Insight from Mark 11<\/p>\n
The detail Mark goes into as he describes the sending of two disciples for the colt demonstrates that this event is highly significant. It is important to know that the Christ has long been associated with a colt. A colt figures prominently in the major poem about the Christ in Genesis 49:8-12. A colt figures prominently in a prophecy about the Christ in Zechariah 9:9. Those reading about this event should have these prophecies firmly in mind.<\/p>\n
It is significant to note that Jesus is acting very publicly here. This is a dramatic change in the book of Mark. No longer is Jesus trying to stay hidden. Jesus rides on a colt (a very symbolic creature) into Jerusalem (Israel\u2019s most important city) in broad daylight (when everyone can see him) during Passover (a very important and symbolic feast). This is intended to be a very public sign that Jesus is the Christ.<\/p>\n
The fact that this colt has never been ridden is significant. First, animals that were to be used for especially sacred duties were not to be used as work animals prior to their sacred use (see Numbers 19:2, Deuteronomy 21:3, and 1 Samuel 6:7). Second, the fact that this animal has never been ridden indicates that Christ is riding a colt that has not been broken. As the Prince of Peace, Jesus is able to ride the colt because he brings peace to all creatures, even the animal world.<\/p>\n
The colt has been, from birth, set aside for a sacred purpose. Most people, however, would have seen the colt as an ordinary colt\u2014a humble beast of burden. He is, when the disciples find him, tied up, waiting for the moment when he will fulfill his purpose. The colt is like Jesus. From birth, he has been set aside for a sacred purpose. Most people, however, would have seen Jesus as an ordinary man. He is, like the colt, waiting to \u201cuntied\u201d so that he might fulfill his sacred purpose. Ironically, \u201cuntying\u201d Jesus involved him being tied up and led to a cross.<\/p>\n
The colt is a humble beast. It is significant that the Christ, at this first coming, comes on a donkey and not on a war horse. He comes in humility (see Philippians 2:1-11). However, when he comes again (see Acts 1:10-11), Jesus will come on a war horse (see Revelation 19:11-16). This passage in Revelation 19 is also connected to the poem about the Christ in Genesis 49:8-12. In both passages, the Christ\u2019s robe is stained. It is stained because Christ has conquered his enemies by his death!<\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"give_campaign_id":0,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_crdt_document":""},"class_list":["post-4509","reading-plan","type-reading-plan","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/handstotheplow.org\/am\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/reading-plan\/4509","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/handstotheplow.org\/am\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/reading-plan"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/handstotheplow.org\/am\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/reading-plan"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/handstotheplow.org\/am\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4509"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}