What Was That All About?

Mark describes this parade into Jerusalem in a way that leaves us hanging. There was a big build up:

Healing blind Bartimaeus

Hike from Jericho to Mt of Olives

Collect your breath and the donkey from Bethany

Plunge down Mt of Olives and into the sea of visitors to Jerusalem

Shouting and celebrating: King, Messiah, Ps 118

Through the gates, to the temple!

THEN: after looking around, Jesus quietly trudges back to Bethany and returns the donkey

That’s not what we expected.

I wonder if Peter, James, and John felt the same let down as they hiked down the mountain where Jesus had been transfigured. You remember reading about that don’t you? We looked at the passage before Lent:

On the mountain, Jesus was transformed

Moses and Elijah appear

A cloud appeared, a voice came from the cloud, “This is my Son whom I love, listen to him.” (Mark 9: 7)

After that too, Jesus trudged down the mountain with his disciples and picked up his normal activities, preaching, teaching, and sighing about his disciples’ lack of faith. You think the 3 disciples were disappointed that nothing much seemed to change after they saw Jesus’ glory and heard God the Father’s endorsement? Yet they weren’t even allowed to mention it to anyone. Jesus had told them, “Keep it quiet until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.”

The events are similar. Both times we get a sneak peek at Jesus’ glory. Mark uses these events to confirm Jesus’ identity. Do you remember how Mark began his account?

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God

In the day-to-day bustle of discipleship, Jesus’ followers might forget or fail to comprehend what Jesus was all about. The crowds certainly were confused about what kind of King Jesus was and what kind of Kingdom he was bringing.

This Messiah looked like another traveling teacher. Jesus seemed to be a leader of a relatively small band of disciples, although he was a powerful teacher. His miracles were incredible, but how does all that stack up to the massive structure of the Temple of Jerusalem with centuries of worship and burnt offerings, schools of theology, and companies of ordained priests? (pause)

This parade was big doings for people from the towns and villages of Galilee. Here they were, causing a stir among the million or two faithful Jews who came to the Holy City for the Passover. But how does this wandering teacher, riding a donkey, stack up against the power, military machinery, and overwhelming violence of the Roman Empire? (pause)

We might feel the same at times. We might lose perspective. Today We wave palm branches. We sing majestic songs about Jesus as Saviour and King. On our way out, we’ll sing about Jesus building his kingdom here.

And true, we’re at the beginning of the week when we remember Jesus’ death and resurrection. We have holidays – holy days – coming Friday and Sunday. But unless it snows heavily in Fredericton tomorrow, we’ll all be back to our regular activities. In the midst of daily chores we’ll be tempted to forget today’s triumphant celebration as life moves along. The river of time will sweep us along as if nothing had happened.

Maybe that’s the point of Mark’s anticlimactic description of the triumphal entry. Life continues even after a major party. After the mountaintop experience, we return to normal activities, but we don’t go back unchanged.

After all the excitement of a parade and the anticipation of a political rally, the people go back to the villages and sleep. But the joy and hope that was awakened doesn’t all go away.

Both when Jesus is transfigured on the mountaintop and as he parades into Jerusalem, we receive confirmation of Jesus’ identity and mission. The crowds might not have understood Jesus’ plan to ransom the world from sin and death, but they were correct in saluting Jesus as the King, the Messiah, the Son of David. They were correct to celebrate the one who healed Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus was correct to follow Jesus down the road to Jerusalem and celebrate his sight.

This is the gospel, the victory message. Jesus engaged in mortal combat with the forces of evil. His righteousness is a challenge to the power of the Jewish leaders. His authority and Kingdom threaten the Roman Emperor and the empire.

For that matter, Jesus’ righteousness is a challenge to us. Too often I – we – are satisfied with our own goodness. Walking closely with Jesus, as we’ve done throughout the past 2 months, I realize that I don’t measure up to God’s call to holiness. The consequences for sin is death. God in his righteousness doesn’t ignore sin.

But God in his mercy has come. Jesus’ name means “God Saves.” He came to save us from sin, to rescue us from rebellion, and free us from guilt: To proclaim and usher in the Kingdom of God; a Kingdom of truth and righteousness.

That’s the hope the crowd had as they chanted from Ps 118 “Hosanna!” “Lord Save Us!” They were singing Ps 118:

Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things! Psalm 118:15 (NIV)

As this parade marched down the Mount of Olives and up Mount Zion towards the temple, the crowd hailed Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah. They’re singing the same words that Mark used in the first line of the gospel: the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.

This week, as we read through Mark’s account of the gospel, we’ll read about Jesus’ arrest, his trial, and his crucifixion. We’ll see the depths of his love for his Father and we’ll see how he lays himself down for his dearly loved people. He takes our guilt and shame and offers us forgiveness – complete righteousness.

Needs better conclusion: What is the significance of this passage today?

Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem brought him to the temple. It was a beautiful building. People came on pilgrimages from around the world to worship God there. But that’s not where Jesus landed up. He looked around there, but that wasn’t Jesus ultimate destination. So he headed back to Bethany to rest for the next leg of the journey.

In the same way, we have the opportunity to rejoice and celebrate this morning. We can sing Hosanna, celebrate our salvation, and receive comfort. But worshipping God in this building isn’t our ultimate destination. I wouldn’t object to prolonging the service by 15 minutes, or 30, or 60. But eventually, we’ll need to head out from this place. Worshipping here isn’t our destination. It might seem an anticlimax to leave the songs and the fellowship, but strengthened by the reminder of how Jesus ransomed us from sin and doom, we head out to continue proclaiming and building up the Kingdom.

How?

Righteousness and grace in our households. Let forgiveness and mercy characterize your closest relationships, for today you have been reminded of how Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God has offered grace and love to you.

How else?

Pray for the nations of the world. It seems political leaders don’t recognize that those who want to be great are called to serve.

Even Canada’s leaders . . . the federal election of 2025 .

Can you picture any of these politicians riding a donkey?

In his humility and grace, Jesus showed how a Kingdom founded on righteousness and truth will endure. As his followers, we’ll continue to follow Jesus in grace and service and build his Kingdom. Pray for God’s Kingdom to come and pray for the leaders of the nations.