Mark 11:1-11--The Triumphal Entry

Mark 11:1-11
English Standard Version

The Triumphal Entry
11 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.

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We are now a week away from the day we know as Easter.  This is the beginning of what many of us call Holy Week--the week starting with Palm Sunday.  That's what we'll talk about today--The Triumphal Entry.  Jesus would ride down the Mount of Olives into Jerusalem on a donkey--a sign that He was the king that was going to make peace, not war.  The people welcomed Him realizing that He was fulfilling the Messianic prophecies and they shouted and sang parts of Psalm 118 to Him (see verses 25 and 26).  The moment was bittersweet for Jesus as He knew they were welcoming Him now, but in a few short days, they would reject Him, which was also prophesied.

So, the entire way down the Mount of Olives as He was riding into Jerusalem, He was weeping for them, longing for them to gather to Him like how chicks gather to their mother to take shelter and find comfort under her wings.

The people realized Jesus as the Son of David and looked for Him to take the throne in Jerusalem, but that's not what He came to do--at least, not this time around.  He will return one day, riding on white horse and will take this same path down the Mount of Olives, but that day He will come to make war and defeat all the enemies of the LORD and the LORD's people.  Then, after all His enemies have been defeated, He will be given the throne of His father David to reign from Jerusalem for 1,000 years.

The passage only mentions in passing that Jesus then went to the Temple and "looked around at everything."  He did a great deal more than look around as we know this is when He cleansed the Temple for a second time.  Then, after this He returned to Bethany where He was likely staying with Lazarus, Mary and Martha.  Mark didn't record the resurrection of Lazarus for us, but that happened probably the day before this, and likely explains the large crowd that was celebrating and worshipping Jesus.  He had just shown that He had power over death like no one else, to the Jews it was beyond hope of resurrection if someone had been dead for three days as their body would have started to decay, but Jesus called Lazarus out of the tomb after waiting more than three days on purpose.  There would be an even greater resurrection than this that would happen in about a week's time on Resurrection Sunday, but we have much that will happen before that day.