April 16, 2000

Mark 11:1-11

Jesus and his disciples reached Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives. When they were getting close to Jerusalem, Jesus sent two of them on ahead. He told them, "Go into the next village. As soon as you enter it, you will find a young donkey that has never been ridden. Untie the donkey and bring it here. If anyone asks why you are doing that, say, 'The Lord needs it and will soon bring it back.'"

The disciples left and found the donkey tied near a door that faced the street. While they were untying it, some of the people standing there asked, "Why are you untying the donkey?" They told them what Jesus had said, and the people let them take it.

The disciples led the donkey to Jesus. They put some of their clothes on its back, and Jesus got on. Many people spread clothes on the road, while others went to cut branches from the fields.

In front of Jesus and behind him, people went along shouting,
     "Hooray!
       God bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
       God bless the coming kingdom of our ancestor David.
       Hooray for God in heaven above!"

After Jesus had gone to Jerusalem, he went into the temple and looked around at everything. But since it was already late in the day, he went back to Bethany with the twelve disciples. [CEV]

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1. Do folks wonder why you do what you do?

2. Would it be true for you to respond -- "The Lord needs me to."

3. What is it that keeps you from basing your behavior on that reason?

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