Mark 11:1-11: The King You Need

Introduction

Dad sayings: “No…,” “Ask your mother…,” “Don’t tell your mom…,” “You stink…,” “When I was your age…,” “Were you raised in a barn?””I’m not going to tell you again...” “If I tell you to jump, you ask, ‘how high?” “I know what’s best for you…”

Isn’t it true that we all think we know what we need? You’ve thought, “If I had.... my life would be better.” Or, “If this circumstance would change, my life would be better...”

You may think you know what you need, but God knows better. He knows what you really need - the Bible is God’s story of giving people what they really need - A King names Jesus who delivers us from sin. (Start with Gen. 3:15)

After nearly 3 years of ministry, Jesus unmistakably makes it known to the masses that He is the promised King. But, the crowd that worships on Palm Sunday is absent on Good Friday because while Jesus may be the King they need - He is not the King they want. Mark 11 - marks beginning of Passion week - makes up 1/3 of Mark’s Gospel.

I don’t want us to miss what the crowd in Jerusalem missed on Palm Sunday some 2,000 years ago. I want you to see three unmistakable truths the crowd missed.

We need a King who is in complete control.

For three years, Jesus performed miracles and taught with authority. People questioned His identity. Was He John the Baptist reincarnated? Elijah? A prophet?

Jesus puts those questions to rest. A great crowd with him - Bartimaeus in crowd, Lazarus, Zaccheus - telling people, “You won’t believe what happened to us...” (John 12:17)

On the Mt. of Olives with disciples - sees the Golden Gate from Mt. of Olives - leading to the temple. Time for Jesus to enter Jerusalem for the last week of His life. Not a triumphal entry, but a death march that will begin a series of events that will lead to the crucifixion and ultimately the resurrection - The course of human history is about to change, and the crowd doesn’t even know…

Sends two disciples to get a young colt no one had sat on. An unused colt was used for religious purposes. (Deut. 21:3, Numbers 19:2)

Disciples go to next town to “borrow” a donkey. (Imagine the conversation when they were asked to go get a donkey.) They only need to say, “The Lord has need of it...” Owner releases donkey...

Brings colt to Jesus - put cloaks on the donkey - Jesus begins to ride to Jerusalem. Interesting - 6 of 11 verse in this story are about Jesus retrieving a donkey! Why? Jesus is in control of every minute detail of the day.

Jesus is choosing to set in motion the events that will lead to His death, choosing the time. (Passover - maybe as many as 3 million people in Jerusalem - celebrating the first Passover when God delivered form Egypt - On Good Friday, Jesus would be the ultimate Passover Lamb.) Choosing the animal. Choosing how to get the animal. He’s in control of it all. Jesus’ life was not taken from Him. He freely gave it away according to His will. This is all a part of HIS plan.  “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” (John 10:17-18)

This is the kind of You need - a King who is in complete control! Because He is in control:

Frees you from worrying about things you cannot control! How much time do you waste worrying about things beyond your control? (How your children are going to turn out, if you’re going to get in the school you want to get into, politics, health insurance, etc.) Jesus is in control of every detail of your life, and He loves you. He is always going to do what’s ultimately best for you and His Kingdom. He knows - who is going to be in office in 4 years, how He’s going to provide for your family, how He’s going to bring you through trials, etc.

Frees you to focus on what matters. Because Jesus is in control of all things, I can focus on doing what I know He wants me to do. I can focus on growing in Him, serving Him, loving others, being on mission, etc.

Long for a life free of worry - pushing button at splash pad - Jesus says I can have it - Matt. 11:28

If you do not see Jesus as the King who is in control, you’ll always try to take control! You’ll be frustrated, full of worry, etc. The King you need is a King who is in complete control.

We need a King who gives real peace.

NOT the scene you’d expect. A roaming rabbi riding a baby donkey into Jerusalem followed by a massive crowd. You’d expect a King who rode a stallion, with a sword on his side, ready to defeat Rome...

But the crowd makes the connection. (Matt. 21:5) This fulfilled Zech. 9:9. The Jews knew their OT, and when they saw this, they immediately made the connection. Jesus was the Messiah! But, why a baby donkey? Not uncommon for a king to ride a donkey - David did it and so did Solomon. Kings riding donkeys symbolized times of peace, and that’s what Jesus was ushering in.

A humble King who came to make peace with people not war with people. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:17)

Peace is what you need - the Jews knew it - but they thought they needed peace from Rome. What they really needed was peace with God. “If I could just have peace at home, peace at work, etc.” That’s not your greatest need. (6.8 miles of standstill traffic - PEACE - no thought of anything else but my temporal circumstance - getting out of traffic is not my biggest problem - in light of eternity - it doesn’t even matter...) You need a King that gives you more than a peaceful night at home. You need a King who gives you peace with God. If God gives you temporal peace and not lasting peace, you’re hell bound!

Peace with God - Without Jesus, you are an enemy of God destined for an eternal hell. (Romans 5:10) - Every sinful decision is a direct assault on a holy, loving God. Yet, Jesus has come to make peace.

Peace with others - (2 Corinthians 5:18) It is not possible to have peace with God and NOT desire peace with others. We are peacemakers. (Matthew 5:9)

Peace with yourself - Romans 8:1 - Stop beating yourself up! You are forgiven and accepted. Nothing you can do to make God love you more or less...

When you have peace with God, you can walk in peace in every situation.

We need a King who is worthy of worship.

When the crowd makes the connection, They worship! They lay cloaks on the ground, and palm branches - symbolized victory! Finally, the day they have waited for!

“Hosanna!” = Save us! Hillel Psalms 113-118 - Blessed is He who comes… Ps. 118:26 - Would sing Psalms as they ascended to Jerusalem for Passover.

Worship - passionate, exuberant, beautiful...

Where are the disciples? Why aren’t they saying… “He’s going to die! Let us explain to you what kind of King He is!” No one gets it!

Where would the crowd be when Friday rolled around? They wanted victory - but when victory came at the cross, where would they be? In less than a week, the King who is worshipped would become the King who was rejected.

Worshipping Jesus for who they wanted Him to be; not for who He was...

Jesus is a King who is worthy of worship not because of who we want Him to be but because of who He is!

Do you know this King? Evidence that you may not know the King that you showed up to worship this morning:

Only worship when everything feels right (preferences, emotionalism, etc.) -

Only worship when you you are getting your way (healing, promotion, etc.)

Only worship when it costs you nothing - crowd would not follow Him to the cross.

If this is you, you are worshipping a Jesus you don’t know. When you know Jesus:

You worship because you know the truth. He has come to rescue you from your greatest enemy!

You worship in spite of your circumstances.

You worship by giving Him your life. (Romans 12:1-2)

This morning, He is worthy of your worship. Surrender to your life for Him. If you choose to reject Him, know that He will come again, and it won’t be on a donkey. It won’t be in humility and gentleness. He will come to make war against those who have not cried out “Hosanna” seeking His mercy and grace. He will come on a stallion:

English Standard Version Chapter 19

11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

How have you responded to the King?

Believer: Repent of lack of trust, not walking in peace, not worshiping the King who is worthy.