Jesus Enters Jerusalem
Mark 11:1-17
- Jesus is demonstrated in this book as a “servant”
- Jesus’ teachings, while difficult for some to deal with, are always timely
-- God always allows us to hear from Him at just the right time
- Read Mark 11:1-11
∆ Point 1 – A Direct Request (1-8)
- The good news is the Gospel; that salvation has come to mankind
-- It is the fulfillment of 4,000 years of prophecy from the Old Testament
-- It is the revelation of a Savior given to man, by God’s grace and mercy
-- Most consider this “passion week” or commonly, the week before Easter
- Jesus’ journey through Bethany was probably b/c it was important to Him
-- This city was on the way to Jerusalem and reveals for us His omniscience
-- Omniscience means all knowing, and Jesus is certainly all-knowing
- In v2 He begins to prepare His arrival into Jerusalem by asking for a colt
-- There is suggestion by some that perhaps He had been there before
-- Perhaps He had been through here and arranged this colt; although doubtful
-- The reason I see doubt is in the response He asks them to use
- In v3 it says to tell them “the Lord needs it”
-- He uses the word “kyrios” in Greek which simply means “master”
-- This is the first time He ever references Himself in this way in Mark
-- Note: Previously it has been as the Son of Man, so this is a change in tone
- It is almost sharper in intention; and very direct in how he responds
-- “This is for the Lord, and it is needed” - It implies trust in the request to ask
-- IMP: The messianic revelation of who Jesus is begins to take shape
- APP: Important to note is the immediate response by the disciples to this
-- They go (v4), they find the colt, and they untie it and bring it to Jesus
-- And when they are questioned (v5-6) the words Jesus gave them work 100%
-- The owners of the colt turn him over, no problem, and the disciples return
- Cloaks in this time were used to attempt to soften the hardness of the animal
-- Saddles would’ve been for the rich, and so cloaks could help with comfort (v7)
-- The cloaks on the ground is an act of chivalry, an expression of love/devotion
-- APP: They are willing to give up their outer garments for His comfort (v8)
- TRANS: The crowd seems devoted to Jesus here, don’t they?
∆ Point 2 – Triumphant Entry (9-12)
- What begins to take shape now is for all purposes … a parade for Jesus (v9)
-- It is a triumphant entry into the city of God; the city at the center of His heart
-- Prophecy: Zechariah 9:9, “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
- Hosanna literally means, “Save now”; it’s a desire expressed by all who see Him
-- Same word in Psalm 118:25, “LORD, save us! LORD, grant us success!”
-- This title claims His ability to deliver us from our sins; to be the Messiah
- As the people proclaim, He ushers in the coming of the Kingdom of David
-- Matthew 1 shows the lineage of Jesus; and here the crowd confirms it
-- But even for their desire to see Jesus come; they missed the “when”
- Their expectation was that He would set up a ruling kingdom now
-- APP: He would remove Rome and their tyrannical leadership today
-- They were ready to see that happen … but for the wrong reason(s)!
- IMP: They worshipped Him because of what He could do for them
-- They never said what they were willing to give up for Him
-- They merely expected things from Him and therefore He’s to be praised
-- Challenge: Do we come to Jesus like this?
-- It’s worth asking the following: Is Jesus your hobby or your Savior?
- As Jesus enters the city it has a very quiet mood at this time
-- Matthew records that the city was quite alive here and vibrant
-- But true to Mark’s record of this, He sees it after the entry of events
-- We know there was a great fanfare upon His entry, that’s obvious
- What’s happened is the fanfare has settled down; and Jesus takes stock
-- He takes a look at the town, and then goes to Bethany for the evening to relax
-- This is probably to the home of Mary and Martha and Lazarus who live there
-- It could be to another home, but that location would just make sense
- But, I want you to take note at His actions in v11
-- After the fanfare, after the parade, after the celebration … Where does He go?
-- He goes to the temple, to His Father’s house, a very special place for Him
-- This is the SAME temple he visited as a child when He got lost
- His pause here at the temple should serve to remind us of something critical
-- God is not in the business of forgetting what’s happened; judgment still comes
- TRANS: The next day, we see His true reaction to visiting the temple
- Read Mark 11:12-17
∆ Point 3 – A Curious Judgment (12-17)
- What is curious here (v12-13) is the story we find in this fig tree
-- Mark explains this is NOT the season for figs; so why is Jesus looking for them?
-- What Jesus was seeing was a tree that would NEVER produce fruit
-- However, being leafy it sure looked like it would eventually produce them
- Mark calls our attention to the disciples all hearing this story (v14)
-- And what they heard was Jesus pronouncing a judgment on this tree
-- It was not done out of anger (no words of anger are used in this story)
-- This is, in its most purest sense, symbolism of what’s about to happen
- APP: The fig tree has long stood as a symbol of Israel’s peace and security
-- Micah 4:4, “Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken.”
-- Zechariah 3:10, “In that day each of you will invite your neighbor to sit under your vine and fig tree,' declares the LORD Almighty.”
- The curse Jesus places on the tree is this: “Israel [while still protected by God and God’s chosen people], will no longer be the primary purpose of accomplishing God’s purpose” (Mark Brooks)
-- What’s this mean? When the Gospel is fulfilled, it will explode … outward!
-- See Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
- From there, Jesus enters Jerusalem again and we see Him at the temple
-- John 2:15 has a great recollection of this … “So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.”
-- While the disciples watched, He prepared to take His Father’s house back
-- Pause, reflect on this sight … like watching a parent prepare to discipline
- APP: Remember last night’s visit to the temple? (v11)
-- He saw the tables; He knew the actions that happened there.
-- His heart ached for what God’s people had made God’s house into
-- His visit was intentionally to clear that garbage out.
-- LESSON: Sometimes WE need to cleanse the church of the trash as well!
- Note: The temple sits in the middle of the city, and it is HUGE!
-- EX: The long Western Wall of the Temple Mount was 1590 feet long (the length of about 4.5 football fields; temple stood about 10-16 stories tall
-- Jesus in v16 us even telling people, “WALK AROUND rather than through”
-- This is a holy place, a house of prayer, and not your convenient area!!
∆ Big Ideas
- 1) Then, in v17, He teaches the disciples why this needed to be done
-- Jesus does this by quoting the OT; things they would know already
-- Isaiah 56:7, “I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
-- Jeremiah 7:11, “Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the LORD.”
- 2) This is a house of prayer for ALL nations (ALL are welcome here)
-- Challenge: Have we let it become a den of thieves and robbers?
- Pray
