Countdown to Calvary
The Final Week of Jesus’ Earthly Ministry
Mark 11:1-11
The Not-So-Triumphal Entry
1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples; 2 and He said to them, "Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. 3 And if anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The Lord has need of it,' and immediately he will send it here."
The Presentation of the Coming Messiah 1-3
His Deity
100% God; omniscient; all-knowing! Jesus did not have to prearrange the donkey. He was God…Immanuel!
Matthew 17:27
27 Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you."
His Humanity
“I thirst!” and “Jesus wept!” He was a Man among men!
His Authority
Jesus is sovereign King of kings
His Humility
Zechariah 9:9
9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.”
The donkey during the days of David the King was the animal of royalty. Conquering kings rode horses. When Jesus comes back the next time He will be riding the conquering horse!
Revelation 19:11
His call was to be the Suffering Servant…Isaiah 53
His Purity
Never had this colt of a donkey been ridden. It was, through God’s sovereignty, set apart for His use.
Numbers 19:2
2 “This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD has commanded, saying: 'Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring you a red heifer without blemish, in which there is no defect and on which a yoke has never come.
Deuteronomy 21:3
3 And it shall be that the elders of the city nearest to the slain man will take a heifer which has not been worked and which has not pulled with a yoke.
1 Samuel 6:7
7 Now therefore, make a new cart, take two milk cows which have never been yoked, and hitch the cows to the cart; and take their calves home, away from them.
4 So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it. 5 But some of those who stood there said to them, "What are you doing, loosing the colt?" 6 And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. 8 And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: "Hosanna! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' 10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"
The Anticipation of an Expectant People 4-10
There were Great Expectations!
The people were anticipating and expecting the Messiah to come
Genesis 49:10-11
10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people. 11 Binding his donkey to the vine, and his donkey's colt to the choice vine, He washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes.
There were Emotional Exaltations!
Hosannas sung – Save us! Save us! Save us!
Antiphony from Psalm 118
Isaiah 9:6-7
6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
But note this:
Luke 19:37-40
37 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, 38 saying: "'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!' Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" 39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." 40 But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out."
There was a Sorrowful Explanation!
Luke 19:41-44
41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 44 and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation."
Jesus wept profusely and repeatedly because they would not accept Him as the Messiah!
There was a Subdued Exasperation!
Luke 2:14
14 "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"
Illustration – Donkey-ball
Several years ago, I had the opportunity to play in a Christian school’s “celebrity” donkey-ball game to raise money for the school. Now let me be clear, I am not a celebrity but I was a local pastor who accepted the challenge. Needless to say, I spent more time trying to get the donkey to let me ride him than I ever did shooting a basket. In fact, I think the other team won 2-1.
At half-time, we helped the young children ride on the donkeys. There were absolutely no issues with the children riding them. I asked the owner of these elite donkeys why adults couldn’t ride them. His answer was simple. If the donkey didn’t want you to ride, you weren’t going to ride. Their stubbornness would always win out.
11 And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.
The Examination by a Righteous King 11
He examined the hearts of a Restless people
Spiritually unfaithful, always searching but never satisfied; Their works!
He examined the hearts of a Rebellious people
Spiritually deceitful, wanting their type of Messiah; Their ways!
He examined the hearts of a Religious people
Spiritually hypocritical; Their witness!
Revelation 19:11-16
11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.
15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
