“The other day,” Stan began, “we talked about the donkey colt Jesus sent some of the disciples to get for Him to ride on when He was getting ready to enter Jerusalem on the way to the cross.”
“We did,” I replied. “About how God allows us to be involved in what He’s doing if we are open to seeing the opportunities He presents.”
“And taking advantage of those opportunities,” Stan added. [Note to reader: See the posting for October 12, 2021, “Being Allowed to be a Part of What God is Doing”].
Continuing, Stan said, ”As I remember it, you were wondering about the story of the donkey colt and how it could have happened as a practical matter.”
“That’s right,” I said, “it just didn’t seem like it is something that would have happened, but I think I see the point you were making about the story.”
“Good,” Stan replied. “Just a few verses away from the donkey story in Luke’s gospel, there’s a similar account about another person Jesus sent some of the disciples to find.”
“Who’s that?” I asked.
“Somebody carrying a pitcher of water,” Stan said.
“Somebody carrying a pitcher of water?” I repeated. “What was that about?”
“It was time to prepare the Passover dinner,” Stan responded, “and Jesus and the disciples needed some place to do that. So Jesus sent Peter and John to find a person who would lead them to the place where they were going to have the Passover dinner, commonly referred to as The Last Supper.”
“Was this person someone they knew?” I asked.
“Doesn’t seem so,” Stan replied. “Jesus just said that when they entered the city a man carrying a pitcher of water would meet them. They were to follow him into whatever house he entered and then say to the owner of the house that ‘The Teacher’ wants to know the location of the guest room where He and the disciples could eat the Passover dinner.”
“So,” I said, “another instance of someone being presented an opportunity to be involved in what God was doing, this time someone who could be described as ‘a person carrying water for Jesus’.”
“That, my friend,” Stan replied, “seems like a pretty good way to describe what was going on then, and a way to describe what we are to be doing here while we wait for the train.”
“Carrying water for Jesus?”
“Seems so,” Stan said. “Even though the expression of ‘carrying water for someone,’ is often taken as doing something that, although it may be unpleasant, is necessary to be done. I can’t imagine anything greater on this side of eternity than doing what Jesus has for me to do. Carrying water or whatever He has for me to carry.”
“That kind of sounds like the second step of discipleship,” I commented.
“Which is what?” Stan asked.
“Taking up what He has for me to take up, whatever, whenever, and however,” I replied.
“You got it, my friend,” Stan said with a smile. “That’s the second step that is to come after the first, and before the third.”
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Bible verses to consider:
Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. And He sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.” And they said to Him, “Where do you want us to prepare it?” And He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house that he enters. And you shall say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ “And he will show you a large, furnished, upper room; prepare it there.” Luke 22:7-12.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, that you allow me to be involved in what you are doing. Thank you for your specific instructions as to whom to follow and what to do and say as I am being obedient to what you have for me. I confess that too often I am not involved with what you want because I choose to not listen or I chose to ignore what you say to me. Please forgive such foolishness, and please help me in following every step of your lead whenever, wherever, and however. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Will you be involved with God in eternity when your time here is done because you have accepted His free and gracious provision of life eternally with Him? If no, what is standing in the way? If you have accepted God’s provision of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with what He has for you to be involved with on this side of eternity? If you sense some changes should be made, how are those changes going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 