What Kind of King? (Mark 11:1-11)

Introduction

Good morning to all of you and I pray that you are making the best of this situation we are all under stay at home order.

Today Palm Sunday and the beginning of Passion week; where we look at the last week of the life of Jesus.

At Christmas we celebrated Advent…the coming of Jesus Christ.

Advent is the celebration of the coming of a baby.

A baby who was born a King.

A King who would one day save the world.

Now 30 years later Mark is sharing with us another Advent…the coming of that baby the King to the City of David.

And we celebrate the King who did save the world.

Jesus in His ministry had been making His way toward Jerusalem this Palm Sunday we are going to look at Jesus final arrival to the City of David as written for us in the Scriptures in the Gospel of Mark.

Chapter 11 of Mark chronicles the last 7 days of Jesus mission.

So as we celebrate this Palm Sunday turn with me in your Bible to Mark chapter 11 beginning in verse 1.

Mark 11 verse 1...

The Scriptures tell us this...

Mark 11:1–11 CSB

1 When they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples 2 and told them, “Go into the village ahead of you. As soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here right away.’ ” 4 So they went and found a colt outside in the street, tied by a door. They untied it, 5 and some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 They answered them just as Jesus had said; so they let them go. 7 They brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their clothes on the road, and others spread leafy branches cut from the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted: Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest heaven! 11 He went into Jerusalem and into the temple. After looking around at everything, since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

Prayer with me today....

The 1st thing we see in this week passage is ...

Request for colt

Mark 11:1–3 CSB

1 When they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples 2 and told them, “Go into the village ahead of you. As soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here right away.’ ”

At 1st glance the request of Jesus seems really strange.

But the needs of Jesus are really important.

Jesus and the disciples were just out side of Jerusalem.

The text mentions Bethphage which is East of Jerusalem and Bethany which is on the easter slope of the mount of Olives.

The mount of Olives was located between Bethany and Jerusalem.

Jesus says…go to the village ahead of you… in some translations it says, “go to the village opposite of you” which implies that they were probably in Bethphage.

Jesus sends the guys up to the village ahead of them and He tells them… guys you will see a colt; most likely a donkey; these phases were interchangeable them even though we now associate a colt with a horse.

But He says you see a colt that nobody has ever rode on.

Why would would Jesus ask for this?

A young animal such as this was considered sacred to the Jew and it would have been worthy of a Holy purpose.

Worthy of a holy purpose…this was the colt for the King of the World…the Messiah.

Jesus also anticipates a confrontation…he tell the disciples to tell the owners who will aks them why they are taking it; just say I need it…problem solved.

Jesus uses the word...

“Kurios” - meaning master or sir.

It can also mean supreme ruler…Mark does not use this term with respect to Jesus, but Jesus uses it to describe Himself.

The verse can be read in this way, “ Tell them the master needs that donkey.”

This request is important.

Turn with me to Zechariah chapter 9 verse 9.

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Zechariah 9:9 CSB

9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout in triumph, Daughter Jerusalem! Look, your King is coming to you; he is righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Jesus request is to fulfill this prophecy of Zechariah.

So now we see that the request of Christ had purpose…the purpose was three fold.

The purpose was specific

The purpose was meaningful

The purpose was Holy

It was 3 fold...

It was specific, it was meaningful, and it was Holy.

Jesus knew this request had to be full-filled like this.

Most kings come into town on horses with and entourage…but not Jesus.

Jesus is a different kind of King; Jesus came in on a Donkey.

To be the Messiah sent from God there was no other way…it had to be this way.

Jesus had to be specific, it had to mean something to those who would welcome Him, and it had to be for this Holy purpose.

2nd we see the disciples...

Respect Christ’s Commands

Mark 11:4–7 CSB

4 So they went and found a colt outside in the street, tied by a door. They untied it, 5 and some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 They answered them just as Jesus had said; so they let them go. 7 They brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and he sat on it.

The disciples do as Jesus asked....and the bring the donkey back to Jesus who then mounts it and rides toward Jerusalem.

Pretty simple; as off as these request seem to be; they just obeyed…what an example of God know more that we do…God knowing the purpose and God knowing the way...

Response of the crowd

Mark 11:8–10 CSB

8 Many people spread their clothes on the road, and others spread leafy branches cut from the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted: Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!

Jesus mounts the donkey and heads toward the Temple.

Jesus rides into town and as the crowd gather the give Him a Kings welcome.

They spread their clothes and the spread palm branches on the ground…all the things they would do to show respect for a King.

Jesus come a top a donkey.

This is such great visuals here and the people would recognize the symbolism.

It is like us; when we see the swoosh anywhere; we automatically know it is Nike.

Or when we see an Apple picture, we understand that is the Apple Computer or the makers of the Iphone.

Donkey represented peace

Symbolized the humility of Jesus

Jesus came in peace and it showed the humility of our King.

The prophecy of the Messiah riding into Jerusalem was deeply rooted in Jewish belief; those watching Jesus ride into town would know of this.

As such they rolled out the carpets and the shouted Hosanna…Hosanna…what does that mean????

In a traditional Jewish prayer Hosanna means “Save Us.”

So if we look at this; the crowd is cheering…Save Us…Save Us…Save us in the Highest.

So it had to be this way at this point in time...

But we also cannot miss the significance of the place where Jesus rode in from.

Significance of the place

Mark 11:11 CSB

11 He went into Jerusalem and into the temple. After looking around at everything, since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

Jesus coming from the Mount of Olives is a very significant place to this narrative.

Lets again talk a little geography.

The Mount of Olives, specifically the village of Bethany looks out across the Kidron Vally, down to the city of Jerusalem, three hundred feet below.

In about 586 BC, at the time of Jerusalem's destruction and the people were forced exile to Babylon, God gave a vision to the prophet Ezekiel.

In that vision, Ezekiel saw the glory of God rise up from the temple in Jerusalem.

The glory of God departed from the east side of the city and ascended three hundred feet to rest on the Mount of Olives.

Ezekiel 11:23 CSB

23 The glory of the Lord rose up from within the city and stopped on the mountain east of the city.

So what Ezekiel is saying is that he saw in his vision that God’s glory leave the city and rest upon the mountain.

The mount of Olives.

We aslo cannot miss the...

Significance of the destination

Mark 11:11 CSB

11 He went into Jerusalem and into the temple. After looking around at everything, since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

As we look at this whole passage what is the destination?

Mark's conclusion of this narrative seems disappointing.

There is this huge celebration of Jesus entering the city and Mark ends with Him going to the Temple looking around and leaving.

Where was Jesus going?

Jerusalem???

No…Jesus was going to the temple.

We cannot miss this.

Do you see it?

I thought Jesus was coming to Jerusalem…well yes He is, but more specifically He is going to the temple.

Why?

The Temple was the place where God used to dwell.

God's presence had left the Temple years ago in the time of the exile.

Here is the irony in the story:

In 586 BC, Ezekiel saw the glory of God leave the Temple, leave the holy city, and ascend to Bethany on the Mount of Olives.

Now we see Jesus descended from Bethany and the Mount of Olives, entered the East Gate of the Holy City, and went to the temple.

He looked around…Jesus acted as if He had the authority to inspect the condition of the temple…which He does.

In the time of Ezekiel vision the Glory of God left…but Jesus came back and the glory of God returned.

The Glory of God had returned…God was there…showing the people that he has returned to them in the form of the Son…the Messiah…the Christ.

Jesus came back to deliver His people…to save His people.

By the way this was Jesus last public appearance before the crucifixion.

So here is where I’m taking you today..I want to ask you this?

Application

Is He your King?

Jesus rides into town as a King, God's glory returns to the temple.

It is clear that Mark sees Jesus is the King; the King for all people for all time.

A King who is worthy of our praise and our adoration…a King who deserves a reception that He got today.

But...

Do we serve Jesus like a King?

My friends we as the universal church of Jesus have lost the concept of what serving a King looks like.

If we really served a King how would we do it?

What would that look like?

First it would be in humility.

The definition of Humility is “a modest or low view of one's own importance

Humility- A modest or low view of one’s own importance.

This is exact opposite of what we were taught; what we see in ourselves today.

Most of us have a very high view of ourself; we think we are the most important; we are to only serve our own self interest.

We were taught that self is the most important…love yourself.

Take care of me...

I gonna get mine… and I’m not worried about anybody else.

Jesus rode into to town on a donkey…to serve mankind…to die a criminals death…for you.

Jesus humbled Himself to serve others…He washed the disciples feet to serve them… He goes to the cross to serve you.

Jesus washed the feet of the disciples and He washed you with His very own blood.

Jesus is the King and He lowered Himself…we should do the same as we serve the King and it is reflect in our love and service to others.

2nd we would serve a King with...

Fear and respect

A king is to be feared...

Now the fear I’m talking about hear is not a terrified fear; not strike me down if I do wrong fear.

I’m talking about a fear that is described more like; the admiration we should have before a Holy and Righteous.

Proverbs 1:7 CSB

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 CSB

13 When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: fear God and keep his commands, because this is for all humanity.

Even Paul tells us to work out our salvation with what??

Philippians 2:12 CSB

12 Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Fear and trembling…it is fear that shares a love and hope that is bound with God...

Lastly you would...

Do everything the King asked of you

You would walk as our God has walked…in the Spirit… as Christians we are to walk in the fruits of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22–23 CSB

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.

The fruit of the Spirit is the result of the Holy Spirit’s presence and working in the lives of maturing believers.

The King asks us to do these things...

He asks us to walk in love, be joy filled, have peace that resides in Him, be men and women of peace that are at peace.

Be patient, kind, good, faithful to Him, gentle toward others and be self controlled…think staight.

You see the world is opposite of this.

The King is asking you to serve Him in this way…so I will ask you.

So do you truly serve Jesus as King?

Or have you made Jesus become someone who serves you?

Because if you have done the latter you have made a Jesus just another item that can be bought and purchased for your own personal use.

You / we are guilty of serving Jesus in a way that becomes about what we can get from Him, rather then following His instructions.

Today we saw a King ride into town on the continued march He has had toward the cross.

The cross which will pay the sin debt that we all owe.

The cross where Jesus will suffer and die for you...

When we profess Jesus as King in our lives; we pledge to give up our life for the sake of our King and what He has done for us.

Is Jesus your King?

Which means we serve with humility, we serve out our a healthy fear and respect for Him and His Word, and we pledge to do what He has commanded.

Consider this today…how are you serving the King?

Are we honoring Him…are we crying out Hosanna…Hosanna...Hosanna in the highest!

Church shout this today…shout it at the top of your lungs…embrace Him as King…embrace Him as Lord and Savior.

Ask Him to save you again and again and again.

Live for Him today.

Celebrate this Palm Sunday by really reflecting today and this week on what Jesus has done.

Church; go and serve in such a way that you are on mission serving the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

Prayer