“My” Donkey

Devotional: Applying the Bible to my today.

Read: Luke 19:28-44

"Leave my donkey alone!" I would jokingly yell back at friends who were messing with Blaster, a midget donkey and our school's mascot. Though I was the one who often cleaned up after Blaster, gave him his snacks and would run across the football field with him after a touchdown, Blaster did not belong to me. He belonged to Bill. Because I acknowledged Bill as Blaster's rightful owner, I needed no convincing and had no concerns in handing the reigns over to him and the next up and coming helper at the end of my college career (but it was sad to say goodbye to that sweet, stubborn face!). 

The story of Jesus' grand entrance into Jerusalem on a donkey is told in 3 of the 4 gospels. It is such an important story because it fulfills prophecy of the old testament, it's a statement by Jesus announcing himself as King/Messiah (which He rarely did so boldly), and it provided opportunity for others to worship Him openly. 

Lets discuss a very subtle character(s): the owners of the donkey, who earned 0.0032% of Bible real estate. One single verse - "As [the disciples] were untying the colt, its owners said to them, 'Why are you untying the colt?'" Luke 19:33. That's it. 

There are so many unanswered questions regarding this encounter - none of which change the overall purpose of the story. Who are the owners? Why are there more than one? Did Jesus coordinate the use of the donkey with them in advance either personally, through sending someone ahead or through supernatural notification? Did the owners know who Jesus was? Why did they agree to let Jesus have the donkey? Did He pay them?

Lets put ourselves in the shoes of one of the owners...

Right at this moment, you and a neighbor are handing over coins to purchase a donkey. Since your oldest son fell ill, it has been impossible to get all the necessary work done. Even when he was well and could work it, the needs of the family were barely met. Gratitude now fills you because you and your boys have been breaking your backs collectively doing the work a single donkey can do alone. Previously you had been unable to afford a donkey and neither could your neighbor, but now, together, the donkey will be shared and you will be able to accomplish the necessary work to feed your family again while also taking care of your sick son. The donkey is only a colt, has not been broken in yet for work, nor has it been ridden, but the anticipation of his worth fills your mind.

Just as the coins are passed, you look over to see two men untying your colt and the mother donkey.  

"Why are you untying the colt?" You ask in a panic.

The men responded calmly and confidently, "The Lord has need of it."

"Lord?" You feel almost dizzy... The truths you learned as a child are blazing through your mind, "The earth is the Lord's, and all it contains..." (Psalm 24:1). You say and do nothing as they walk off with the donkey and colt.

What do you do next? You follow them from a distance. So many emotions are flooding your veins: anger, sorrow, intrigue. Who is the Lord in which they referred? They take the donkey to the Rabbi Jesus, the Rabbi that you have heard so many stories about. Why does the Rabbi need your donkey?

Likely unbeknownst to the owners, they played a critical role in allowing Jesus to fulfill prophecy and introduce Himself very directly as the Messiah, and all they had to do was hand over a donkey. Who knows, maybe they even got the donkey back. 

I routinely tell God I want to be a part of His plan, but do I really? What if I am like the donkey owners and nobody asks me before taking the things I love or cherish? What if nobody ever acknowledges my sacrifice? What if it requires me to give up something I deserve or use to keep my family safe? What if I never get to see the result of my sacrifice? What if...

God is Creator, Father and Redeemer. Everything I have and all the people in my life belong to the Lord, yet, at times, I grab things like time, money, and my children tightly and claim them like a toddler, "MINE!". There are some things I have confidently handed over only to whine about it later. On my more spiritually mature days, even if it embarks considerable emotion upon my heart, I humbly acknowledge Jesus as the owner of everything in my life and I simply hand it over... times like the day my dad was given a terminal, Stage 4 cancer diagnosis or the day I knew I was suppose to leave my career and take a huge pay reduction. Both of these circumstances required me to seek Him constantly for reassurance and peace, but, not much unlike handing Blaster's reigns over, I knew that my dad, my job, and my paycheck were not really mine at all.

This may become slightly more difficult to release when we are called to succumb our "rights". What about the right to be happy, to sexuality, to success, to opinion, to plan, to choose, to safety, etc.?

Romans 8:16-18 tells us, "The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us."

Our enemy would like to create a panic in us - that we are giving up everything and, therefore, will have nothing. God's Word and track record confirms that when we submit what is rightfully His back to Him (our lives, relationships, stuff, and rights), it paves the way for us to receive everything. We can never out-give God.

Though rarely acknowledged, the donkey owners played a significant role in the Kingdom. Their act of giving back to Jesus what was rightfully His allowed others to see Jesus as Messiah and have an opportunity to worship Him. When faced with what seems like insurmountable sacrifice, take a moment to acknowledge Jesus as the rightful owner of our lives, relationships, rights and all that you have so that you can receive perspective, confidence, fullness of His intended blessing, and watch as He is glorified.

• What relationship, "stuff" or rights have you made off-limits to God? Why?
• What does it look like to give freely to God?
• What has Christ freely given to you? Have you received it?