The Road to the Resurrection

Mark 11-16

The Arrival of the King

Introduction

Good Morning Church, this morning we begin our Easter Season as I begin a seven message series entitled “The Road to the Resurrection. We are still in the Gospel of Mark but we skip forward to Mark 11-16.

You will see this slide on each intro. at the beginning of each message in this series.

Note something important this morning. Every road leads somewhere. This road represents Jesus journey to a cross and an empty tomb. Ask yourself this morning and all through this journey what road am I traveling? Am I traveling the direction the Lord would have me?

This morning our first message is entitled “the Arrival of the King.”

If you study history and specifically history of the time of Christ, you discover something interesting about kings and conquerors.

When rulers entered a city, they rarely came quietly.

They arrived with spectacle. They arrived with pomp & Circumstance.

With display.

With power. Their arrival was a grandiose event.

In the ancient world, when a victorious general returned from battle, he would often enter the city in what historians called a triumphal procession.

In the Roman world, a victorious commander would march into the capital surrounded by soldiers, banners, and trophies of war. Those trophies could be the commanders of an opposing country. Behind him were wagons filled with plunder, prisoners from conquered lands, and crowds cheering his victory. The whole event was meant to send a message:

“Look at the power of this ruler.”

The more grand the entrance, the stronger the statement.

Even long before Rome, kings throughout the ancient world would ride into cities on magnificent horses or chariots, surrounded by their armies and officials.

It was a way of declaring authority.

It was a way of announcing dominance.

It was a way of saying:

“The king has arrived.”

As we think of that reality and living in the most dominant country in the world. Does the climate of power bring real satisfaction? Does war with Iran make you feel easy? Knowing that Russia and his leadership, China’s leadership, North Korea-Kim Jon-un knowing they could have itchy fingers to send nuclear weapons does these types of power and that dominance make you feel secure?

Now let’s consider the picture when Jesus comes into Jerusalem.

The city is crowded with pilgrims who have arrived for the Passover celebration. Historians estimate that the population of Jerusalem could swell to hundreds of thousands of people during this feast.

The atmosphere is electric.

Expectations are high.

And suddenly word spreads through the crowd:

“Jesus is coming.” Jesus is coming!

But when Jesus enters the city, everything about His arrival looks different from the entrances of earthly kings.

No army.

No chariot.

No royal horse.

Instead…

Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a borrowed donkey. A colt of a donkey or a foal. Meaning a very young untamed donkey. In fact Jesus came in on a donkey no one had ever sat.

At first glance it almost seems unimpressive.

But in reality this moment reveals something profound.

It shows us what kind of King Jesus truly is. Oh dearly beloved, our Savior the Lord on that day that he rode in rode as a symbolism of peace. Oh dear church more than ever our world needs the Prince of Peace.

Let me say this morning that the depiction of the first King, Secular kings are the world we live in every day. Dominance, power, prestige, dog eat dog, the fittest survive, and the one with the biggest toys wins.

Are you tired of that today? Do you want to experience real peace today?

Earthly kings ride war horses in cities of conquest. Jesus rode in on a borrowed donkey because He did not come to conquer people’ He came to save people and He wants to save you. He wants His best for your life today.

Let’s meet King Jesus today

And in this passage we see three things about the arrival of King Jesus.

Mark 11:1-11

Mark 11:1–11 NKJV

Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples; and He said to them, “Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately he will send it here.” So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it. But some of those who stood there said to them, “What are you doing, loosing the colt?” And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Blessed is the kingdom of our father David That comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.

Prayer

Message

I want you to know dear church family how much Jesus loves you. Jesus knew His demise and death and prophesied His death in Mark three different occasions before He goes to Jerusalem for His final time.

This is just after Jesus asked the disciples “Who do men say that I am?” And Peter said, “The Christ.”

Mark 8:31 “31 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.”

The disciples struggled and could not remove the demon-possessed spirit in a man’s son and Jesus said, “if you believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” And...Jesus was foretelling His death.

Mark 9:31 “31 For He taught His disciples and said to them, “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day.””

And Jesus was sharing these words with the disciples on this very journey we study today:

Mark 10:32–34 “32 Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him: 33 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; 34 and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.””

And yet Jesus proceeded toward Jerusalem for you and me to save us from our sins.

1. The Preparation for the King (vv.1–6)

Jesus had divine foreknowledge and knew the exact fulfillment of what was going to take place. God knew every step on this road to the Resurrection and when we think of love....oh my goodness, incomprehensible love He has for us. He went anyway for you and for me.

500 years before the birth of Christ, Zechariah the prophet writes:

Zechariah 9:9 “9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.”

Jesus had set the stage for every detail of His arrival. Notice that nothing went about with a glitch as to how Jesus said things would turn out. Oh dearly beloved, we can count on the promises of God for our lives.

Simply put, every detail Jesus said would happen...happened.

Let’s make some keen observations about these scenes.

Specific instructions-Jesus gave some specific instructions.

Mark 11:2–3 “2 and He said to them, “Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. 3 And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately he will send it here.””

Firstly, we are taught that when Jesus speaks into our lives to trust Him. Do you truly trust the Lord? These men trusted what Jesus said and obeyed.

Notice that Jesus almost at every turn asked them to do something that would be opposite of norm. He asked them to go get a colt of a donkey. He did not ask them to get a fully mature donkey, He did not ask them the more obvious to get a stallion, He asked them to get a colt of a donkey.

Furthermore, Jesus said to just go and take the donkey and if anyone says something to you, “the Lord has need of it.”

Ill. Jack Ingram Motors

What would happen to you if you went out to Ray Ingram’s car lot on the bypass around midnight and grabbed a Mercedes Benz and the security guard hit you right between the eyes with the beam from a flashlight and He said, “what are you doing here? “ and you replied, “The Lord has need of this car?”

How would that go over? Obviously, it would appear they were stealing the colt. But every detail happened according to God’s plan.

Jesus does the same in our lives when we trust Him. He will never lead you astray. Now if you have never surrendered to Christ and you want to know Christ today-will it feel awkward? Will it be a different experience and trust than you have ever encountered? Sure. But it will be the most sure thing and saving thing you can ever do.

Now we know that when every other King arrived with Pomp & Circumstance they reflected power as the processed into the city. Jesus’ approach represents peace.

The colt of a donkey represents so much more.

Mark provided some specifics about this animal.

In Mark 11:2 we note that the two disciples were instructed to get a colt of a donkey that had never been sat on.

This is an important detail because when we see that these are the type animals reserved for sacred purposes.

On one occasion the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron.

Numbers 19:2 “2 “This is the ordinance of the law which the Lord has commanded, saying: ‘Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring you a red heifer without blemish, in which there is no defect and on which a yoke has never come.”

This was a command the people of Israel were to do if they found a man slain and no one knew who killed him.

Deuteronomy 21:3 “3 And it shall be that the elders of the city nearest to the slain man will take a heifer which has not been worked and which has not pulled with a yoke.” And the scriptures goes on to say that “the elders of the city are to break the neck of the heifer and the priests and by the Lord and by their word every controversy and every assault will be settled.”

This colt was set apart for a sacred purpose-the King’s Arrival.

But I believe there is another important truth.

How should we approach King Jesus?

The colt had never been ridden and yet it allowed Jesus to sit on it and carry Him to Jerusalem.

Oh listen to me dearly beloved. Do you want this time of Easter to be more impactful than any other time in your life? We must prepare for our King with submission, with surrender, and a willingness to yield to His will for our lives.

Oh listen, this colt represents the fact we must have a childlike trust in Christ.

Mark 10:14–15 “14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.””

Matthew 18:3 “3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”

How do you prepare for a king? Let go...and let God.

Oh listen church, Jesus was the exact fulfillment spelled out in God’s Word.

Application: God’s redemption plan was never accidental.

God planned His arrival in His Son as Scriptures say before the foundations of the world.

2. The Praise for the King (vv.7–10)

We see clearly and precisely how we should praise King Jesus.

Mark 11:7–8 “7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. 8 And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road.”

Removal of a Covering

They took their coats and placed on the back of the donkey for Jesus to sit on. They placed their coats on the ground as well along with palm branches to make path of travel, similar to a red carpet treatment if you will.

The spreading of garments before a ruler was a public act of display symbolizing loyalty and submission.

We read in in the Bible in:

2 Kings 9:13 “13 Then each man hastened to take his garment and put it under him on the top of the steps; and they blew trumpets, saying, “Jehu is king!””

What was this act saying on the part of the people?

We recognize Jesus’ kingship. We are vowing that we will submit to His authority for our lives. They were making a statement of public allegiance to the King of Kings on that day.

Political Salvation

Now we know on that day they did not fully understand what type of King they were going to follow. As we know they wanted an earthly king that would bring Israel back to its best days and take them from under Roman suppression.

We initially want to ask: Jesus, what’s in it for me?

Many still want:

a problem-solving Jesus

a blessing Jesus

but not a ruling Jesus

I believe there is another symbolism in the removal of coats on this day in those people and I think it is very symbolic for us.

When they laid their cloaks before Jesus, they were laying down something personal. A cloak in that culture wasn’t just clothing — it was protection, identity, and security. In a sense they were saying, ‘King Jesus, everything I have is under Your authority.’ But here is the question for us: what are we still holding back?”

But we see a deeper surrender here.

Do you struggle with giving up:

Control

Luke 6:46 “46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?”

Are you struggling with giving up your future plans or career decisions or the direction you want to go in life vs. what Christ wants for you?

Comfort

Following Jesus means that sometimes we have to give up our comforts. We do not find following Christ as convenient or fitting into our structure. We are not willing to make the lifestyle changes that are called for to follow Christ.

Luke 9:23 “23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

Oh the list is endless, you may struggle with giving up control of your finances, or certain relationships that you know are unhealthy or ungodly influences.

2 Corinthians 6:14 “14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?”

Maybe there is a hidden sin you can’t shake or do not want to shake and you say to God, that is off limits. Addiction, bitterness, pride, sexual sins or secret habits.

Psalm 139:23–24 “23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.”

Spiritual Redemption

When we surrender to Jesus we do not fully know what that entails either. But where His followers started is where we start.

Mark 11:9–10 “9 Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ 10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David That comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!””

They gave Jesus adoration upon adoration. Blessed means that they were giving praise to the Lord. Offering words of thanksgiving and words of well being for Jesus and His kingdom.

Hosanna means “oh save!” in the highest. Oh Lord please save us and what is interesting is that Jesus through His Holy Spirit shouts those same things for us. He wants to offer us His best, He wants to bless you. He wants to save you from your sins and your demise and He wants to offer you His best.

Trust, recognizing He is king and submitting to His authority.

This is yet another reason we ask you to walk the isle and share your decision, because like those followers of Christ, by placing their coats down and waving palm branches and placing before them, they were publically vowing to follow Him.

Would you do that today if you never have surrendered to Jesus?

Let’s conclude:

3. The Perception of the King (v.11)

Mark 11:11 “11 And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.”

Jesus enters the temple and simply observes.

Notice the scene. The Triumphal entry is over, the processional is over. The shouting has stopped and things come back to what we would call normal.

And Jesus walks into the Temple-the center of worship.

Mark says:

“He looked around at everything.”

He is evaluating worship. He is observant.

I wonder what Jesus saw? I wonder if He saw sacrifices...or surrendered hearts? I imagine He saw activity...but did He see authenticity in worship? We know He saw religion...but I wander if He saw reverence?

We know the answer to that. He saw routine and not reverence because the next day He cleansed the temple.

Christ still examines His church.

Jesus is looking around here right now and He sees you. He sees your heart. He sees your spiritual condition. He sees your worship and He sees my worship.

He sees how we sing, how we listen, how we pray, how we respond, but more than all of that....He sees your heart and He sees mine.

We are studying in this series what is called Passion Week, the final week of Jesus’ earthly life before the resurrection.

In this message the people are laying down their coats and they are saying, “You are our King.” In exactly one week, many of those will say “crucify Him, crucify Him!”

Why is that? Because it is possible to celebrate Jesus publicly...and still hold back areas of our lives privately.

The people recognized Jesus as King for a day. Here is the question I have for you:

Is Jesus King of your Life everyday?

Let’s pray.