When they were nearing
Supposed it was YOU who received those instructions, what would you do? How would you handle being in such a situation? To get the colt is, technically and legally speaking, stealing. Not only will the two disciples commit a felony, it would be pretty awkward moment if people saw them doing it.
And yet they did it.
They followed Jesus’ command to the tee and were successful in their errand. They pushed aside their embarrassment and fear and did what they were told. I believe that they are not dumb guys. But their faith in the Jesus was that strong and they were resolved to follow Him, doing WHATEVER He asks of them.
Obedience breeds leadership. A great leader is a good obedient follower. People wanted to be on the top without starting from the bottom, thus missing out a lot of things that can only be obtained if you reach down there. To follow is one thing; to obey is another.
There are two kinds of followers: those who do it because they want to, and those who had no choice but to do it. I don’t believe that the latter is lesser than the former; rather I think that this is even better than saying ‘yes’ then not following at all. I remembered the incident with the Philippine Marine Corps a few weekends ago. Soldiers were trained to “do as they were told.” The chain of command is something precious, sacred and disobedience is met with a harsh penalty. And yet a mid-ranked soldier complained with a move by his superiors and brought his battalion with him. This soldier may not have value the chain of command then, but his people did, and they followed him wherever, even though (let’s be realistic) they don’t even share his sentiments. They just did what they were told.
I’m as stubborn as an ass (the four-legged animal dude). I know what I’m supposed to do, yet I don’t do it. It’s like there’s a Thumbelina-ish sized angel on my right shoulder and a devil on my left trying to win me over their sides. And most of the time I became a leftist.
I also remember my faci telling us that obedience is the greatest sacrifice. Now that it’s the Lenten season, we are all asked to sacrifice something valuable in our lives, in the same way the God sacrificed the most valuable thing in His, Jesus Christ, and how Jesus sacrificed His life for us, that we may be saved and won’t need to give our own lives.
If there’s any life-giving we need to do, that is giving our lives TO GOD, FOR GOD. Once we gave Him our life, He will give us His. And the life He’s giving is eternal, everlasting. Don’t you want to have this life?
