Holy Week, the sacred period in the Christian calendar, begins with what many Christians call Palm Sunday, commemorating Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and leading us toward the Cross and ultimately the resurrection celebrated on Easter Sunday. Churches around the world remember this moment through the waving of palm branches which are symbols of welcome, victory, and expectation…as crowds once cried out, “Hosanna!”
Yet within this familiar story lies a profound detail that is often overlooked, a detail that carries a powerful message for the Church today. It involves a donkey and her colt.
The Lord Has Need of Them:
In Matthew 21:2–3, Jesus instructed His disciples: “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them.’”
Many remember that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a colt that had never been ridden. But Scripture tells us something more: Jesus asked for both the donkey and her colt.
The mother donkey led the way.
The colt, inexperienced and untested, walked alongside her.
What could have been unstable became steady.
What could have been unpredictable became purposeful. The younger found security in the presence of the older.
This was not incidental, it was instructional.
A Picture of Two Generations:
The Triumphal Entry gives us a timeless principle: God uses both the seasoned and the young.
The younger generation often carries vision, passion, creativity, and bold faith. They are willing to step into new territory and dream of what could be. Yet zeal without guidance can struggle under the weight of responsibility.
The older generation carries experience, endurance, tested character, and perspective forged through trials and faithfulness. They understand the cost of obedience and the burdens of the journey. Yet experience without fresh vision can slowly drift toward stagnation.
God’s design is not competition between generations, but partnership.
The colt needed the presence of the older donkey.
And Jesus needed them both.
Beasts of Burden — Symbols of Service:
In Scripture, donkeys were known as beasts of burden. Mentioned more than 130 times throughout the Bible, they symbolize humility, strength, service, perseverance, and the acceptance of responsibility.
Significantly, Jesus did not enter Jerusalem on a war horse, the symbol of conquest and political power, but on a donkey, fulfilling the prophecy: “Behold, your King is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
The King of Kings chose humility over spectacle.
He chose what was available rather than what appeared impressive.
The message remains clear today: God is not looking for self-promotion; He is looking for availability, willingness, and availability.
“The Lord has need of them.”
The Strength of Shared Purpose:
Imagine the scene described in Matthew 21:2–10:
Garments laid across the road.
The entire city stirred, asking, “Who is this?”
At the center of this historic moment were two ordinary animals, one seasoned, one young, carrying divine purpose together.
This is a picture of the Church as God intended it to be.
• Walking side by side so Christ may be revealed to the world.
The younger need mentors who model faithfulness, humility, and endurance.
The older need the renewed faith and courageous vision of those rising behind them.
When generations honor one another rather than compete with one another, the path becomes clear, and Christ is carried into cities and cultures once again.
The Lord Has Need of Both:
Our world does not need generational division; it needs generational unity.
It needs:
• humility that carries glory.
The Lord still speaks today: “I have need of them.”
He has need of seasoned voices who have walked through fire and remained faithful.
He has need of both walking together in purpose.
When the older lead with wisdom and the younger follow with courage — and in time rise to lead themselves — Christ is carried again into communities longing for hope.
As we enter Holy Week, may we each respond to His call.
Whether seasoned or young, experienced or emerging, may we be willing vessels through whom Christ is revealed.
The Lord has need of us.
