Mark 11:1-11 - The Triumphal Entry of Jesus
Mark 11:1) When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples 2) and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. 3) If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’” 4) They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, 5) some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6) They told them what Jesus had said; and they were allowed to take it. 7) Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. 8) Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. 9) Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! 10) Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” 11) Then 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.
Background: This story, traditionally read on Palm Sunday, begins what is called the Passion Narrative. The word passion is used by Christians to refer to the suffering and death of Jesus. The Passion narrative generally refers to the events of Jesus’ final days in Jerusalem beginning with the triumphal entry.
The Triumphal Entry is recorded in all four Gospels although each differs from the others in a number of details. In John, people wave palm branches. In Matthew, Jesus rides a donkey and a colt! In Luke, Jesus weeps over Jerusalem. None of those elements is found in Mark.
A primary issue for Mark is the breaking of Jesus’ silence and the inevitable clash between the kingdom of God and the Empire of Rome. Up until this time Jesus has been very cautious about what was said about him. He often urged that people tell no one when they witnessed his miraculous power. Now, at last, he is ready for the clash of kingdoms, the clash of empires. The details of the passage are Messianic through and through. They are also public through and through. The size of the crowd and the extent to which they understood the Messianic overtones of this event are not known for certain. If the crowd was large and they knew what was going on, why wasn’t Jesus arrested right then and there? If the crowd was small or if they somehow missed the magnitude of the event, that might explain why they were not immediately crushed but it doesn’t explain the many details that a pious Jew could not have missed. Regardless of who was present and who knew what when, for those who read of these events after the fact, the irony is inescapable. The ones who have longed for Messiah and who shout Hosanna with all their might will, in the blink of an eye, abandon Jesus and cry “Crucify!”
Word Study
Vs. 1 – Jerusalem – The central city in Palestine and the spiritual home of Israel.
Bethany and Bethphage – small villages in what we would call suburban Jerusalem.
Mount of Olives – a place long associated with the coming of Messiah. According to Zechariah 14:4-5, this is the place where God will commence the final judgment of Israel’s enemies.
Vs. 2 – colt – Zechariah 9:9 says the King will come riding a colt (literally – young horse). Popular belief, however, was that Messiah would come as a warrior King riding a warhorse.
Tied there – Genesis 49:8-12 speaks of a tethered colt. Many understood this to be a Messianic prophecy.
Never been ridden – this animal had not been used for ordinary purposes so was pure for sacred purposes
Vs. 8 – spread their cloaks – this was a gesture of great respect given to kings.
Leafy branches – literally in Greek – leaves, grass or straw.
Vs. 9-10 – Hosanna – literally in Greek “Save us now!” It was common for pilgrims entering Jerusalem for a feast such as Passover to enter town with shouts of joy. The psalm from which this quotation is taken, 118, was understood by the rabbis to be a Messianic psalm referring to King David and the final redemption of Israel. The fact that the word Hosanna is not translated may suggest that it, like for example Hallelujah, had commonly come to be used as a praise word.
Vs. 11 – temple – This was the third Temple built on Mount Zion. It was built by Herod the Great in 20 BCE and covered some 30 acres. It took decades to complete. In this verse, all Jesus does is go to the Temple, inspect it, then return to Bethany for the night. Perhaps this was simply to underscore that the significant action of that day was the public proclamation of the triumphal entry.
Questions for Personal Reflection
1. Consider the two great parades, Jesus’ and Pilate’s. What do you think the central characteristics are of the Kingdom of God and the Empires of the world?
2. What do you think that the manner in which Jesus entered Jerusalem said about his character?
3. When you think about your relationship with Jesus, how did he ride into your life? Like a conquering hero rescuing you? Like a loving sovereign bringing peace? Like an understanding friend offering comfort? In an unexpected way changing the way you think? What do you think now?
4. Have you ever misunderstood Jesus’ purposes, praising him one day and despairing the next? What did you learn from that experience?