Mark 11:1-10

Scripture:Mark 11:1-10 “Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples ²and 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. ³If anyone says to you, “Why are you doing this?” say, “The Lord has need of it and will⁴And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. ⁵And some of those standing there said to them, ‘What are you doing, untying the colt?’ ⁶And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. ⁷And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. ⁸And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. ⁹And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! ¹⁰Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!’”
send it back here immediately.’” 

Observation: This was a planned event. This was an event planned in detail. This was an event planned down to the minute. Previously, at Caesarea Philippi, Jesus confirmed to his disciples that he was indeed the Messiah, that is the Christ, the anointed one and that he was to go to Jerusalem to suffer, die and be gloried. This event is described in Matthew 16:13-21, “Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ ¹⁴And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ¹⁵He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ ¹⁶Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ 17 And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. ¹⁸And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. ¹⁹I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.’ ²⁰Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. ²¹From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” Now, just a few days later Jesus was about to enter Jerusalem. Holy week and the Cross lie immediately ahead. Jesus was about to allow himself to be arrested, beaten, ridiculed and ultimately killed just as he had said to his disciples at Caesarea Philippi. But this was not to be the end. Remember Jesus also said, “And on the third day be raised” and “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” The building of the church and its mission to break down the gates of hell was about to begin. We can see that every detail of this mission was laid out. Even to the point of arranging for the animal upon which Jesus was to enter into Jerusalem! This was not something done in reaction to circumstances it was a fully orchestrated event! This was nothing less than the plan of God!

Application:We are to trust that Jesus came and that he will come to lead his people. He will come to lead his church in victory over death, over Satan and over the gates of hell. We are to know in full confidence that Jesus’ birth was the triumphal entry of God into this world just as surely as his Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem was the beginning of his ultimate victory over the devastation that resulted from the Fall.

Prayer: John wrote in Revelation 22:20-21, “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! ²¹The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.” Dear Lord, as we recall the last words in the Bible prepare our hearts to serve in your kingdom. Let us trust in the fullness of faith your death, resurrection and ascension for our salvation. Let us cry out, as your children, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! ¹⁰Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” Amen.

Dwight Enfield