. Don’t because of that abandon your faith. May be you have stayed so long a time at a spot or position in your chosen field in life or it looks as if your promotion has been pegged, remember the story this colt and rejoice in the Lord because your days of better story is at hand. Others might have gone, relax you will definitely outrun them like Elijah did if you wait to run in the might of God and not that of men. Stop lobbying for position, move forward in the strength of the Lord. What would have happened if this colt had lobbied its way out of that place? It would be used by men but it would not have been as honourable it was when it was used by the Saviour of the world. Can you compare a level 14 driver to that of the President of the nation? God has a purpose for our lives so let us be patient to receive the promise of God for our lives and ministry. We shall discuss this fully in our next edition.
“Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying:” ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” Luke 19: 37 – 40 (NKJV)
Long before the birth of Jesus Christ, many prophets had come declaring the word concerning the coming King. Prophet Isaiah specifically stated what would be His mission on earth and how the government of this world would be upon His shoulder. Even before Isaiah many fathers of faith had testified about His coming and His noble birth. So, it was not a hidden thing that He would come to the world. His birth, life, death and resurrection had been foretold even before His birth. But at this point when He was going to His place of fulfillment, some gathered together to say that the Saviour of the world should not be celebrated even though that would be the last praise during His life time before His death. Jesus Christ then had to remind them of the significance of the event and how it has been ordained that it would be celebrated as they must all see their King coming.
Some of the Pharisees called unto Him and demanded that He should silence His followers from celebrating His entry. There and then Jesus said to them ‘if these people who are singing the praise of my purpose on earth now should be ordered to keep silent or that they should voluntarily keep silent, stones would immediately cry out’. Why should Jesus Christ say this? Is this statement a threat? Why on earth should stones replace mortal men? Imagine the word – immediately in all translation indicating the urgency of the matter.
The triumphant entry of Jesus has to be celebrated. Man’s wisdom cannot change the plan of God not even with a common man not to talk of The Saviour of the world. No man can stop the agenda and programme of God for our lives. They may only choose not to be used or be part of the process of fulfilling it. For the fact that a group of people are deciding not to be part of God’s ordained programme for our lives does not say that such a plan will not come to pass if we hold tenaciously to our vision and purpose in life.
MAN’S REFUSAL CANNOT CHANGE GOD
Let us get it right from here that Jesus Christ was stressing the fact that whatever God has ordained will surely come to be. So, man’s refusal or denial of this ordained plan and purpose does not change who God is. When a man makes up his mind not to serve God, who is at loss? Is it God or man? Though this may be painful to God in some cases but it does not change the truth that God will remain God.
For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Mal. 3: 6(NKJV)
But You are the same, And Your years will have no end. Psalm 102: 27(NKJV)
Beloved, have you asked yourself that what has happened to God since men have been denying Him a place in their hearts? What has happened to His throne in heaven since men have been betraying His trust in them? Has it been relocated to any state or been removed into the sea? Has the integrity of His word changed? Then, if none of these has changed God, why are you boasting around as if your decision will make God to lose His place in heaven? Why on earth are you issuing this threat at every critical stage of your life giving God deadlines as if nothing happens God will relinquish His position in Heaven? Some of us will even say – ‘God if you don’t do it, I won’t serve you again’ May be we need to ask, why are we serving God? Is it because of what we can get from Him or because of who He is?
Why are we created? Is it not to serve Him? Is it not to worship Him? Is it not to sing His praise? Then if we decline in doing any of these, we will be failing in our responsibility to God as His creatures. So, serving Him is not like we are doing Him any favour but we are simply fulfilling the purpose of our creation and any attempt to say no to the reason why we were created, we will be flouting His order as commanded in the Scripture.
Stop saying you won’t serve God because of a certain moment of your life. Stop issuing those threats to God. It makes no meaning at all. Having considered that since those Pharisees refused to join in the celebration, did others not continue to celebrate His praise except that they were looking for those to join them. Jesus Christ told them even if they keep silent, it would not change the plan of God.
WHY STONES?
“I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”Luke 19:40(NKJV)
Why did Jesus Christ use the word stones and not others? Does it mean He had some specific stones in mind that He would use as another miracle to prove His Sonship? Literally, it appears to be so. But a careful study will show that there is more to this statement than what we see on the surface.
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. Gen. 2: 7(NKJV)
What is the makeup of every man? We are all from the dust. When Jesus Christ referred to these in that verse, He was referring to mortal men – His disciples and the crowd. When He now thought of recruiting other vessels in order to replace mortal men He thought of stones meaning that the stones as used by the Master would definitely suit His purpose and serve as worthy replacement to undertake the assignment at hand.
From the look of the two – stone and dust, which one has more strength? Which one can go far when thrown to hit a target? Which one will have more impact? Stones! Do you now realize why the Master said this emphatically that the stones would immediately cry out? Stone will of course go far with more vigour and strength. Its speed cannot be compared with that of dust. It can run faster. Its journey does not depend on its number but on the strength of the one that will be throwing it. It remains focus and determined as it goes on its mission. It can go alone to strike down its target. But dust will require the assistance of other particles to carry out its function. Is it possible to throw a particle of a dust? But you can do that with stone. Stone can cover more distance and by implication, it can cover more ground for its owner.
What is the point here? Jesus Christ was saying that there are other better vessels that can be used if those men refuse to sing His praise. Jesus was saying that there are far better instruments to be used if those men obey the voice of the Pharisees. So, if they keep silent because of the pressure of the world or the dictates of their trying moments of faith or succumb to demand of flesh, the stones – better vessels would not have to be sought for but would immediately take over.
So, for every vessel in the hands of God, there are far better ones somewhere, already prepared for the Master’s use.
And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now! John 2: 8 – 10(NKJV)
Though the text cited above is referring to the first miracle of Jesus Christ in Galilee where he turned water into wine, our interest here is the remark of the Master of the feast. …You have kept the good wine until now!
“Usually a host serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone is full and doesn’t care, he brings out the less expensive wines. But you have kept the best until now!” John 2:10 (NLT)
In this other translation, it reads …you have kept the best until now! In the dealings of God, a man should not begin to boast over the gifts and calling of God in His life because if he is not careful the best kept for the moment will take over immediately. God has never been pleased with vacuum in His work. So, the vacant space must be filled immediately just like the position of Judas Iscariot was filled.
Any vessel on assignment for God must do so with humility because there are many others waiting to be tested and used by God. Do you remember the story of Prophet Elijah?
So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” And he said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” Then the LORD said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria.”Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. “It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. “Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” 1 Kings 19: 13 – 18(NKJV)
The man Elijah had worked tirelessly for God and indeed he was jealous for God by standing against idol worshipping in his environment and after the Mount Camel victory, he was threatened by the power that be in the land. He then escaped into the wilderness. When he had an encounter with God he informed God about the threat emphasizing that he was the only representative of God left fighting His cause. To his own amazement, God responded that he was not the only one left. God had 7,001 men and Elijah was just one of them. God had 7,000 other men! Do you think if Elijah had refused serving God, would God lack a prophet or servant to carry out his agenda? No, not at all! Listen, no man is indispensable. If a man refuses to serve God or be used by God, God’s plan and purpose will still be fulfilled.
What is God using you for now? How is God using you now? Is God making use of your resources or connection now? If God is using you now, humble yourself. There is no one without opposition or challenges. Don’t because of any of these abandon God’s work. Please don’t allow even pride to make you turn your back at God. Avoid arrogant spirit in the service of God.
And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews.”For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Est. 4: 13 – 14 (NKJV)
Mordecai sent this message to Esther who was reluctant going to meet the king because of the law of the land especially in the court of the palace. Mordecai in this text re-affirms the fact that if Esther refused to stand up to the situation, God will raise someone else up for relief and deliverance. What a voice of certainty! If a man or woman says he/she will no longer be useful to God in a particular given assignment, there is always a steady replacement because God’s word must be fulfilled.
DAVID – A BETTER REPLACEMENT
So Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you.1 Samuel 15: 28(NKJV)
Saul was given an assignment to utterly destroy the Amalekites but he spared Agag and fat animals in the land. Then Samuel came to him and rebuked him because he disobeyed God’s instruction. Instead of admitting his wrong, Saul began to give excuse which eventually led to his rejection. Before he could think right, God had made a replacement. God had made a better replacement! A better replacement!
When God entrusts some responsibilities into our hands and if we take it with levity, there is danger because there are better vessels in the quiver of God if we fail in our duty. There are some vessels who because of pride have abandoned God’s assignment thinking they are too big for such an assignment when many are praying day and night for God to at least consider them for a chance in His vineyard. Please note that there are better replacement waiting for God to call on them.
Beloved, there is need for all of us to understand that there is no job without its ups and downs. There are times when we be happy doing the Master’s work while there are moments when we will feel discouraged or disappointed because of certain events. In all, we are to remain steadfast in the Lord. We must also guide against pride and arrogance in the service of God because THE STONES CAN STILL RISE AND CRY OUT IMMEDIATELY IF WE REFUSE TO DO HIS WILL.
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Cor 15:58 (NIV)