September 27, 2006

The Horse Whisperer

1As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3If anyone asks you, 'Why are you doing this?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.' "

4
They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5some people standing there asked, "What are you doing, untying that colt?" 6They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,

"Hosanna!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
10"Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!"
"Hosanna in the highest!"

I was reading this story (Mark 11) today in my car. It's where I have my quiet time. I sit in my car in my parking lot at work. Yesterday, a coworker, gave me a hard time about it, but frankly, that don't matter a hill a' beans to me. My heart needs that quiet morning and digging into His word. It makes for a much better day than when I shrug Him off.

Anyways, so I'm reading this story and a few things stuck out at me. One, it reminds me of Easter, which is my favorite holiday, yes, Christmas is fun, but I just like Easter better. Two, He rode a colt into town. Not an old wise horse who knew the road, knew the people and other animals on the road. He chose a youngin' to bring Him.

Let me tell you a little bit about colts. Especially colts who have not been broken. Broken, or broken in, means that they have gotten used to a saddle/rider. Before they are broken in, they are referred to as green. They're skittish. They jump at the slightest surprise. They freak out when you try to just put a saddle blanket on their backs. They're not used to the weight or feel of it and it scares them. They shy away, run, or kick.

To make a colt comfortable it takes hard work, patience, and understanding. The trainer has to recognize what kind of weight or situation the horse is ready for. It could start out with just running a hand down them, and then move up to a brush, then part of the saddle blanket, the blanket itself, an empty, untied saddle, and so on until the horse is ready for its first human rider. Said rider should have catlike reflexes in case he/she needs to make a quick exit in case the horse spooks.

But not Jesus. He didn't need any of that. The colt was brought in, Jesus sat on him, and away they went into town. The story doesn't say, on the way there, the colt spooked and threw Him. I think it shows another example of Jesus' effect on everything He touched. The colt was at peace with His weight. I bet that little horse never forgot his first Rider...

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