When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold your King is coming to you,
Gentle, and mounted on a donkey,
Even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.'”
The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them, and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their coats on them; and He sat on the coats. Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road.
The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting,
“Hosanna to the Son of David;
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord;
Hosanna in the highest!”
When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.” ~ Matthew 21:1-11 (NASB)
We start Lent reading about Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. This story dramatically demonstrates how God’s plan is fulfilled in Jesus. Every detail was determined from the beginning of time, even to a donkey and a colt being tied in a certain village—just waiting for Jesus to send His disciples to get them. That small detail—the animals being in precisely the right spot and the villagers not stopping these strangers from taking them—is a perfect example of our perfect Lord’s perfect plan.
Lord God, I am awed at Your plan, created by love and executed with precision. Though I don’t always understand why or how certain things happen, I realize that You know exactly what will happen and everything is in Your will. Thank You that You loved me enough to send Jesus to die on the cross for my sins. During this Lenten season, give me a deep sense of penitence and gratitude for Your grace. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.