Mark 11:1-6

Collecting the Colt (11:1-6).

Jesus now arranged for His disciples to go to ‘the village opposite’ in order to collect an asses colt that had never been broken in, for Him to ride on. It may be that it was by pre-arrangement with the owner,

Analysis.

a And when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, He sends two of His disciples and says to them, “Go your way into the village that is over against you” (Mark 11:1-2 a).

b “And immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no man has ever sat. Loose him and bring him” (Mark 11:2 b).

c And if anyone says to you, “Why do you do this?” You say, “The Lord has need of him”, and immediately he will send him back here” (Mark 11:3).

b And they went away, and found a colt tied at the door out in the open street, and they loose him” (Mark 11:4).

a And some of those who stood there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?”, and they said to them just what Jesus had said, and they let them go (Mark 11:5-6).

Note that in ‘a’ Jesus sends two disciples into the village, and in the parallel the people in the village ask why they are loosing the colt. In ‘b’ Jesus tells them that they will find a colt tied, and they are to loose it and bring it back with them, and in the parallel they find the colt tied, and loose it. Centrally in ‘c’ the Lord has need of it.