God’s Monitor
When I was at infant school, I loved being a monitor – being trusted with an important task by the teacher, something to make their job easier and the class run smoother. It made me feel trusted and useful.
Mark 11:1-11
Jesus Enters Jerusalem1Jesus and his disciples reached Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives. When they were getting close to Jerusalem, Jesus sent two of them on ahead. 2He told them, “Go into the next village. As soon as you enter it, you will find a young donkey that has never been ridden. Untie the donkey and bring it here. 3If anyone asks why you are doing that, say, `The Lord needs it and will soon bring it back.’ ”
4The disciples left and found the donkey tied near a door that faced the street. While they were untying it, 5some of the people standing there asked, “Why are you untying the donkey?” 6They told them what Jesus had said, and the people let them take it.
7The disciples led the donkey to Jesus. They put some of their clothes on its back, and Jesus got on. 8Many people spread clothes on the road, while others went to cut branches from the fields.
9In front of Jesus and behind him, people went along shouting,
“Hooray!
God bless the one
who comes
in the name of the Lord!
10God bless the coming kingdom
of our ancestor David.
Hooray for God
in heaven above!”
11After Jesus had gone to Jerusalem, he went into the temple and looked around at everything. But since it was already late in the day, he went back to Bethany with the twelve disciples.
In this story of Jesus arriving in Jerusalem riding on a donkey, we often rush on to the main part of the story, and miss that sentence at the beginning. In Tom Wright’s words (p 131):
Jesus sent two of his disciples on ahead with a specific task
Yes the fact that Jesus is coming into Jerusalem riding on a donkey, and all the echoes and connotations that brings is important, but we should not rush on too fast.
As we have spent time this Lent pausing and reflecting, taking time with God and listening to his voice, is there perhaps a specific task God is calling you to? Is there something he is asking you to do for him? Something that only you can do? Something important?
At this point in the Lenten journey, as Holy Week and it’s challenges approaches, perhaps this is a good point to stop and ask ourselves, or more importantly God, this question – we may be surprised by the answer!
Thank you Lord,
that there is something that you are asking me to do for you,
something specific to me,
my role in your story.
May I faithfully fulfil your request.
,
This year, I am again following the BigRead using Tom Wright’s Lent for Everyone – Mark. I’ll reflect here – if you’re following it too, or even if you’re not, please share with me.
Pam's Perambulation 