The Donkey's Owners Series

Title: The Donkey's Owners

Intro: Someone who gave it up simply because "the Lord needs it."

Scripture: Luke 19:28-40.

Reflection

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

"The Lord needs it." – Luke 19:31

Have you ever thought about the people who owned the donkey that Jesus rode into Jerusalem? Probably not. They are among the Bible's most overlooked characters. We do not know their names. We do not know if they were wealthy or poor, young or old, male or female. Scripture tells us almost nothing about them. And yet, without their willingness to give, Palm Sunday might never have happened.

That is what I want us to consider today as we begin our journey through Holy Week. As we follow Jesus from this triumphant entrance to the cross and ultimately to the empty tomb, let us start by reflecting on these unnamed, unsung heroes who made the triumphal entry possible by simply saying "yes" when the Lord needed something they had.

Picture the scene with me. It is nearly Passover in Jerusalem. The city is buzzing with pilgrims from across the land. Jesus and his disciples approach a village, likely Bethphage or Bethany, and he gives two of his followers very specific instructions:

"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. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' say, 'The Lord needs it.'" (Luke 19:30-31)

Can you imagine being those disciples? "Excuse me, we are just going to take this valuable animal that does not belong to us. The Lord needs it." It sounds almost like divine theft! But Jesus knew exactly what would happen. He knew the owners would agree.

And that is precisely what happened. The disciples found the colt just as Jesus said. When they began untying it, the owners asked why, and when the disciples explained that the Lord needed it, they let it go without argument.

Why did they do this? We are not told. Perhaps they were secret followers of Jesus. Maybe they had heard his teachings or witnessed his miracles. Or perhaps they simply responded to an unexpected divine appointment—a moment when God asked something of them, and they said yes.

What happens next is famous. Jesus rides that never-before-ridden colt into Jerusalem while crowds spread their cloaks on the road and wave palm branches, shouting, "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" (Luke 19:38)

It was the fulfillment of Zechariah's prophecy: "Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." (Zechariah 9:9)

The Messiah had come, just as foretold—riding on a donkey that belonged to someone else. Someone who gave it up simply because "the Lord needs it."

But have you ever considered what might have happened if those owners had refused?

"No, sorry. This colt is valuable. We need it for our business. We have been training it. Do you know how much a young, unridden donkey is worth? Find another animal."

Had they said that, how would Palm Sunday have unfolded? Would Jesus have found another way to fulfill the prophecy? Surely he would have. God's plans do not ultimately depend on our cooperation. But those unnamed owners would have missed being part of one of history's most significant events. They would have missed their moment.

The donkey in Jesus' day was not just a pet or a symbol. It was essential technology—the equivalent of a car, truck, and tractor combined. People used donkeys for transportation, for carrying goods to market, for agricultural work. And this particular donkey was young, unridden, in its prime—when its value was highest.

Giving it up, even temporarily, was no small sacrifice. It would be like someone today saying, "Take my new truck for a parade through town. I do not know when I will get it back. I do not know what condition it will be in afterward. But if the Lord needs it, it is yours."

That is faith in action. That is generosity with purpose.

Now, contrast that response with how we sometimes act in our churches today. We are enthusiastic about spiritual things that do not cost us anything. Like that story about the visiting preacher:

He gets the congregation excited, saying, "This church has really got to walk!" Someone shouts, "Let her walk, preacher!"

He ups the energy: "If this church is going to go, it is got to get up and run!" The response grows: "Let her run, preacher!"

Feeling the momentum, he declares, "If this church is going to go, it is got to really fly!" And with even greater enthusiasm, they shout, "Let her fly, preacher, let her fly!"