Lent Devotional – Day 40

ORIGEN OF ALEXANDRIA: YOU ARE THE COLT!

“The Lord Jesus came and commanded His disciples to go and untie ‘the colt of an ass,’ which had previously been bound, so that it could walk free… When He sent His disciples to untie it, He said, ‘If anyone asks you why you are untying the foal, say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’’ Many people were lords of the colt before the Savior needed it. But after he began to be its Lord, the many ceased to be its lords… Even now the Lord ‘has need of ’ the colt. You are the colt of the ass… He wants you to be untied from the bonds of sin.

“Then the disciples lay ‘their garments upon the ass’ and have the Savior sit down. They take the Word of God and put it on the souls of the hearers. They take off their garments and ‘spread them out on the road.’ The garments of the apostles are upon us; their good works are our adornment… The Pharisees saw this and said to the Lord, ‘Reprove them.’ He said to them, ‘If they are silent, the stones will cry out. When we speak, the stones are silent. When we are silent, the stones cry out… We should speak out and praise God, in Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to whom is all glory and power for ages of ages. Amen.” 40

On this Palm Sunday, we must not remain silent. Let us join the crowds in shouting praise. Why? You are the colt. I am the colt. We are the colt, and we have been untied from the bonds of sin (see Zechariah 9:9)!

Read the words of the prophet. Celebrate with Zechariah who foretold this day would come! Messiah is here! How will you praise God today?

Gary G. Hoag

To read more from Lent Companion by Gary G. Hoag, please visit https://www.gtp.org/resources/ebooks/lent-companion