Palm Sunday

 “What are you doing untying the colt?”

Mark 11:5

          What would you do if a total stranger came up to you at the mall and asked to borrow your car and promised that it would be returned?  What would you do if Jesus told you to go up to a total stranger at the mall and ask to borrow her car assuring her that it would be returned?  Chances are you’d not be too pleased to be asked or to do the asking.  Yet, that is how the events of Palm Sunday began.  You’ll not find a clearer definition of faith in all of scripture.

          When those disciples showed up in Bethany and untied the donkey, the owner quite naturally asked them what they thought they were doing?  Scripture does not describe his tone, but I imagine his question carried some force.  When they responded, as Jesus told them, by saying, “The Lord has need of it, and will send it back soon”; this man had a faith decision to make.  Do I believe them?  Do I believe Jesus?

          His answer to that question is not recorded with words, but with action.  He let them have the donkey, believing that the Lord would use it for a good purpose and that it would be returned.  Perhaps he had heard Jesus’ promise, “Give and it will be given to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over.  For the measure you given will be the measure you get back.” (Luke 6:38) 

          Although scripture doesn’t say, I imagine that donkey held a special place among that man’s possessions.  People may have asked, “Is this the one?”  Whenever he answered, “Yes”, he was reminded that when he acted in faith, he was not disappointed.