This post is part of a series that will take us up to the Easter holiday that celebrates the Resurrection of our Lord.
Mark 11:1–11 (ESV) — 1 Now 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. 7 And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. 8 And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. 9 And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “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!” 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.
Today, we begin thinking and reflecting on Jesus’ journey to the cross and eventual resurrection. We begin at what is known as the Triumphal Entry. We read of Jesus entering Jerusalem as the long-awaited and promised Messiah from the line of David. He enters just as prophesied, riding on a donkey! This scene shows us exactly what kind of King Jesus was. He was humble and gentle. He came not on a war horse ready to defeat his enemies with a sword, but on a gentle donkey and ready to lay down his life to serve his people.
As Jesus approached the city, the people shouted and hailed him saying, “Hosanna in the highest!” They imagined Jesus as a conquering King who would overthrow the Roman authorities. The saw him as a political Savior. The people thought their greatest need was to be rescued from Rome, but Jesus had a greater task to accomplish. He came to save mankind from our sin. The only way that could be done was to give his life. Just as the people in Jesus’ day had misunderstood their need, how often do we do the same? How often do we call on the Lord to save us from our circumstances, but fail to consider and work towards the proclamation of the gospel to the nations?
Lord, thank you for your gentleness and humility. Thank you for laying down your life to defeat sin and death for us. Help us to prioritize telling the world of all you have done to save us as it is the greatest need this world has. Amen.
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