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JESUS’ ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM

Mark 11:1-19

Key Verse 11:9b “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

  Last week we studied that Jesus was heading toward Jerusalem. On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus predicted his death and resurrection to his disciples again and taught them that he did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as ransom for many. It is amazing that Jesus was leading the way, the way of cross, without any hesitation or trepidation, but with solemn determination.  We cannot but give thanks to God for Jesus who was leading the way to Jerusalem to die for our sins and to save us from the hand of Satan and our enemies. Amen.

  Today we enter new phase of Mark’s gospel, which is Jesus’ last week in Jerusalem. Jesus enters Jerusalem riding on a donkey. Jesus curses a fig tree and clears the temple. While studying this passage, I pray that God may teach us the lordship of Christ and the meaning of his entry into Jerusalem. Amen.

First, The Lord needs it. (1-6) Look at verse 1. “As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples,” Bethphage and Bethany were satellite towns of Jerusalem. Bethany was known as the entrance to Jerusalem, and was only two miles away.  Because geographically the Mount of Olives lay between Bethany and Jerusalem, travelers often spent nights at Bethany before they entered into Jerusalem. As Jesus and his company approached Bethany, he gave two of his disciples a special errand to prepare for his entry to Jerusalem. What was it? Look at verses 2,3. “…saying to them, “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?” tell him, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.” From a human point of view, it was not easy for his disciples to obey or even to understand Jesus’ instruction. Legally speaking, bringing a colt without the owner’s permission was an act of stealing. It was just like taking Missionary Barnabas Kim’s bike without his permission. Jesus’ instruction did not seem to be right or reasonable compared to his teachings. (Mk 10:19)

  What was the disciples’ response to Jesus’ command? They simply trusted Jesus and obeyed him. Look at verses 4-6. “They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go.”  The disciples might have questioned to Jesus if his instruction was legally right or not. They might have brought moral or ethical issues about his instruction. But, they simply trusted Jesus and obeyed him. When they untied the colt and were about to bring it to Jesus, some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” The disciples did not try to defend themselves or justify their unusual act, but simply answered them what Jesus had instructed them, “The Lord needs it.” Then, the people let them go.

  Through this event, we learn two things. First; the disciples’ obedience, and second; the lordship of Christ. Actually, their obedience came from their deep acceptance of the lordship of Christ. What, then, is the lordship of Christ? The lordship of Christ is Christ’s rule over all things, the whole universe, all creations seen and unseen, all things around us and in us even our lives. Shortly speaking, the lordship of Christ is to believe his ownership over the world that all things came from Christ and all things belong to him. (Jn 1:3, Col 1:16)  Since all things were made for him and by him and all things belong to him, Christ has the right to use a small donkey for his entry to Jerusalem. When the disciples accepted the lordship of Christ, they answered when Jesus instructed them, “Yes, sir! Aye aye, sir!”

  It is very significant for us to accept the lordship of Christ over our lives. Many people think that their lives are their own. So they frequently say, ‘This is my life…. So please leave me alone.” Sorry to say that their lives are not their own, but God’s. It is God who gave them lives not their parents. Those who accept the lordship of Christ over their lives have clear life purpose, which is to live and die for the glory of God. Those who accept the lordship of Christ over their lives are humble. They are to ready to serve and ready to obey God’s calling. Whenever God says, “I need you,” they are ready to go wherever God wants and do whatever he commands.  D.L Moody, an American evangelist, was a shoe repair man. But, when he accepted the lordship of Christ over his life, he became one of the greatest preachers in American church history. Pastor Ron Ward in Chicago UBF’s dream was to become a major league baseball player like Roger Clement. But, when he heard from the Lord, “The Lord needs you,” he obeyed the Lord’s calling and followed Jesus.

  Last year during the Purdue International Bible Conference, around 500 attendants responded to God’s calling for world mission. They accepted God’s calling that they were ready to go as missionaries to the world wherever God appoints, whether it is for long term or short term. They did so because they obeyed the lordship of Christ over their lives.  This hour please close your eyes and hear Jesus’ calling for each of you when he says, “The Lord need you.” Let us respond to his calling by saying “Amen.”

Second, Jesus enters to Jerusalem riding on a donkey.(7-11) Look at verses 7,8. “When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields.” In the past, when a king entered the city, he used to ride on a white charger with a large entourage accompanying him and with the national guards marching behind him. But, Jesus rode on a donkey when he entered the city of Jerusalem.  What is the meaning of Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem riding on a donkey? First of all, Jesus is the humble king. Jesus is the Lord of creation. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He deserved to enter Jerusalem riding a golden chariot with a multitude of heavenly angels and holy saints. But he rode on a donkey. The donkey was so small that even children could touch him. Jesus who rode on a donkey is a humble king who did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Jesus who rode on a donkey is so humble that all whose hearts are weary and burdened can have rest in their souls. (Mt 11:28-29) Jesus who entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey is the king of peace, the king of gentleness. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Mt 11:28-29).

  Second of all, Jesus’ entry Jerusalem riding on a donkey is the fulfillment of God’s prophecy. The Prophet Zechariah lived around 520 B.C.  He prophesied the coming of the Messiah Jesus in this way, “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Jesus, even though he is the Son of God, chose to ride on a donkey simply to obey the will of God. He could have ridden a white charger or black stallion, but instead rode on the foal of a donkey because he is the king of obedience and the king of peace.

  Third of all, Jesus who entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey is the king of salvation.  Let us see how people responded when Jesus was entering Jerusalem. Let us read verses 9,10. “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!” Here the word “Hosanna!” means in Hebrew “Save now!” People accepted Jesus as the King of Salvation.  They might have thought of Jesus as a political king who would redeem them from the hand of the Roman Empire. They might have expected Jesus to be the “deliverer” like Moses. To their dismay, Jesus did not come to Jerusalem as a political king like Napoleon Bonaparte, but as a spiritual king for world salvation.

  Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem is called the triumphal entry. In Paris, France there is a famous monument called, “The Arc de Triompe”.  In English, it is called “The Gate of Triumph.”  It was built in order to commemorate the political achievements and splendor of the French Empire, especially for the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. But, Napoleon died even before the gate was completed. Only his dead body passed under it during his funeral ceremony. The great emperor Napoleon Bonaparte knelt down before the power of death along with all his large entourage. But, Jesus was different. Jesus entered the gate of Jerusalem in order to conquer the power of death. Jesus entered Jerusalem to destroy the fortress of Satan and to release his people from the hand of their enemies. Jesus entered Jerusalem to restore Adam’s failure and to reveal the glory of God through his obedience and death on the cross. Jesus entered Jerusalem to open the grave and to bring his people back the kingdom of God. Amen. Even though Jesus did not ride on a white charger like Napoleon, he is the true victor, he is the real conqueror and he is the eternal king. Amen. 

  This time let us open our hearts and minds and accept Jesus as our true king and Lord. May the gentle Jesus, humble Jesus come into our hearts and destroy all the fortresses of Satan to be our king, the king of peace and the king of salvation. Let us accept his lordship over our lives and serve him as our lord and Savior. Amen.

Third, Jesus clears the temple. (12-19) Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve. (11) The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.”  (12-14) We wonder why Jesus cursed the fig tree when it was not the season for figs. Some might think that Jesus was too harsh to the innocent tree. But, according to the flow of the scripture, the temple was on Jesus’ mind when he saw the fruitless fig tree. Jesus must have associated the temple with the fruitless fig tree.

  What did Jesus do when he entered the temple? Look at verses 15,16. “On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.” We wonder again why the humble and gentle Jesus treated the people in the temple in such a harsh way. According to the Jewish custom, gentiles and travelers who came to celebrate the Passover were allowed to buy animals for their sacrifice at the temple court, so-called ‘The gentile court’. The priests allowed them to do so for their convenience. Nevertheless, Jesus was furious when he saw their selling and buying animals. Then, why and what’s wrong with them that Jesus drove them out of the temple?  Look at verse 17. “And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’ According to Jesus’ words, the religious leaders and the people in the temple made the temple a den of robbers, not the house of prayer for all nations. In a word, the people used the holy temple of God as a business market such as New York stock market or the fleet markets in St. Louis downtown.  Jesus saw people’s greed for money and corruption in the name of religious purpose.

  Jesus taught that the temple should be the house of prayer for all nations. We should pray hard for world salvation. We should pray hard for the coming European Summer Bible Conference that God may restore Europe again to become a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. We must also pray for all missionaries in the Muslim world and believers who are in underground churches in China and in North Korea. Besides, the temple should be the place where we meet God personally and worship him. The temple should be also the place our sins are forgiven and the place where we restore our souls with his words and spirits.

  Through this event we learn that Jesus is not only the king of mercy, but also the king of righteousness.  We must not compromise with this corrupted and money-oriented world. We must keep our hearts and minds pure and holy as the holy temple of God.  Look at verse 18. “The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.”

  In today’s passage we learned that Jesus who entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey is the king of peace and the king of salvation. We also learned that Jesus who cleared the temple is the king of truth and the king of righteousness. May God help each of us to accept Jesus as our Lord and King and become his loyal subjects from the beginning to the end. Later in the near future, we will also enter the pearly gates of New Jerusalem, the kingdom of heaven, riding on the clouds with glory and honor like our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

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