Mark 11:1-11

God’s Way

As Jesus was approaching Jerusalem He gave his disciples specific instructions to go get a colt for him to ride into Jerusalem. The question we may ask is, “why did Jesus want a colt? Why didn’t He just walk the rest of the way to Jerusalem?” The answer is that is not the way God wanted Him to enter Jerusalem. God Gave specific instructions on how the Messiah would triumphantly enter Jerusalem. It is found in Zech. 9:9

Zechariah 9:9 (NASB95)

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

This is because the Lord wanted to ensure that the people knew who the Messiah was. It was not traditional for a conquering king to enter a conquered city on a colt. It was traditional for the king to enter the city on a powerful stallion. By Christ coming to Jerusalem on a colt, the people would know that this is the Messiah

How do we know God’s way

There are four ways to determine God’s Way: The Bible, Prayer, Wisdom, and Providence

The Bible

God will never direct you in a way that is contrary to His Word. His Word is never changing and without error. God’s principles are found in the scriptures and meant as a guide for us. The Bible may not be specific on certain area’s of life such as who to marry, where to go to school, what career to go into and things such as these. It does however give certain principles regarding these issues.

2 Corinthians 6:14 NASB95

Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?

This tells us that we are not to marry unbelievers.

Proverbs 1:5 (NASB95)

A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,

This passage shares with us that we should constantly be learning and discern what is wise counsel.

Colossians 3:23–24 (NASB95)

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

Though this passage may not share where you should work, it does tell you how you should work.

So how do we get specifics if the Bible does not answer.

Prayer

It is the blessing of prayer. Believers have the Holy Spirit to guide them into the more specific areas of our lives. When we seek the Lord in the areas that the Bible does not address specifically, the Holy Spirit will guide us regarding what we should do.

John 14:16 NASB95

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;

The Holy Spirit is our helper in times of uncertainty.

John 14:26 NASB95

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

The Holy Spirit teaches us ALL things.

John 16:13 NASB95

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.

The Holy Spirit reveals the Lord’s will to us.

Wisdom

It is our responsibility to understand the Spirits call and use the wisdom God gives us to employ in our lives. James 1:5-7

James 1:5–7 (NASB95)

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,

When the Lord speaks we need to understand and apply faith to what we have been given. We do this by doing what the Lord has called us to.

Providence

The Lord goes before us to ensure that the pathway is open for us to accomplish His will.

Revelation 3:7–8 (NASB95)

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this: ‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.

People Will Question God’s Way

Jesus knew that the people would not understand why the disciples were doing what the Lord ask them to do. Jesus gave them the answer to share to clear up the confusion. Mark 11:3-5

Mark 11:3–5 (NASB95)

“If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ you say, ‘The Lord has need of it’; and immediately he will send it back here.” They went away and found a colt tied at the door, outside in the street; and they untied it. Some of the bystanders were saying to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?”

The people that were watching the disciples untie this colt did not understand why they were uniting the colt. This was not one that had been domesticated. It had never been ridden. Why would the disciples be taking a colt that had no value for transportation. Logically this didn’t make sense.

The disciples stated as Jesus said, “ The Lord has need of it.” This was enough for the misunderstanding by-standards.

There will be times that the Lord calls us into things that don’t make sense. We will be misunderstood. I believe the answer that the disciples gave should be the same answer we give. “The Lord has instructed me!”

People Will Worship the Lord When We Follow God’s Way

Mark 11:8–10 (NASB95)

And many spread their coats in the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields. Those who went in front and those who followed were shouting: “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!”

When Jesus went into Jerusalem, the people went before Him worshipping the Lord because of Jesus. They knew He was the Messiah. Unfortunately, they had the wrong Idea of the Messiah. They believed that He was coming to overthrow Rome and re-establish the kingdom of David.

The Good thing was they recognized Jesus for what the Scriptures said and worshipped the Lord as a result.

When we follow the Lord it will be cause for worship because the will of God will be accomplished!