Out Our Way:

Mark 11:1-6

Out our way, I was blessed to have a friend in Charlie who took me with him on some of his cowboy jobs up on the Tiger Ridge.  It was under Charlie's tutoring that I learned something of what cowboying is all about. I began to become familiar with the area, where the water was, where the "favorite hiding places" of some of the more skittish stock were located, and above all the various trails. I even began to become familiar with certain bulls, especially "Junior," the pint-sized Charlois who had his own private harem. But I had never met Junior's owner.

Charlie used to say, "Don't worry, when he comes around you will know him." You see, Mike used to play professional football and had been a lineman for several different teams.  Well, unlike Junior, there would be nothing "pint-sized" about Mike.

Sure enough, one roundup this huge giant of a man came by to talk to Charlie and me.  He looked to be about 10 feet tall, about twice the size and strength of Junior, and must have weighed an easy 350 pounds with no observable paunch or fat. "Is that him?" I asked Charlie.  

"Yup, sort of obvious don't you think?" Yup, there was no mistaking Mike

In Goliath's text for today, as Jesus is approaching Jerusalem, he sends the disciples ahead to find an ass - not a burro or donkey as is usually shown - that a secret friend and follower had tied up for Him.  They had even worked out a pass word. When the disciples came to the ass and began to untie it, someone would give the sign asking, "Why are you doing this?" The counter sign would be, "The master has need of it."

Now the fact the ass was there and the sign and counter sign already set reminds us that there were more than just the 12 who were believers in Jesus; indeed we find various people such as Lazarus, Mary and Martha of Bethany, and Joseph of Arimethaea, being presented to us as long time friends and followers. Jesus was clearly well known and had many followers, which is why He was considered so dangerous and such a threat to the religious establishment.

But there is more to this particular animal being set aside for Jesus. Again, we must get rid of the image of the donkey or burro, for though in the same family as the ass, this is not what Jesus rode into Jerusalem.   The ass stands nearly as tall as the horse and was considered a very noble beast, indeed a royal beast, for when a king came to a city in peace with his entourage, he came riding upon an ass. It was both a sign of his royalty and his intentions.  Recall also that the word "peace" - shalom in Hebrew - has a far deeper meaning than our English word. The word shalom also refers to healing, restoration, making whole, and completion. When a king came riding into a city on an ass, it was statement of hope, joy, justice and redemption.   

The prophet Zechariah had prophesied that one of the signs of the promised Messiah would be His entrance into the city in just such a manner. Many people already believed Jesus might be the long awaited King, the Messiah of God. Jesus confirmed this by fulfilling the prophecy: "Rejoice greatly, oh daughter of Zion! Shout with joy, oh daughter of Jerusalem!  For behold! Your King comes to you with justice and salvation.  He comes in peace riding upon a colt, a foal of an ass."

There is much more symbolism here that the people of Jerusalem would have understood, and as we continue the study with Goliath, more of that will be made clear. But let it suffice for this day that in this text Jesus announced in no uncertain terms Who He is.  This is the moment of open declaration to the world - all the world - friend and foe alike: I am the Messiah. I am the Christ, the long-awaited One of God. This is the hour of judgment, not God's but yours, for now it lies with you to decide your own fate by deciding to accept or reject. There is no middle ground, no neutral stance, for whoever is not with me I count as being against me."    

This challenge is still given by the King. Behold: YOUR King comes to you with justice and salvation. He comes humbly in peace and love proclaiming His identity. He comes riding on an ass, the King who offers us peace. We must decide to accept or reject that peace, and the consequences of that decision.

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John Bruington and Goliath seek to serve the King in Havre, Montana. Bruington is pastor of First Presbyterian Church and "Doctor" Goliath is head of the Montana School of Horse Sense Theology.