Mark 11:1-11

This is a significant turning point in the sorry of Jesus ministry, for a few reasons.

⌚ Timing

Jesus chose to arrive on this particular Sunday, when everyone would be arriving in Jerusalem.

🐴 Transport

Jesus arrived on a donkey. In Jewish history riding on a donkey is significant as it holds a lot of symbolism. The promised Messiah was stated to arrive on a colt. By coming to Jerusalem in a donkey, Jesus is making a statement about His identity.

🛣️ Route

Jesus approached the city from the east. There were many different ways to enter the city, but Jesus took this route to mirror the route Solomon took as he arrived to Jerusalem to take his rightful throne.

🧥🌿 Cloaks & Branches

Placing (expensive) coats on the ground was often behaviour reserved for very special people. Again, there is the symbolism that Jesus is God's chosen king. The same applies to the branches. This was only done for a king.

🎶 Song

The song the people sing is the final song in a series welcoming people into the city during important festivals. The timing is perfect as this song means "God saves". Jesus was God's instrument of salvation, He was giving hope to the people.

A clear statement

Jesus, without saying a word, is declaring that He is God's chosen king. That it is Him who will bring salvation.

So what?

It's easy to brush this off, being a familiar passage that prefixes many more remarkable incidents over the next week.

The Jews at the time would respond with a lot of caution. Politically this was a volatile time, and so Jesus entering and claiming to be king. This action alone was tantamount to the recent scenes of rioters storming the capitol in Washington.

We should recognise this as a hugely radical action. But we should remember that Jesus' kingdom was not a purely political one. It goes much deeper. He was not looking to topple the worldly status-quo but to challenge the spiritual one. Jesus' kingdom comes to remove the tyrant of sin, oppression, and injustice. He brings a different kind of kingdom with a different kind of king.

He wasn't coming to power like other kings, through conquest and violence. Jesus was a king who claimed His kingdom by wearing a crown of thorns and sitting on a throne that is a cross. He sacrificed Himself to establish a kingdom for the children of God.

Will you follow?

This is the question that Jesus' actions should bring up in your heart. If you do, you will experience freedom and a satisfaction like never before.