JESUS’ TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM
Mark 11:1-11
Key Verse 9
Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
Introduction
Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem became known as the “Triumphal Entry,” which means that Jesus had come to battle our enemy Satan and sin and to set his captive people free with great spiritual victory. The battle that Jesus came to fight was not an easy battle though. It required fierce fighting because the enemy he did fight was tenacious and invincible. Usually a conqueror equips himself with an army of warriors to fight the enemy. But Jesus humbled himself and entered the battlefield riding on a donkey. His commanding officers were undisciplined disciples and a bunch of helpless people waving palm branches. He would hand himself to his enemy. What Jesus was doing was to hand himself to the will(cup) of God. That was the battle. His march towards the painful cross. It was a triumph that we need to learn, that is to deny ourselves, take up our cross and surrender our hearts to what God’s will is. It’s a hard battle to fight. But there is a triumph there truly at God’s sight! Jesus’ triumph over Satan and the power of sin was complete. Jesus then liberated his captive people from sin and brought the new age of spiritual victory for everyone who believes. That is the gospel, all linked to Jesus’ triumphal entry here!
Read verses 1-3. Where did Jesus and His disciples arrive? (1a) What order did He give to His two disciples? (1b-3) How might this have been hard to obey?
1-1, Read verses 1-3.
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”
1-2, Where did Jesus and His disciples arrive? (1a)
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives,
As Jesus and his entourage approached Jerusalem they came to Bethpage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives.
Jesus knew that within one week he would die and give his life as a ransom for many. So his entry into Jerusalem has very deep spiritual meaning.
The heading of this section of the NIV Bible calls it “The Triumphal Entry.” Jesus entered Jerusalem as the Lord, he entered as the Humble King and the Judge.
Within one week, the power of Satan will be broken, and the power of sin and death will be vanquished.
Through His death and resurrection Jesus will free men and women to be able to serve God in holiness and without fear.
But before entry into the City, some preparation had to be done. When they came to the Mt of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples to the village ahead
1-3, What order did He give to His two disciples? (1b-3)
Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”
1-4, How might this have been hard to obey?
They were to go and take a donkey without first asking for permission. This can be dangerous; they could be arrested for stealing and end up in jail.
But Jesus simply said, “You will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, “Why are you doing this? Tell him, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.””
Jesus does not usually tell his disciples to go take things without permission, but here he did. Perhaps he wanted to show His identity more clearly.
They already know His servant-ship and shepherd heart. People could come to Jesus. We can approach him with all our sins and ask for healing.
But that’s not all about who Jesus is. “The Lord needs it.” Here we see He is the Lord. God made him both Lord and Messiah.
He is the Owner of our lives and everything else in the world. Col 1:16 says, “For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or ruler or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.”
He spoke as Lord. He spoke with all authority in heaven and earth. It is with this same authority that Jesus commands us to go and make disciples of all nations…baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and...
When Jesus commands us to go, we should not be afraid, we should simply obey and go because His command is absolute.
Read verses 4-6. Describe how the disciples obeyed. (4-6a) What did the owner of a colt do? (6b) What must they have learned through their obedience? (4-6)
2-1, Read verses 4-6.
They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go.
2-2, Describe how the disciples obeyed. (4-6a)
They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to,
How did the 2 disciples respond to Jesus’ direction? They could have asked lots of questions or just disobeyed. But they did not do that.
They show us how we must respond to the words of the Lord Jesus. They went in simple faith and obedience to the words of Jesus.
When they arrived at the village, they found the colt just as Jesus said it would be there, then they proceeded to untying the colt and taking it to Jesus.
When the towns’ people saw them they were surprised at these two. They confronted them, “What are you doing, untying that colt?”
The disciples simply answered as Jesus told them to. “The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.”
2-3, What did the owner of a colt do? (6b)
and the people let them go.
2-4, What must they have learned through their obedience? (4-6)
When the disciples obeyed the words of Jesus, they experienced the power of Jesus. They came to see that Jesus is the Lord.
They realized that when the Lord has a need, he has the power to meet that need. God is the real Owner of the donkey.
Everything we have comes from the Lord. We are only stewards, with the responsibility to manage what God has given.
Like those who allowed Jesus use their donkey, if the Lord needs any of these things, we should give it to him.
God knows the best path for each of us and wants to lead us in the best way. We can rest assured and allow Him guide one step at a time.
Read verses 7-11. What did Jesus do with the colt? (7) What do the deeds and the shoutings of the people show about who Jesus is? (8-10) Where did Jesus go first when he entered Jerusalem? (11)
3-1, Read verses 7-11.
7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
“Hosanna![a]”
“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 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
3-2, What did Jesus do with the colt? (7)
7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it.
Jesus sat on the colt. Their cloaks were over it. In those days, clothes were valuable items. Jesus accepted this and sat on the colt.
A colt is a young donkey less than 4 years old. He was entering as a humble King of peace. Traditionally, entering the city on a donkey symbolizes arrival in peace. In contrast, the king arrives on a horse as a war waging king.
3-3, What do the deeds and the shoutings of the people show about who Jesus is? (8-10)
8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields.
They brought the colt to Jesus and those who did so took off their cloaks and spread it on the colt for Jesus to ride on. This was their expression of worship to Jesus and acceptance that he is King.
They treated Jesus as royalty. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields.
As Jesus sat on this donkey. They gave him a red carpet treatment spreading their cloaks and branches on the ground for Him.
There was great rejoicing as the people formed a procession to coronate Jesus shouting! Their shout was a welcome to Jesus as their king.
They were longing for a King like King David who will lead them with peace and love. They were tired of their oppression and chains; they wanted to be free.
In Jesus they had great hope. They cried out with great rejoicing. This event was a fulfillment of prophecy in the Scriptures.
Zechariah 9:9 says,
“Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
Who Jesus is?
These verses in light of the people’s response, show that King Jesus comes into Jerusalem to reveal the nature of his Kingship.
He is righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. He is the King, and yet nobody felt intimidated by Jesus.
They could come to him as their King and Friend. They could approach Him as a Shepherd King.
King Jesus is humble and gentle. He is approachable and nonthreatening. He rode on a donkey; a small lowly animal.
9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
“Hosanna![a]”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” Hosanna means, “Save us! Deliver us! Rescue us!”
The real problem of this world is not a military or social or economic problem. The problem is a sin problem. Now coronavirus appears to be a problem. But sin is!
It is Satan who is behind the scene destroying lives ruining communities. It is Satan that has held people in bondage and in darkness and in fear.
This is why Jesus came into this world – it was to destroy the works of Satan – so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death – that is the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
This is the real reason Jesus marched into Jerusalem triumphant. Within one week Jesus would die on the cross to resolve the sin problem and to free all those who put their trust in him.
10
“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
They put a name to that kingdom as the kingdom of our father David. Having experienced the oppression of worldly kings, the people long for David.
But as we have learned in Mark’s gospel, the kingdom of God requires our repentance and faith. “Repent , for God’s kingdom is near” in chapter 1.
3-4, Where did Jesus go first when he entered Jerusalem? (11)
11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
Conclusion
The kingdom of God is where Jesus reigns. He is not like the kings of this world. He is humble and righteous and he has salvation. He came as a Savior for those who will put their faith in Him. If we trust in Jesus we will be saved! If we call upon Jesus, Jesus will save us from the power of Satan and sin and from death. This Jesus comes to us as our shepherd king. We can welcome Jesus today because we may not have the opportunity to do so in the future. Let us welcome Jesus – today is the day of salvation.
One word: Hosanna!
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