He had a plan - Palm Sunday

Mark 11:1-8

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.

Lord,
I have always thought
you just foreknew that the colt would be there.
I assumed it was part of 

the omniscience - all-knowing -- of God.

Maybe.

But this year, I have a new thought:

You planned for the colt to be there.

You had sent word ahead

that you were coming and would need an animal.

You had made arrangements.

Makes sense.

In Luke's gospel, you are quoted saying:

"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower.

Won’t you first sit down

and estimate the cost

to see if you have enough money to complete it?" Luke 14:28

You had a plan.

It even seems your disciples planned ahead,

"others spread branches they had cut in the fields."

I guess I have assumed they just cut from what was at hand.

Now I see, they brought the branches with them

or at least had gathered them along the way intentionally.

This was no spur-of-the-moment parade. 

You had a plan.

The King of peace

riding into Jerusalem

on a donkey colt.

The One coming to depose empire

through peaceful means

and bring about the peace of God

that surpasses understanding.

You had a plan all along.

Now I see it.

Ride on, O King of Peace,

and bring your peace about

in my life and in the life of the world!

Amen.