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He Owns It

He Owns It

Words of Faith 12-28-18

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2018

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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Luke 19:28-48

    After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. [29] As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, [30] "Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. [31] If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it.' "

    [32] Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. [33] As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?"

    [34] They replied, "The Lord needs it."

 

       After the steep journey up through the Judean hills, Jesus made preparation for His entry into Jerusalem about two miles away in Bethany and Bethphage.  Here we begin consideration of some of the most familiar passages in the entire Bible. Even those who have only occasionally attended Christian worship have heard the story of the Palm Sunday road into Jerusalem marking the beginning of the last week of Jesus' earthly life.  

       This is not a portion of Scripture that we can study between Palm Sunday and Easter.  The Gospel writers dedicate most of their attention to this week.  This is where it all happens. All that Jesus has done and taught will now come to culmination here.  What happens in this week makes the difference between Jesus becoming just another of a hundred or so who claimed to be Messiah in the first century and His being confirmed as the Son of God and the Son of Man.

         Now I don't know about you, but if I went to a car dealership, cranked up a car on the lot, started to drive it away and said, "The Lord needs it," I would end up in jail.  But apparently Jesus had an arrangement. 

        It may be that He had made the arrangement months and months earlier when He was in Jerusalem.  It may be that the Holy Spirit made this arrangement.  It may be that Jesus knew that the owner of the colt had been in the crowds or had even been healed and would respond positively to the request knowing exactly who made it. 

        Some have suggested that there was a custom of loaning things to visiting rabbis during feasts, but that does not explain why the disciples could walk away with an animal without even leaving a name.  What we do know from this event is that nothing this week will be left to chance.  That is important.

        Jesus made a bold statement here at the very beginning of the week we call "Passion.”  In all of this, I am in charge of this week.  From the beginning of the week to the end, we need to know that God is in charge.  If ever there was a week in the Bible where we needed to know that, this is it.  If ever there was a week in the life of the disciples when they would need to remember that, this was it. 

       God is in charge.  He will provide the transportation.  He will provide the words.  He will provide the place.  He will provide the grace.  He will provide the strength.  He will provide the comfort.  He will provide the victory. 

        Make no mistake about it.  Jesus will not be ambushed this week.  He will not be tricked. He will not be entrapped.  They will not "catch up" to Him.  In fact, He will catch up to them.  They will not take life away from Jesus.  He shall willingly surrender His life.  The political forces shall have no victory.  Jesus shall have all the victory.  It may look otherwise at some points, but do not be discouraged.  Jesus is always in charge of this week.  He owns it.

         That is powerful.  But you know, this is not any less true of any other week.  The weekend ahead of us?  He owns that.  The week that will soon begin.  He owns that, too.  He is in charge of all my weeks.  If I need a donkey, he will provide it.  Whatever is needed or necessary, He will provide.  Nothing will catch up to Him, surprise Him or trick Him about this week.  If I stick with Jesus everything will be fine because He owns this week, too. 

 

        Father God, forgive me for the times I fret and worry.  You are in charge.  You have it under control.  Teach me to walk in trust.  In Jesus' name.