Loose Him

by D. Smith, Lerwick | Category: General | Sept 1968

Many mysterious events mark the life of the Lord Jesus Christ when here on earth. Yet none of His works were done in vain, for all that He did was in the power of the Holy Spirit, and nothing of chance overtook Him. All was appointed by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God in fulfilment of the prophetic Scriptures.

The humility of the Lord is shown in the amazing choice of an ass, and a colt, the foal of an ass, to convey Him, the King of glory, into the city of Jerusalem, precisely as foretold by the prophet Zechariah, "Behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, even upon a colt the foal of an ass" (Zechariah 9.9). As Jesus approached Jerusalem for the last time, He instructed two of His disciples, "Go your way into the village over against you; in which as ye enter ye shall find a colt tied, whereon no man ever yet sat: loose him, and bring him. And if anyone ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say, The Lord hath need of him" (Luke

19.30,31).

Well may every Christian, on reading those words, ask, Why did the Lord Jesus loose me from my sins? (Revelation 1.5). Surely nothing of divine choice is more astounding than the saving by grace of sinners to God's eternal glory in Christ (1 Peter 5.10). The fact that God will, in the ages to come, "shew the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2.7), can only be explained by the words "God, being rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us". Our release from sin is not only for God's purpose in the "ages to come", but that our present lives might be lived unto God, as we walk "worthily of the Lord unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work" (Colossians 1.10).

If the Lord had need of a dumb ass, surely much more has He need of us. How fully the Lord can use our faculties and talents if only they be willingly yielded to His service! Do not shrink from full surrender. His yoke is easy and His burden light, and the commandments of God are not grievous, neither will He suffer you to be tempted above what you are able to bear.

The Lord has need of you at the assembly meetings, and if you are numbered with a small assembly your attendance is particularly important. You may be tempted, on a stormy night, to succumb to the urge for the fireside comfort, or to take an extended rest on a Lord's day morning, despite His command, "This do in remembrance of Me" (Luke 22.19). Surely the grace of God would teach us to cast aside everything that would unduly claim our time and energy and hinder our interest in the Lord and His word.

Perhaps the Lord has need of you to give His word to others. We may not be called to address large crowds, but have we not a definite word of warning for those we meet on our daily round; a neighbour, a workmate, or school friend? Is there one such whom we know to be living his life on the brink of a lost eternity, and who needs pointing to Christ? But "how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Romans 10.14). To warn men of coming judgement is the solemn responsibility of every believer. The LORD said to Ezekiel, "Give them warning from Me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand" (Ezekiel 3.18).

The calm and submissive behaviour of the colt is worthy of notice. It did not distract the attention of the crowds from the glorious One who had chosen this lowly beast as the means of His conveyance. The multitude cried saying, "Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord", and His own disciples praised God and said, "Glory in the highest". Thus they praised God and glorified His name when they saw the Lord Jesus borne on the back of the colt which drew no attention to itself.

The silent testimony of a sanctified and godly life is most effective in the eyes of men, and vitally important to the collective testimony of God's people. Beloved, "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5.16). If we do not respond to the Lord's call when He has need of us, surely we will lose a great opportunity of serving Him in this life and forfeit great and lasting reward in the world to come.

D. Smith, Lerwick | Sept 1968
General