"7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, '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 heaven!' 11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve." ~ Mark 11:7-11
The kingdom of the Lord Jesus is not what is expected. He fulfilled over 300 Old Testament prophesies, yet, the kingdom that He offered took everyone by surprise. His kingdom is a different kingdom because honesty cuts through deception and creates a healthy environment wherein the oxygen of truth can heal what deception has decayed. His is a kingdom of selflessness and truth. His is a kingdom that is not of this world, it is of a world where righteousness and truth reigns in and through the hearts of it's people.
In v.7 of today's passage we read, "When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it."
In those days, the Romans had what they called a triumphal entry. If a king won a battle, managing to kill at least five thousand enemy soldiers, he was entitled to a triumphal entry where he would be paraded in front of the people along with the treasures and captives he had collected.
The triumphal entry of the Lord Jesus was quite different than that of the Romans. This was the first and only time the Lord Jesus allowed Himself to publicly be proclaimed the Messiah. In Zechariah 9:9, five hundred years before this event, the prophet Zechariah issued a prediction that the Messiah would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey. And, His eventual victory was waged on the cross where He conquered sin and death. It was through His victory that He made it possible for all who would believe in Him as our Savior to be at peace with God.
In v.8-10 of today's passage we read, "8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, '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 heaven!"
After the two disciples procured the colt, the Lord Jesus came riding into Jerusalem on it declaring peace. Many in the crowd responded by spreading their coats on the ground, and others palm branches. Palm branches were a common object lesson for victory in that day. As the Lord Jesus rode toward Jerusalem, the people surrounded Him and hailed His approach with shouts of Messianic praise. The people hailed Him as their Messiah as long as He did for them what they wanted. And when He didn’t, they turned on Him and cried out for His crucifixion.
Some 700 years earlier, the prophet Isaiah predicted that worshipers would come to Jerusalem with "joyful shouting" along the "Highway of Holiness." The Lord Jesus' arrival, however, was a giant letdown for most. When dignitaries visited Jerusalem, officials would welcome & honored them by escorting them to the temple. No one welcomed the Lord Jesus, nor did they escort Him to the temple. He journeyed to the temple without an escort from any dignitary.
In v.11 of today's passage we read, "Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve."
This was an official visit of the King of Israel, an inspection tour of the heart of the nation. He went into the temple, where the very heartbeat of the nation was throbbing, represented in the worship that was lifted up to God. And, He looked at everything and he saw commercialism, moneychangers, exploitation, corruption, and injustice. He saw that religious ceremonies were being carried out without any meaning whatsoever. But, He did not say a word. Nobody noticed this was an official tour of inspection by the King. And, then He left.
The hour was late, both literally & figuratively. The departure of the Lord Jesus from the temple echoed the departure of the glory of the Lord from the temple in a vision of the prophet Ezekiel. Likewise, the Lord Jesus departed to the east and stayed in Bethany, on the Mount of Olives.
According to Revelation 19:3, the Lord Jesus will come back a second time, at the end of the Tribulation. Next to the subject of faith, no subject is more discussed in the Bible than the second coming of Christ. When He returns, He will not come riding on a donkey, He will return riding a white horse which represents purity and victory for the rider is holy and will go forth to be the triumphant conqueror. In the gospels, the Lord Jesus wore a crown of thorns placed on Him by the Romans. But, at His second coming, He will wear on His head many victor crowns. Whereas He came first as the Lamb, at the end of time as we know it, He will come as the fierce Lion of Judah to vanquish His enemies. And those who will follow Him will be the saints who believed in Him for salvation from sin and death.
