Decision Time

Mark 11:1-11

11 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 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. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”

4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 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![a]”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[b]

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.

 

This chapter is obviously a turning point in the gospel of Mark. The reality is that historically, the events of this chapter begin the final week of Jesus’ pre-Crucifixion ministry.

He has come to Jerusalem and knows that He is going to be arrested, beaten, accused, convicted and sentenced to die. Finally He will be mocked, spat on, beaten and crucified.

 

The purpose of His death is being set up. Jesus’ death will be the salvation of some and the ultimate damnation of others. And it is up to the individual to decide. This final week of Jesus’ life is full of questions, tests, conflict, plotting and confrontation.

 

Jesus will by Himself challenge all earthly authority with His own. He will claim deity and be murdered for that claim.

This is a period of intense confrontation. Almost every story has at its root a question of authority and confrontation. And the amazing question is this: Who is confronting whom? The religious and political authorities will kill Jesus, but He will rise from the dead! Jesus confronts the authorities with His identity and teaching. He confronts their sinful behavior and future. The challenge is direct. Jesus must be accepted for Who He is and submitted to! The opening story here of this section gives an example!

 

  1. The Grand Parade of a Conquering Hero

 

  1. A baby donkey is not a war horse

        This is a king of peace. This is not a king who has come to rule    by force! This is not the king that they are looking for.

 

  1. The crowd welcomes the hero

        In their culture, when a military hero was returning from a successful campaign, the people would hear that they were coming and they would go out to meet them and then parade into town together. This is the same picture as the return of Christ at the Second Coming. Those alive will rise to meet Him in the air and then descend to earth in a parade of praise and honor.

 

  1. Palm branches and cloaks on the road

        The crowd cuts the branches, waving them in praise. The crowd   places their cloaks on the road, there is to be no dirt, they are       rolling out the red carpet. Welcome, honor and praise!

 

Luke 19: 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

 

  1. The Cry of Hosanna

 

  1. O Save from what?

        Who are the oppressors of the people of God?

  1. Political oppressors: The Romans do not allow self rule. They are “polluters” of the land, and of the promises of God.
  2. The religious leaders: This is not a unified group: Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians and Zealots. Much of Jesus’       Olivet discourse is a warning against the present direction of the        religious leadership. They are going to rebel against Rome. It will     bring disaster. The temple will be destroyed. The sacrificial    system will cease. The Old Covenant will collapse.
  3. The greatest enemy is our own sinful flesh!

 

       

  1. Prophecies mentioned

            Psalms 118:

22 The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;
23 the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.

25 Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success!

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
    From the house of the Lord we bless you.

 

Jesus will point to this Psalm in the next chapter.

Peter will preach this Psalm to the Jewish leaders in Acts 4

Peter writes of this prophecy to the church as an encouragement in I Peter 2

Paul describes the people of God as God’s building, built on the Apostles and Prophets with Jesus as the chief cornerstone.

Jesus is THE stone that was rejected. Jesus is THE chief cornerstone of the Kingdom of God!

LORD, save us!!

 

  1. What if Jesus saves differently?

What if the salvation of God is not what is expected?

What if God is doing something different that they don’t       understand?

What if instead of making them the political rulers, they are         given the task of proclaiming a new covenant of reconciliation of         the Gentiles to God? What if they are actually the Older Brother?

 

        John 6: 14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

 

III. Jesus and David

10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”

 

  1. Both trust God to establish their throne

        Both are Messiahs! “The anointed one of God”

Both born in Bethlehem.

 

  1. Both are more than kings

        Prophet, priest and king

Enemies defeated.

Israel united.

Israel strengthened

Enemies serve them

Peter preaches in Acts 2!

25 David said about him:

“‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest in hope,
27 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
you will not let your holy one see decay.
28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.’[e]

29 “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand
35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’[f]

36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

 

  1. Someone greater than David is here

41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?”

“The son of David,” they replied.

43 He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says,

44 “‘The Lord said to my Lord:
    “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies
    under your feet.”’[e]

45 If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” 46 No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.