Small Things
Opening Prayer
“Take my life and let it be / Consecrated, Lord, to Thee…” (Frances R. Havergal, 1836–1879).
Read Mark 11:1–11
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying 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. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘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, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those 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 heaven!”
11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
If Jesus were to come into town today, would you choose him? What about if everyone else was yelling, “crucify him”?Today we reach a landmark moment in Mark’s story. The King enters his capital city! But notice how, at this most significant moment, Mark interweaves small practical details into the unfolding purposes of God. The detailed instructions to the disciples (2,3), the readiness of the colt (4) and the specifics of the conversation with the startled bystanders (5,6) lie alongside exclamations of praise drawn from an Old Testament psalm that celebrates the coming of one who will cause God’s light to shine on his people (9,10; Psa. 118:25–27). And lying behind all of this is the fulfillment of the ancient prophecy that Israel’s coming King will enter Jerusalem on a colt (Zech. 9:9).
This incident alerts us to the fact that the kingdom comes in and through the small, ordinary details of daily life. The disciples thought they were untying a colt, whereas, really, they were untethering history. God is working his purposes out. When we step back it may become clear, but mostly “seeking the kingdom” is about small acts of obedience in everyday life.
Apply
Review the ordinary things that make up your day. What if you believed that God wants to weave even those into a bigger plan?
Closing prayer
Father, I offer You my “ordinariness” for Your purposes. Use me today.
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