The Gospel of Mark – Part 39

Entering Jerusalem – Mark 11:1-11

Mosaic Rockford – Dave Spooner – June 14th, 2020

Intro:

Jesus now has reached the capital city of Jerusalem after traveling some distance from the northern regions of Galilee. Along the way He continued to train the 12 disciples and minister to the crowds. Now was the time for Him to enter into Jerusalem for this final week which ended with His crucifixion and resurrection.These final chapters of the book of Mark (11-16) are focused around three themes: a new temple, a new covenant, and a new Passover. Jesus creates a new temple of His people, Jesus establishes a new covenant in His blood, Jesus initiates a new Passover with His sacrifice.This “triumphal entry,” which is typically observed on Palm Sunday, has hidden details which when brought to light, add greater significance to this moment. In understanding that Jesus is the prince of the prophets and the prince of the people you are invited to join in the processional 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!” (Mark 11:9-10).

The Prince of the Prophets

Mark 11:1-6 ESVNow when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples 2 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. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” 4 And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. 5 And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. 

As they were nearing Jerusalem, Jesus directed two of the disciples to go to the next small village (Bethphage) and there they would find a colt of a donkey that had not been ridden tied up.  They were to untie the colt, explain to anyone that asked that the Lord had need of it and then bring it to Him. Now this seem like a strange request. Was Jesus tired of walking all this way and now needed help to go the final distance? Did Jesus want to give the appearance of wealth to the people of the capital city? Why did He tell them to do this, and why did He “need” this animal? In making this request, Jesus was to fulfill Scripture as a sign pointing to and revealing His true identity. 

Zech 9:9 ESVRejoice 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.

Those of God’s people (Zion) are to rejoice!  Those who are of Jerusalem are to “shout aloud!”  The King is coming to them – He is righteous (the only righteous one) having salvation (the only one who has it). He is coming in humility as a servant, ridding a foal of a donkey – an animal that has been set apart for special service (not ridden).In arriving in the city of Jerusalem, Jesus was the prince that the prophets were proclaiming would come. In arriving in this manner and on a foal of a donkey, He fulfilled this prophecy as the coming righteous King of salvation. And in so doing –    

Zech 9:10 ESVI will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations; his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.

In His rule He will cut off war and speak peace to all the nations. He will rule from sea to sea, from THE RIVER to the ends of the earth (this is the river that we see in Revelation 22). Jesus fulfilled the first part of the prophecy the first time He came to Jerusalem, and He will fulfill the second part when He comes again to Jerusalem (R