Preparing for Easter

Preparing for Easter Messianic Expectations MARK 11:1–11 Context They are on their way to Jerusalem • 10:32—“And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them.” • 10:46—“And they came to Jericho.” The crowds are flooding into Jerusalem • As required by the Law (Deut 16:1–8) • In anticipation of the “kingdom of God” (Lk 19:11ff) On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward. Zechariah 14:4 The Messiah Prepares (1–6) Jesus draws near to Jerusalem (1a) • Bethphage is between Bethany and Jerusalem • Mount of Olives: the entrance for the Messiah And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city and stood on the mountain that is on the east side of the city. Ezekiel 11:23 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. And the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory…And I fell on my face. As the glory of the LORD entered the temple by the gate facing east, the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the temple. Ezekiel 43:2–5 The Messiah Prepares (1–6) Jesus draws near to Jerusalem (1a) • Bethphage is between Bethany and Jerusalem • Mount of Olives: the entrance for the Messiah Jesus enters like a king (1b–3) • “Find and bring a colt” (Num 19:2; 1 Sam 6:7) Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9:9 The Messiah Prepares (1–6) Jesus draws near to Jerusalem (1a) • Bethphage is between Bethany and Jerusalem • Mount of Olives: the entrance for the Messiah Jesus enters like a king (1b–3) • “Find and bring a colt” (Num 19:2; 1 Sam 6:7) • Declare my right to any who ask (cf. Mk. 14:12–16) Jesus’s words prove true (4–6) • The owners submit to the king (cf. Lk 19:33) The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. Binding his foal to the vine and his donkey's colt to the choice vine, he has washed his garments in wine and his vesture in the blood of grapes. Genesis 49:10–11 The Messiah Enters (7–10) Jesus enters the city (7–8) • On a colt like Solomon (1 Kgs 1:32ff) & Messiah • On garments like King Jehu (2 Kgs 9:13) • To palm branches, like a victor (Jn 12:13) The crowds proclaim his identity (9–10) • His disciples (Lk 19:37) and the crowd (Jn 12:12–13) • Psalm 118:26—“Save us, now!” • David’s son, the King is here! (Mt 21:9; Lk. 19:38; Jn 12:13) The Messiah Inspects (11) Jesus inspects His temple (11) • He carefully looks at “all things” (cf. Mk 5:32) • He returns to Bethany for the night “What happens in the morning will not be a spontaneous act of outrage, but a planned demonstration” France, The Gospel of Mark (p442) Application Jesus openly declares himself as the Messiah. Jesus comes to bring peace with God. Jesus draws out believing faith. Jesus inspects his temple.