Let God Speak! Mark's Gospel

Change of Gear

The remainder of Mark’s Gospel now focuses on only one week in Jesus’ life which begins with four days in Jerusalem teaching the people and ends with his resurrection at the beginning of the following week.

Day 34: Mark 11:1-11
The Triumphal Entry

This very dramatic event appears to be totally spontaneous judging by the makeshift use of a borrowed donkey, the coats and the palm branches. However it was prophesied in detail by Zechariah (9:9) 500 years earlier and Zechariah explains that this lowly animal was a symbol of gentle peace in contrast to the traditional stallions used by invading kings. A mule (donkey/horse) was used by King David and his princes (1 Kings 1:33) and David is often thought of as the father of the Jewish nation and a picture of the King that Jesus was to become.

Even the words used by the crowd that seemed spontaneous were also loaded with special significance on this day. The word Hosanna literally means “Save us, we pray” and is traditionally sung by Orthodox Jews in Hebrew each morning during the seven day Feast of Booths (harvest) when people remember Gods sheltering presence. This feast, the Sukkot, anticipates the coming kingdom of the Messiah when all the nations will go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord (Zech 14:16).

The Triumphal Entry marked the beginning of five dramatic days that ended with Jesus’ crucifixion. No-one at the time knew that would be the outcome.

How do you think the Jewish leaders may have reacted to this event? (John 12:16-19)?

What is your response to the fact that Jesus is declared to be King of all kings?
Are you able to accept his full authority in your life in all your decision making?