Ride On, King Jesus

“Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it

you will find tied there a colt

that has never been ridden.

Untie it and bring it here.

If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’

just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ”

(from Luke 19:28-40)

Ride on, King Jesus,
No man can a-hinder me,
Ride on, King Jesus, ride on,
No man can a-hinder me.

I was but young when I begun,
No man can a-hinder me,
But now my race is almost done,
No man can a-hinder me.
Ride on, King Jesus, ride on,
No man can a-hinder me.
(Songs of Zion 77)

The highway image is common in the Bible.

 For examples are Isaiah 35:8, the Way of Holiness; Isaiah 40:3, the highway in the desert for God; Matthew 21:1-11, Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem riding a donkey.

Nicole Hill’s, The Donkey Elegies, describes donkey’s burdens too heavy for people, pulling carts loaded with dead soldiers or pallets of bricks.

American slaves experiencing brutal treatment could easily identify with Jesus’ suffering so a king that could not be held back was a sign of hope.

Jesus’s Way of Holiness, his brutal suffering, his cruel death, and astonishing resurrection, as the Son of God is a sign of hope.

American slaves could relate to Jesus as both divine and human and saw Christ’s suffering in a personal way. 

King Jesus understood their suffering experience and was their sign of hope.

King Jesus is our Way of Holiness when our burdens seem too heavy; when we’re trying to move unmovable loads; or when our race is almost done.

Ride on King Jesus inspire to us to be unhindered disciples who tell this story of hope!

Ride on King Jesus, ride on!