Following Jesus: Mark 11 Series

Following Jesus (12)

Scott Bayles, pastor

Scripture: Mark 11:1-21

Blooming Grove Christian Church: 3/19/2017

If you’ve been with us since January, you know we began a sixteen-week journey that has led us through the deserts of Palestine, along the shores of Lake Galilee and the Jordan River, and into the cities of Nazareth, Bethlehem and Jerusalem as we follow in the footsteps of Jesus. And the Gospel of Mark has been tour guide on this journey, as we strive to see Jesus more clearly.

Last Sunday, in Mark 10, Jesus met a rich young religious ruler who wanted to know how to inherit eternal life. Jesus surprise the young man and his own disciples, however, saying that it’s hard—impossible even—for a rich man to enter God’s Kingdom. Thankfully, nothing is impossible for God.

As Mark 10 continues, two of Jesus’ disciples, James and John, ask if they can sit on his right and left side when Jesus takes his glorious throne. Jesus uses this as a teaching moment to remind the disciples that true leaders must also be servant. Even Jesus himself came not to be served, but to serve others. Upon reaching the city of Jericho, Jesus demonstrates his servant leadership by healing a blind man named Bartimaeus, which wraps up Mark 10.

Mark 11 begins passion week—the final week leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion. I’d like to break this chapter into three segments as it contains a somewhat strange sequence of events that each reveal an important aspect of Jesus’ nature.

The first event centers on a colt.

• A COLT

As Jesus and his disciples approached the city of Jerusalem, Jesus sent two of the disciples on ahead, saying, “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. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’” (Mark 11:2-3 NIV).

The disciples do as they’re instructed and bring the colt back to Jesus, who then rides the young donkey into Jerusalem. As Jesus entered the city, the Bible says,

Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “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 heaven!” (Mark 11:8-10 NIV).

Jesus’ Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem has become one of the most iconic moments of his ministry and it’s still celebrated today in churches all over the world on Palm Sunday. So my question is—why, on such a special occasion, would Jesus choose to make his entrance on the back of a donkey? Wouldn’t an elephant or a camel have been much more impressive? Certainly, an Arabian horse or some striking stallion would have been more suited to the occasion.

Do any of you remember watching the Lone Ranger television? The Lone Ranger’s calling cards were a silver bullet, a black mask, and a mighty horse named Silver. At the beginning of each episode, the magnificent white stallion would rear up with the Lone Ranger on his back, then dash off with the Ranger encouragingly shouting, “Hi-Yo, Silver!” Now can you imagine if Silver was a dopey-eyed donkey? Give the Lone Ranger a donkey and you pretty much ruin the show, right!?

But a simple donkey was just right for Jesus. In the ancient Middle Eastern world, rulers and royalty typically rode horses if they rode to war, but they rode donkeys if they came in peace. A thousand years earlier, a similar celebration took place as Solomon rode a donkey into Jerusalem on the day he was crowned King (1 Kings 1:33) and, of course, Solomon ushered in one of Israel’s longest periods of peace. The prophet Zachariah even prophesied the coming Messiah, saying:

Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt. I will remove the battle chariots from Israel and the warhorses from Jerusalem. I will destroy all the weapons used in battle, and your king will bring peace to the nations. His realm will stretch… to the ends of the earth. (Zachariah 9:9-10 NLT)

When the people of Jerusalem saw Jesus riding into town on a donkey, they saw the fulfillment of this prophecy. That’s why they came shouting and singing his praises! That donkey represents the peace that Jesus proclaims.

Peace is an essential part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The angels proclaimed it at his birth: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14 ESV). Isaiah called Jesus “the Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Before going to the cross, Jesus said to his disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you” (John 14:27 NIV). If you want more peace in your life, then you need more Jesus in your life!