The Lord Needs You 

“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!  Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!  See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
Zechariah 9:9 (NIV)

The custom of Trooping the Colour dates back to the time of Charles II in the 17th Century. The Colours of a regiment were used as a rallying point in battle and were therefore trooped in front of the soldiers every day to make sure that every man could recognise those of his own regiment. After George III became King in 1760, it was ordered that parades should mark the King’s Birthday. And from the accession of George IV they became an annual event.

This impressive display of pageantry is now held on the occasion of the Queen’s Official Birthday. The Queen herself attends and takes the salute. On 36 occasions, she accepted the salute on a horse, riding side-saddle and wearing the uniform of the regiment whose Colour was being trooped. But since 1987, the Queen has attended in a carriage rather than riding. The parade route extends from Buckingham Palace along The Mall to Horse Guards Parade and back again. It includes over 1400 officers and men on parade together with two hundred horses; over four hundred musicians from ten bands march and play and 113 words of command are given by the Officer in Command of the Parade. It is perhaps Britain’s most historically significant, regal and watched parade.  

When Jesus entered Jerusalem to die, there was also a parade, on the day known as Palm Sunday. Jesus entered, not on a horse or in a carriage but on a donkey (Matthew 21:7). I think there’s an important lesson we can learn from this donkey.

When a conquering king entered a city after a time of warfare, he would ride on a horse or something even more impressive. History tells us Julius Caesar returned to Rome in 45 B.C. in a golden chariot harnessed to 40 elephants! But Jesus chose a donkey.

Now a horse is a magnificent animal, but a donkey in comparison is plain. They have floppy ears that are too large and their hair looks disheveled. If a horse is a Ferrari, then a donkey is a 3-wheeled Reliant Robin.

Notice what Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’” (Luke 19:31) Now you may be thinking, “God doesn’t need me. I’m certainly no spiritual thoroughbred. Emotionally, and spiritually, I’m more like an old donkey than a graceful horse.” Well, Jesus needed that donkey to enter Jerusalem and the Lord needs you too. It’s not that He couldn’t exist without you, but just as He created this donkey for a special purpose in life, He has a purpose and plan for your life, and He desires, longs for, needs you to fulfil it. If Jesus could fulfil prophecy through a donkey, just think what He could achieve through you, if you just allow Him to be Lord of your life.

Prayer
Father, Hosanna to you in the Highest for choosing the foolish, weak and lowly of this world to confound the mighty. Help us to be willing donkeys in your service.
Amen 

Study by Barry Robinson

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About the Author:
Barry Robinson is an Elder in and pastoral worker in the Greater London area, particularly the Camberwell and North London congregations of the Worldwide Church of God UK.

Local Congregation:
Worldwide Church of God London
Indian YMCA
Mahatma Gandhi Hall
41 Fitzroy Square
LONDON
W1T 6AQ

Meeting Time:
Saturday 2:30pm

Local Congregational Contact:
Martin Ryan
Phone:  020 8202 3998
Email:   martin_ryan@wcg.org.uk