plants
Seated on a Donkey’s Colt
By Linda Rex
March 24, 2024, Palm Sunday | Preparation for Easter or Lent—This morning as I was reading one of the passages for this Palm Sunday, Mark 11:1–11, I was struck by the marvel of Jesus riding a donkey’s colt which had never been ridden before. Indeed, the more I thought about, the more astonished I became that he was even able to ride the young animal at all.
I suppose it is possible that the colt was familiar with Jesus, but even so, most animals are not thrilled about having things placed on their back such as the cloaks and coats which the disciples threw over the back of this colt. Not to mention having to bear the weight of a human being, which is normally a new and frightening experience for an untrained, full-grown donkey or horse. Perhaps these are stereotyped concepts, but what I recall about donkeys having things placed on their back which they don’t want there, is that those items or people ultimately end up back on the ground, unceremoniously dumped off by the animal.
But in this remarkable event, the disciples place their garments on the colt, and Jesus climbs on. The crowds of people are throwing clothing and tree branches on the ground in front of this animal, while shouting and singing and waving branches around. What kind of animal would take this calmly, especially when it had never been ridden before? Perhaps the only answer is what Jesus told the Jewish leaders of his day who complained about all the hubbub, that if he wasn’t praised by the people, the stones themselves would cry out.
Creation knows its Maker, and celebrates its Sustainer and Provider in each moment simply by being who and what it is—his creation. The trees and bushes, and plants praise God simply by doing what trees, bushes and plants do—raise their heads towards the sun, put on leaves and flowers, bear fruit, breathing in the carbon dioxide and breathing out oxygen as their participation in God’s provision for this planet and its inhabitants. The animals praise God simply by being what God created each of them to be—and here this donkey had the privilege of doing something special for its Creator—bearing the King of Israel into Jerusalem while the people shouted “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
It’s significant that Jesus did this entry into Jerusalem on the back of this young donkey. Jesus chose a colt of a donkey, to show his humility. He allowed the people to joyfully express their understanding of the prophetic significance of the spring festival, even though he knew that the Passover lamb that year would be something other than what anyone there expected. The Lamb of God would lay down his life and be crucified at the hands of those whom he had made.
As human beings, we so often get our focus upon our human kingdoms. We make our plans and have our expectations about how things are going to work out. We may even tell God how it’s going to be—letting God know what needs to be done when and how and why. We dress it all up in religious fervor at times, and don’t even realize that what we are dreaming of and hoping for and expecting isn’t at all what God has in mind.
In God’s economy, the path to glory is not through the palm frond laden streets of the city. The path to glory, when God is in it, is not always filled with shouts of adulation and praise. I am learning that often God’s path to glory is the path into and through death to resurrection. First must come the humiliation, service, and sacrifice. Then will come the exaltation.
In the second gospel reading for this Sunday, John 12:12–16, we see that it took Jesus’ resurrection, his giving of the Spirit, and his revelation of the Scriptures before the disciples began to understand that what Jesus went through was long predicted in the prophetic Word. The One who holds all things together, to whom creation gives its praise, took the path of humility for our sakes, because of his love and grace. And even a humble colt of a donkey knew that he was safe in his Creator’s hands and did his part, for the glory and praise of his Lord, the King of all.
Creator and Sustainer of all that is, thank you for giving us life. Grant us the grace to remember who we are—those created by you to share life with you, to be loved by you and so to love others. May we learn rest in simply being those you created us to be—your beloved children—and to do as you ask in every moment, through Jesus our Lord and by your Spirit. Amen.
“As they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples, and said to them, ‘Go into the village opposite you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here. If anyone says to you, “Why are you doing this?” you say, “The Lord has need of it”; and immediately he will send it back here.’ They went away and found a colt tied at the door, outside in the street; and they untied it. Some of the bystanders were saying to them, ‘What are you doing, untying the colt?’ They spoke to them just as Jesus had told them, and they gave them permission. They brought the colt to Jesus and put their coats on it; and He sat on it. And many spread their coats in the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields. Those who went in front and those who followed were shouting: ‘Hosanna! “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”; Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David; Hosanna in the highest!’ Jesus entered Jerusalem and came into the temple; and after looking around at everything, He left for Bethany with the twelve, since it was already late.” Mark 11:1–11 NASB
“On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, ‘Hosanna! “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”, even the King of Israel.’ Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written, ‘Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.’ These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him.” John 12:12–16 NASB
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Seeds and Flowers, and Maturing in Christ
By Linda Rex
Outside the house next to our patio door sit two flower pots. Last summer we moved some tiger lilies out of a flowerbed and into these pots because the local mole had decided he had a hankering for flower bulbs and managed to eliminate most of them we had planted earlier in the year.
Even though we planted the tiger lily bulbs in the flowerpots, we assumed they were too far gone to even come up. But this spring they began to grow and after quite some time they put on buds. We were delighted when the bright orange blossoms opened fully—they are quite stunning when in full bloom.
In comparison with a tiger lily, the bloom of an avocado tree is quite tiny and unimpressive. If one were to look at an avocado flower, one would have to get up really close in order to even see it. It has six tiny white or green petals surrounding an intricate white and yellow center. And yet, when the flower has done its work properly, it produces a seed the size of a walnut enclosed within a thick layer which we consume as fruit. The entire avocado can be bigger than the size of a human fist—a far cry from the tiny flower it came from.
The size and beauty of a flower may be large and glorious, but this is not what determines what type of fruit it produces. Nor does it determine whether or not it produces fruit which matures in such a way as to produce seeds. Some flowers produce fruit which is seedless—a natural process which botanists and producers have taken advantage of in order to provide us with such produce as seedless grapes and seedless watermelons.
Plants come in all shapes and sizes, and so do the “fruit”—this word includes nuts, vegetables, and fruit. Fruit from a plant may mature beyond the state any of us would be willing to consume, but for many plants, this is what is necessary for the seed to fully ripen so when it is put in the ground it will produce a new plant. We often consume what is produced before it is fully mature—corn on the cob is a good example of this. In order to plant corn, the corn kernel has to ripen completely and then dry—only then is it mature enough to be used as seed for planting. But dried corn kernels are quite hard to chew and they’re not very tasty either.
A lot of what I’ve shared here is common knowledge for a farmer, botanist, or master gardener. They understand the process by which a plant reproduces and how to work with seeds, plants, and flowers to produce the best crop possible. It is interesting that Jesus, our Master Gardener, often used the process of planting, growing, and harvesting crops in order to talk about himself and the kingdom of God.
In one parable, Jesus used seed to represent the Word of God. He was explaining the different ways in which the Word of God was planted and the results of each scenario:
“Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity. But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.” Luke 8:11-15 NASB
It seems that the problem with producing quality fruit lies not with the seed, but with the soil it lands on. The Word of God always produces a result—it is fruitful—there’s no doubt about that. But the ground which receives the seed can be harsh and unreceptive, or provide little room for the roots to grow, or be so filled with weeds that a new plant can’t grow and thrive.
If we were to consider this parable for a bit, we might see that the point of putting the seed in the ground is not just to have pretty flowers. Flowerbeds are lovely and I personally enjoy a garden filled with colorful blooms. But this was not the point of this parable—the focus is on the seed and what the seed was to produce—more seed. This means each seed needs to produce a plant which will grow to the place it flowers, it produces fruit, and the fruit matures to the point that it produces seed.
Seeds come in all shapes and sizes, and travel all over by a variety of means. Seeds are not meant to stay on the plant, but to be spread to new places. We experience the reality of this when we find oak trees growing in our pansy bed or an apple tree coming up in the vegetable garden.
When we hear the Word of God—the good news of God’s love for us expressed to us in his Son Jesus Christ, it is meant to take root in our hearts by faith. The Word of God, the indwelling Christ by the Spirit, works transform our hearts and lives. We open ourselves up to the work of the Spirit in our walk of faith and begin to mature as followers of Jesus Christ. Our lives begin to reflect the Word of God at work within us. Like beautiful blossoms on a plant, we glow with the glory God created us to bear—the image of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
This flowering is not the end of the story though. We are meant to go even farther and mature into seed-bearing plants. Our lives and words are to be a testimony to Christ. In other words, the life-giving Word is carried to new places and planted in new ground—new hearts—because we have become mature seed-bearing plants. Jesus said as we go, we are to make disciples. Making disciples, sharing the Word of God with others, is to be a natural by-product of our spiritual growing up in Christ.
The environment in which the Word of God exists within us is critical in this process. Do we allow ourselves to be deceived by a word other than that which given to us in Jesus Christ? Do we allow ourselves to be tempted by other things which supplant the Word of God? Do we allow ourselves to be so absorbed in the cares and pleasures of this life that we suffocate the Word of God? All of these are ways in which we disrupt or hinder the process of spiritual growth God meant for us to participate in.
The healthier alternative is to receive the Word with an “honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.” The Word of God sinks deep roots in the soil of our heart as we practice spiritual disciplines which open us up to the work of the Spirit within us. The Word of God can transform our lives and hearts as we obey the Spirit’s inner prompting to put away our idols and distractions and focus wholly on Christ. We make space for God to work by making sure we are not preoccupied with the cares and pleasures of this life.
And we are not satisfied with just the external trappings of spiritual growth. It’s easy to look as though we are a stunning example of spiritual maturity. But the proof is when what God has done and is doing in us is duplicated in the lives of those around us. When the Word of God begins spreading into the hearts and lives of those around us, then we know we are being fruitful, and that God’s Word is living and active, taking root in many new hearts and lives.
Thank you, Lord, for planting your Word in our hearts. By faith, may we allow your Word to grow and develop, transforming our hearts and lives in such a way that your Word may be planted anew in others hearts and lives as well. May we be productive plants for your glory, through Jesus our Lord and by your Holy Spirit. Amen.
“As for what fell among the thorns, these are the ones who hear; but as they go on their way, they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.” Luke 8:14 NRSV
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