Mark 11_1_11 Sermon out line

Jesus had spent the majority of His ministry in the Galilean countryside performing things that only God could do. He taught with authority, preached with authority, He demonstrated His authority over sickness by healing all who came to Him, Authority over nature as He calmed raging storms and provided nourishment for two hungry multitudes, His authority reigned over evil – casted out demons, Jesus displayed His authority over death as brought back to life Jairus’ Daughter and called Lazarus from the tomb. He showed Himself the authority over religion as He constantly rebuked the religious leaders, And Jesus displayed Himself as the Lord of the Sabbath and declared the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath.

The Lord was about to do something He had never done before, something He had repeatedly cautioned others not to do for Him: He was going to permit His followers to give a public demonstration in His honor

CPS: Jesus enters Jerusalem, the city of kings, the city where God sat His name upon (by placement of the temple) and publicly declare He is the promised One of David.

His Prediction Vs. 1-6

The time had arrived to present Himself openly to the Jewish people as their Messiah-King. He would do this in fulfillment of the prophecy of Zechariah (9:9), riding on a colt.

The sending of the Disciples

He sent two of His disciples from Bethany into Bethphage.

Their instruction

With perfect knowledge and complete authority, He told them to bring an unbroken colt which they would find tied there as they first enter the village.

Colt – young Donkey (John & Luke)

Donkey was a prized possession one would be needed for minimum existence, Beast of burden – carry heavy loads

Joseph’s brothers used them to carry grain back from Egypt

Abagail used donkeys to bring food to David and his army as the waged war against Saul.

Donkeys were also valuable - wealth was often counted by how many Donkeys you had.

Job had 500 before calamity struck and when God restored Job he had 1,000.

Saul’s father (kish) lost his female donkey’s and Saul was sent out to find them when Samuel found Saul.

David assigned one of his 12 royal managers to look after his donkey’s exclusively

A donkey was valuable to it’s owners but a Donkey was needed to fulfill the messianic prophecy of Zechariah 9:9

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: Behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; Lowly, and riding upon an ass, And upon a colt the foal of an ass. Zech. 9:9

The specifics

Jesus’s details were very specific – He recounted exactly what would happen.

Prophecy must be fulfilled because God is faithful and said through His prophets that it will happen so it will happen.

Fulfillment of Jesus’ prediction

Everything happened as Jesus had predicted. They found the colt tied at a main intersection in the village. When challenged, the disciples replied as Jesus had told them.

Then the people let them go with the colt.

Application: One can observe by Jesus’s omniscient that He is Lord. He said it would happen like this and it did.

But far greater things are instore for his people during His passion week.

His Procession Vs. 7-10

A large crowd gathers and the Gospel of John tells us, this crowd was with Him as He called Lazarus from the grave and others joined because they had herd of Jesus calling Lazarus back to life. There were shouts of joy and celebration.

It was a royal parade.

Now the Prophecy of Zechariah 9:9 is not of the Messiah acquiring a colt but that the Savior would enter into Jerusalem with shouts of joy as He rode into to town humbly on a colt of a donkey.

The Royal Parade

As the disciples brought the colt to Jesus they placed their garments on it. - No real saddle was used in riding a donkey but the rider would put a covering over its back and attach a halter.

Jesus proceeded to Jerusalem riding this borrowed colt.

Solomon (1 Kings 1:33). (colt)

To the faithful Jew, this scene brought to mind the occasion when Solomon rode a mule into Jerusalem as he was anointed king, to the satisfaction of cheering crowds, now Jesus entered Jerusalem riding a donkey to claim publicly that He was the greater son of David.

Jehu (Garments)

The spreading of garments on the road represents royal homage. The faithful Jew would understand the significance of this.

Then they hasted, and took every man his garment, and put it under him on the top of the stairs, and blew with trumpets, saying, Jehu is king. 2 Kings 9:13

Maccabees (Palm branches)

The people waved palm branches with shouts of joy and laid the branches on the road way.

Palm Branches were waved in homage to rulers. The faithful Jew would recognize the significance of this.

200 years before during the Maccabean revolt. Maccabeus leads a company of soldiers into Jerusalem and recaptures the city and the temple from the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes. Ending a time of great oppression.

Therefore, carrying ivy-wreathed wands and beautiful branches and also fronds of palm, they offered hymns of thanksgiving to him who had given success to the purifying of his own holy place.. 2 Macc. 10:7

Significance

The people understood something significant was happening. The Messiah was entering into town and Jesus did not stop them from paying homage.

They sang: Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord;

Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David;

Hosanna in the highest!”

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THEY ARE SINGING?

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. – Passover Hymn sang in hopes for the restoration of the Davidic Kingdom.

Lord, save us! Lord, please grant us success! He who comes in the name of the Lord is blessed. From the house of the Lord we bless you. Psalm 118:25-26

Jesus enters Jerusalem as one coming in the name of the Lord, that is with THE AUTHORTY OF THE LORD. With a God given mission of SALVATION.

Hosanna = “O Save!”

SAVE US JESUS! Establish the Kingdom of God.

The Pharisees

The people rejoiced but Luke tells us the Pharisees did not rejoice. In stead they rebuke Jesus by telling Him to rebuke His disciples.

He answers – “I tell you, if they kept silent, the stones would cry out.” Luke 19:40

If the people didn’t cry out, Creation would.

This is a day of great joy because the Lord had come to establish His kingdom.

The Humility of the Parade

Contrast (Humble king verses Pilate)

Jesus enters the city, claiming authority over the kingdom but claiming to be a different sort of king, a humble King.

Everything about His entry is in contrast to how, Pilate would enter the city.

When Pilate came in the city, he would come with a huge throng of authority wrapped around him, riding a horse of war, and he would show up with an army to come into the city. He would expect the city officials to greet him and lead him in, almost as if he was coming in on a red carpet.

Jesus merely rides in all by Himself on a colt. He has His disciples around Him (a group of young men perhaps not much more than teenagers), but there’s no throng of officials, there’s no army, no red carpets, or trumpets blasting.

Just peoples garment on the ground, palm branches being waved, and the songs of Joy from the people.

Contrast (colt verses warhorse)

Jesus rode in on a young donkey (colt) not a grown donkey which reinforces Mark’s portrayal of Jesus humility.

In Scripture a colt of a donkey is associated with humility and peace. JESUS CAME IN PEACE, he came to give His life so that mankind had an opportunity to be a peace with God.

Jesus didn’t come as Conquering king, riding a horse of war he came on the lowliest form of a Donkey, a colt of a donkey.

Not just a lowly colt, but a borrowed colt.

Transition: Yes, Jesus came to present Himself as the conquering Messiah but His idea of conquering was different from the people’s. They thought Jesus would save them from Roman occupation and oppression, instead He came to save them from themselves and their sin.

His Presentation Vs. 11

Presentation as Messiah

The triumphal entry was a public acceptance of Jesus being Messiah and it must have been a great disappointment to many of His followers when they learned His manner of conquering the Kingdom was by His death.

But by doing so He fulfilled the will of God.

You did not desire sacrifice and offering, but you prepared a body for me. Heb 10:5. (to be crucified)

You did not delight in whole burnt offerings and sin offerings. Heb 10:6

Then I said, “See— it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, O God. Heb 10:7.

Jesus presented Himself in the temple and perhaps the people thought He would sit down there and make claim to His Kingdom.

Presentation as the Lamb that was slain before the foundations of the world.

Imagine… Jesus shows up at the temple and there is great anticipation….

The daily sacrifices were taking place and Jesus…… just looked around at everything that was going on there.

What did he see? He must cleanse it.

Knowing that only His blood was sufficient for satisfying the requirements of God

Jesus presented Himself at the temple how fitting a place to present the suffering servant of God.

As the temple was busy with offerings and business. The Passover Lamb walked in and looked around and left.

His time was not yet fulfilled, just 5 more days and His blood would cover the Mercy Seat and cleanse the furnishings forever and always.

Conclusion: The Messiah entered Jerusalem not as a conquering king but as the Lamb of God who must die for the ultimate fulfillment of Passover.

Not a physical conquer as numerous people had done before, but the One and only Spiritual coinquirer who takes away the sins of the world.

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