The Humble Entry of the King
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Introduction:
It’s been three weeks since we have been in Mark. And as we begin chapter eleven, we turn to a new section in Mark’s Gospel. This is the final week of Jesus’ life and a third of Mark’s Gospel is devoted to this section. For the next several months, we will be spending our time in the next six chapters exploring the final week of Jesus’ life.
This portion of Scripture is often called The Triumphal Entry. I titled my message “The Humble Entry of the King” because when we look of Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem, it is not accompany by the pomp or extravagance of the Rulers and Authorities of the day, but it is an entrance of the King who humbles himself and is ready to die just a few days later.
This is the calm before the storm. Before controversy escalates between Jesus and the Pharisees, and eventually with the Romans and the Gentiles, Jesus makes a public entrance into the city of Jerusalem to fulfill his purposes. Every act is deliberate and intentional in this passage.
This would be the time of passover. The Jewish historian Josephus notes that there could have been at least 2-3 million people during passover. And Jesus makes not a grand entrance, but a humble entrance.
Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Gospels Pilgrimage and the Roman Road
According to Josephus, the population of Jerusalem during the Passover would swell many times its ordinary size, with incredible numbers like 2,700,200 (War 6.425) and 3 million (War 2.280).
Recap
Recap
Last time Jesus was in Jericho. He healed Bartimaeus who recognized that this was the Son of David. His eyes were opened. And now Jesus draws near to Jerusalem to accomplish the mission His Father had given him.
Main Proposition: In our passage this morning, we see how dJesus is the Promised Redeemer who has come to offer peace before He brings judgment. The passage shows us three ways to respond to the King as we look at his humble entry into Jersualem who offers peace before judgment:
Recognize our King (vv. 1-6)
Receive our King (vv. 7-10)
Revere our King (v. 11)
As we reflect on the purposes of our King, and the beauty of our King, I pray we would gladly submit and revere our King.
Scripture Reading:
Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’ ” And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before 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!”
And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
I. Recognize Your King (vv. 1-6)
I. Recognize Your King (vv. 1-6)
Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples
Jesus is not quite in Jerusalem, but just outside of Jerusalem. Jesus arrives at two small villages outside of Jerusalem.
The village of Bethany was located about two miles from Jerusalem () on the eastern slopes of the Mount of Olives. It was the hometown of Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha (; cf. ).
Strauss, Mark L.. Mark (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
The Gospel of Mark Notes
Bethphage (“house of unripe figs”) was a village on the Mount of Olives; its exact location is uncertain. Bethany is a village about two miles east of Jerusalem;
And Jesus passes these two villages going through the Mount of Olives before he arrives of Jersualem. The Mount of Olives was significant in the Old Testament because the prophet Zechariah predicted that one day the Messiah would stand on the Mount of Olives in Judgment.
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.
Strauss, Mark L.. Mark (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
As he nears Jerusalem, he sends two of his disciples into one of the villages. Verse 2 states:
The Lord’s Intentional Mission
and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’ ”
Matthew records a donkey and a colt with her.
saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me.
Matthew
“Need” refers to David’s justification for eating consecrated bread.
What is the significance of untying on a donkey? or Colt?
The Gospel of Mark Notes
Bethphage (“house of unripe figs”) was a village on the Mount of Olives; its exact location is uncertain. Bethany is a village about two miles east of Jerusalem;
Well, what if I told two of you to go into Washington D.C. Find a Limousine, in which no one has driven, and prepare the Limousine, and I want the two of you to escort me down the main street as we arrive at the white house.
Either you are thinking that Pastor Alex has gone mad. Or you are thinking the only person who can do something like that is the President of the United States.
Well, Jesus knows exactly what He is doing. If you grew up reading your Old Testament, you would know some of these Messianic prophecies.
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.
Judah is a lion’s cub;
from the prey, my son, you have gone up.
He stooped down; he crouched as a lion
and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?
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.
Judah is a lion’s cub;
from the prey, my son, you have gone up.
He stooped down; he crouched as a lion
and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?
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.
His eyes are darker than wine,
and his teeth whiter than milk.
Judah is a lion’s cub;
from the prey, my son, you have gone up.
He stooped down; he crouched as a lion
and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?
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.
His eyes are darker than wine,
and his teeth whiter than milk.
“Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea;
he shall become a haven for ships,
and his border shall be at Sidon.
Judah is a lion’s cub;
from the prey, my son, you have gone up.
He stooped down; he crouched as a lion
and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?
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.
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.
Genesis 49:
Genesis 49:9-1
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.
His eyes are darker than wine,
and his teeth whiter than milk.
And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go.
N
And they did exactly as Jesus commanded them. They untie it, and the people ask, why are you doing this, and the Lord told them saying, “The Lord has need of it.”
I don’t know if Jesus had prearranged plan with these people, or He displayed his omniscience of all the events that would take place. But the point is that Jesus knows what He is doing.
Is it like Star Wars, where Jesus just knows and waves his hand and says the Lord has need of it?
The colt or animal was to be tied, and then untied. It was to be an animal never used before. Animals could be set apart for specific purposes.
The Mishnah says that the king’s horse cannot be ridden by anyone except the king.11
Strauss, Mark L.. Mark (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
“This is the statute of the law that the Lord has commanded: Tell the people of Israel to bring you a red heifer without defect, in which there is no blemish, and on which a yoke has never come.
Strauss, Mark L.. Mark (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
This was the public entrance of the King! He was fulfilling the OT Scriptures. Often times, Jesus commanded demons and even his disciples to remain silent regarding who He was. But this time, Jesus goes public. These actions show that He knows who He is and what He has come to do.
If you understand all these actions and the events unfolding before you eyes, you would understand that Jesus is a madman, or really had the authority to back up who He says He is.
Christian—Often times we focus on personal interpretation on the passage versus what the actual interpretation of the passage. Yes, it is right to ask how this applies to me. But sometimes we can be so focused on the me, that we lose sight concerning what this passage teaches us about God and Jesus! Jesus is showing us here in these instructions that He is the Messiah! He is the fulfillment of the Scriptures.
Jesus is the Fulfillment of Scriptures—If you don’t read your Bible regularly and often, you are not going to see the significance of what is taking place. The Bible will seem like disconnected stories with no cohesive unity and just like a how to manual of feel good passages that you just pick and choose in order to get you through the day. But we need to be students of Scripture and see how the OT predicted a coming One who would rescue His people from their sins and restore proper order and worship in which Man lost at the Fall.
Read Your Whole Bible—I am convinced that people who are often not doing well spiritually, the reason why is because they are not in the Bible regularly. They are not seeing the glory of Scriptures. They are not seeing the truthfulness of Scripture. And if you do not seek to know the Lord diligently in Scripture, you will not be amazed. And if you are not amazed, you will not worship and therefore not be changed by the Scriptures.
Read Biblical Theology—We have a purple book in our visitor lounge entitled Biblical Theology. I commend the book to you. It shows us who the Scriptures is One grand story showing us that the central hero and unity of the Scriptures is Jesus.
Preach the Whole Bible—That is why here at CFBC, we want to be committed to preaching the Whole Bible. I don’t know how long the Lord will give us, but we want to make sure our people see the Whole Scriptures and the glory of Christ both in the Old and New Testament. The Bible does not make any sense apart from Jesus and His Holy Spirit working in us.
Non-Christian—Jesus is a King. He is a King who is different than other kings. Our King is One who serves and offers peace to those who will receive Him. Which leads me to my next point....
Transition: If you recognize your King, you will gladly receive your King....
II. Receive Your King (vv. 7-10)
II. Receive Your King (vv. 7-10)
And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields.
And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it.
The Mishnah says that the king’s horse cannot be ridden by anyone except the king.11
Strauss, Mark L.. Mark (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
A. The Royalty of the King
The disciples bring the colt back to Jesus and they threw their cloaks on it, and they sat on it. There is significance here if you have read your Bible. When David passed the throne to his son Solomon, he said:
King David said, “Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.” So they came before the king. And the king said to them, “Take with you the servants of your lord and have Solomon my son ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon.
1 Kings 1:
Or when Jehu became King, it reads:
Then in haste every man of them took his garment and put it under him on the bare steps, and they blew the trumpet and proclaimed, “Jehu is king.”
The New International Greek Testament Commentary: The Gospel of Mark The Royal Procession (11:1–10)
There is no warrant here for the preacher’s favourite comment on the fickleness of a crowd which could shout ‘Hosanna’ one day and ‘Crucify him’ a few days later. They are not the same crowd. The Galilean pilgrims shouted ‘Hosanna’ as they approached the city; the Jerusalem crowd shouted, ‘Crucify him’.
2 kings 9:
B. The Humility of the king
And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields.
Notice our Lord, didn’t come with the pomp and glory of the rulers of the day. He didn’t come with a warhorse or chariots or foot soldiers. He comes riding on a donkey with his disciples and Galilean pilgrims. He doesn’t look like a King.
It is said that when Muhamed rode into the city of Mecca, he rode on a warhorse, with 4000 men on horses and 1000 foot soldiers.
Our Lord in contrast rides on a donkey, and twelve disciples and ordinary people.
The New International Greek Testament Commentary: The Gospel of Mark The Royal Procession (11:1–10)
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
There is no warrant here for the preacher’s favourite comment on the fickleness of a crowd which could shout ‘Hosanna’ one day and ‘Crucify him’ a few days later. They are not the same crowd. The Galilean pilgrims shouted ‘Hosanna’ as they approached the city; the Jerusalem crowd shouted, ‘Crucify him’.
C. The Praise of the King
And those who went before 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!”
These are pilgrims traveling with Jesus from Galilee and Jericho. Recognizing the Lord’s action, they began to shout “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!
As pilgrims would arrive into Jersualem, people who often say blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord.
Hosanna means “Save now, or Save us”. The OT reference is from the Hallel psalms which means praise.
Save us, we pray, O Lord!
O Lord, we pray, give us success!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
We bless you from the house of the Lord.
The New International Greek Testament Commentary: The Gospel of Mark The Royal Procession (11:1–10)
There is no warrant here for the preacher’s favourite comment on the fickleness of a crowd which could shout ‘Hosanna’ one day and ‘Crucify him’ a few days later. They are not the same crowd. The Galilean pilgrims shouted ‘Hosanna’ as they approached the city; the Jerusalem crowd shouted, ‘Crucify him’.
The Gospel of Mark 1. The Entry into Jerusalem. Ch. 11:1–11
The Hallel Psalms (Ps. 113–118) were used liturgically in connection with Passover and Tabernacles, serving as a focus for prayer, praise and thanksgiving for every pious Jew. The substance of Ps. 118:25f. is cited in verse 9, while the response in verse 10 provides a commentary upon the quotation. The chiastic structure of verses 9–10 suggests the antiphonal character of the singing:
(a) Hosanna!
(b) Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
(b’) Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!
(a’) Hosanna in the highest!
The Gospel of Mark 1. The Entry into Jerusalem. Ch. 11:1–11
“Hosanna” is properly a prayer invoking God’s saving action (“save us”), but through liturgical use it came to be dissociated from its original meaning and could be used as a shout of acclamation (like “Hallelujah”) or as a greeting in addressing pilgrims or a famous rabbi. In Ps. 118:26 a blessing is pronounced upon the pilgrims who have come up to the festival, and this is perhaps the normal way to understand verse 9b. “Blessed in the name of the Lord be he who comes” formed part of a customary form of religious greeting.
The Gospel of Mark 1. The Entry into Jerusalem. Ch. 11:1–11
The reference to the branches of green and the antiphonal singing recalls the entry into Jerusalem of Simon, the last of the five Hasmonean brothers, on a triumphal occasion (1 Macc. 13:51).
“The spreading of branches recalls the triumphant entry of the Jews into Jerusalem after Simon Maccabaeus defeated the enemy and brought peace to the land. They entered “with praise and palm branches, and with harps and cymbals and stringed instruments, and with hymns and songs, because a great enemy had been crushed and removed from Israel ).”
The Conquering Messiah vs. the Suffering Messiah
The Gospel of Mark 1. The Entry into Jerusalem. Ch. 11:1–11
The reference to the branches of green and the antiphonal singing recalls the entry into Jerusalem of Simon, the last of the five Hasmonean brothers, on a triumphal occasion (1 Macc. 13:51).
Strauss, Mark L.. Mark (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
The Gospel of Mark 1. The Entry into Jerusalem. Ch. 11:1–11
The Hallel Psalms (Ps. 113–118) were used liturgically in connection with Passover and Tabernacles, serving as a focus for prayer, praise and thanksgiving for every pious Jew. The substance of Ps. 118:25f. is cited in verse 9, while the response in verse 10 provides a commentary upon the quotation. The chiastic structure of verses 9–10 suggests the antiphonal character of the singing:
(a) Hosanna!
(b) Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
(b’) Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!
(a’) Hosanna in the highest!
The people were right that this was the Messiah. This would be the Messiah who would save. But they were wrong about how the Messiah would save. They thought he was riding into Jerusalem to be a conquering Messiah and a powerful Messiah. Little did they know, that the Messiah would conquer through weakness and being handed over to be crucified and die.
The Gospel of Mark 1. The Entry into Jerusalem. Ch. 11:1–11
“Hosanna” is properly a prayer invoking God’s saving action (“save us”), but through liturgical use it came to be dissociated from its original meaning and could be used as a shout of acclamation (like “Hallelujah”) or as a greeting in addressing pilgrims or a famous rabbi. In Ps. 118:26 a blessing is pronounced upon the pilgrims who have come up to the festival, and this is perhaps the normal way to understand verse 9b. “Blessed in the name of the Lord be he who comes” formed part of a customary form of religious greeting.
Christian—You expectations of Jesus might be off. We often want a conquering Messiah who will fix everything wrong in our lives. What we don’t often get is that our Messiah often works in weakness. Instead of fixing everything wrong on our lives, he fixes us at the root level and changes us from the inside out as He deals with our sin.
Praise Your King—The people were right to bless and praise their King. That is why in Luke’s Gospel, the Pharisees were irritated and annoyed when they heard the crowds shouting Hosanna.
And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”
The Gospel offer of Peace...
Luke
Mark
Non-Christian—Jesus did not come in a warhorse in his first coming. He did not come in pomp and glory with footmen and soldiers. He did not come down the main street with missiles following behind him. He came humbly. He came to offer peace to you. Because the Messiah would eventually suffer a few days later on a bloody cross to offer you peace with God.
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Bible says we were once enemies of God because we hated his rule. And we deserve death because we rejected God’s kingship over our lives. And the King will execute justice. But before he executed Jesus, he offers peace in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The King who rides humbly into Jerusalem with ordinary people following behind. If you turn from your sin, and trust in Christ, Christ will be able to save you and deliver you from your sins.
Jesus does save and will save for all who call upon Him.
Christian—Do you have unrealistic expectations of Jesus? Thinking that he will conquer everything bad in your life? Or do you think that sometimes God ordains circumstances to not change your circumstances, but to change you from the inside out?
He comes humbly the first time, but in the Second Coming of the King, he will come like a warrior on a white horse with his holy angels in judgment.
Church—We have the message of peace. We must tell others to be reconciled to God. We must be a people of peace and humility because we serve a King of peace and humility. Share the gospel, the peace treaty that God offers to man if they will believe. And in light of everything going on right now, the fear and the hysteria, tell your unbelieving friends they can have peace with God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Transition: Recognize your King, as you see Christ fulfilling OT prophecies, Receive your King as you see our Lord come humbly offering peace, but we also must Revere our King because One day He will bring judgement on false worshippers...
III. Revere Your King (v. 11)
III. Revere Your King (v. 11)
And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
I find it interesting that the Lord entered into Jerusalem and the first place he went to was not the palace of Caesar, or the great house of Herod, but He went into the Temple.
“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.
Why is that?
I think because our Lord is primarily concerned about Worship. Israel’s worship had become false and apostate. They trusted in their legalism and rituals rather in God and their Messiah.
In the following weeks, we will see the escalating tensions with Jesus and the Religious leaders over their false worship.
He looked around at everything.
Jesus is not looking as a pilgrim. But I believe that Jesus is looking as a judge. He is evaluating the worship of Israel. Because in the following days, he will overthrow the tables of the money changers. He will curse a fig tree. He will teach his disciples that He wants true and pure worship.
And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”
Luke 19:41-
I wonder if Jesus looked at the church in America or even or church. Would he see true worshippers? Would he see people zealous for His Name? Or would he weep and bring judgment.
Because at the time, Israel’s worship was corrupt. So he needed to destroy the Temple in order to build a New Temple.
But the Temple he was talking about was not Temple right in front of Them. Jesus would destroy the Temple of His Body. In John’s passage, Jesus is furious when he see those making money in the temple.
He over throws tables and fulfills another Scripture in his zeal for the Lord. The Jews ask, what sign are you going to give.
Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
John 2:190
A few days later. The judgment of God would fall on His Own Son in his own Body. Jesus Christ, would bear the wrath and judgment of God upon Himself by going to Jerusalem to suffer. So that he could restore true worship and true worshippers.
God wants to change you from the inside. He wants to deal with the root. And the root is your sin.
Jesus bears God’s wrath. Satisfy His wrath by satisfying justice. And he is raised from the dead to create a New Temple and a New People who recognize and receive the King.
Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
1 Corinthians 3:1
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture:
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
1 Peter 2:
Non-Christian—His first coming is one of peace. But his second coming is one of judgment. He came in a donkey humbly, but in his second coming he will come on a white horse in judgment.
The New International Greek Testament Commentary: The Gospel of Mark The Royal Procession (11:1–10)
There is no warrant here for the preacher’s favourite comment on the fickleness of a crowd which could shout ‘Hosanna’ one day and ‘Crucify him’ a few days later. They are not the same crowd. The Galilean pilgrims shouted ‘Hosanna’ as they approached the city; the Jerusalem crowd shouted, ‘Crucify him’.
God is concerned about true worship.
Christian—How are you doing? Are you worshipping God and sanctifying in your heart? Are you revering and fearing Him?
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
Are you letting the Word of God regulate your worship.
Christian—We must continue to abide in Christ and Christ alone. And when we abide in Him, we will bear much fruit. We abide in Him by abiding His Word and keeping His commands.
Because He is a humble King and a King who offers peace through His sacrifice, we will gladly submit to our King before He comes in judgment to judge the godless and th wicked.
Church—The Church is the New Temple. Let us make sure we are seeking to build up the church and not tear the church apart, for God will judge those who seek to destroy His Holy Temple.
Let us make sure we strive to be a Holy Church. A church that does not tolerate sin or false doctrine, but guards the purity of God’s Word and the purity of our lives. Seek the Lord while He may be found, before its too late.
Summary:
The humble entry of the King calls us to recognize that Jesus is the promised redeemer King who offers peace to those who recognize His kingship and receive His peace as He humble comes the first time before He comes in judgment in the Second coming.
Recognize Your King—See that Jesus is the Fulfillment of Scripture
1
Receive Your King—He comes humbly and offers peace
Revere Your King—He will come in judgment in His Second Coming.
Let us pray.
The New International Greek Testament Commentary: The Gospel of Mark The Royal Procession (11:1–10)
Bethany is mentioned several times in the gospels, a village some two miles out of Jerusalem on the Jericho road, where Jesus and his disciples would spend the night during the coming week (vv. 11–12; 14:3). Bethphage is presumably a smaller hamlet associated with Bethany. Its traditional site is just before the crest of the hill on the way from Bethany to Jerusalem; it is mentioned in the Talmud as a suburb outside the walls of Jerusalem. Both places were therefore on the slopes of the Ὄρος τῶν Ἐλαιῶν, so that if πρός has its normal sense of motion towards, it might indicate that in reaching Bethphage and Bethany they were coming to (the crest of) the Mount of Olives; but πρός may indicate proximity rather than motion towards (cf. 2:2; 4:1b; 6:3; 9:19a; 11:4). This apparently unnecessary mention of the Mount of Olives may arise from Mark’s awareness of its messianic connotations (Zc. 14:4; cf. Ezk. 11:23; 43:1–5).
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to Mark Jesus Enters Jerusalem (11:1–11)
The Mount of Olives rises over 2,600 feet above sea level (some 300 feet higher than Jerusalem) and runs north to south on the eastern side of the Holy City. Already before David’s time the Mount of Olives had been a place of worship (2 Sam 15:32). At the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. Ezekiel had a vision of the glory of the Lord departing from Jerusalem and settling on the Mount of Olives (Ezek 11:23). According to Zech 14:4 the Mount of Olives would be the site of final judgment, and the rabbis and Josephus (Ant. 20.169) associated it with the coming of the Messiah. Mark, who seldom mentions place names, may mention the Mount of Olives here in order to associate its messianic significance with Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to Mark Jesus Enters Jerusalem (11:1–11)
Mark is warning against mistaking enthusiasm for faith and popularity for discipleship. Jesus is not confessed in pomp and circumstance but only at the cross (15:39).
“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
Josephus estimated that between two to three million people were packed into Jerusalem on this occasion.
Josephus estimated that between two to three million people were packed into Jerusalem on this occasion.
saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me.
Donkey is a royal animal.
“The spreading of branches recalls the triumphant entry of the Jews into Jerusalem after Simon Maccabaeus defeated the enemy and brought peace to the land. They entered “with praise and palm branches, and with harps and cymbals and stringed instruments, and with hymns and songs, because a great enemy had been crushed and removed from Israel ).”
CSB Study Bible: Notes Chapter 11
Bethphage (lit “house of unripe figs”) was located on the slope of the Mount of Olives, a large hill east of Jerusalem. Bethany was two miles east of Jerusalem.
The Gospel of Mark Notes
Bethphage (“house of unripe figs”) was a village on the Mount of Olives; its exact location is uncertain. Bethany is a village about two miles east of Jerusalem;
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.
Jesus examines our worship. Is it pure worship, or would he judge our worship.
Messianic Secret.
Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Gospels Pilgrimage and the Roman Road
According to Josephus, the population of Jerusalem during the Passover would swell many times its ordinary size, with incredible numbers like 2,700,200 (War 6.425) and 3 million (War 2.280).