Sermon Tone Analysis

*“Worship the King”*

*Mark 11.1-25*

One of the reasons that I wanted to go through one of the Gospels is because there was so much of Jesus’ life, ministry, and especially his teachings that I wanted greater clarity on.

And I would imagine that many of you are in the same boat.

Jesus says and does some curious things that, on the surface, are a bit confusing.

And so it is with our passage this morning.

Here we see the King of the Jews enter Jerusalem on a colt.

In one instance, the crowds hail him as the one who would restore the kingdom of David.

Within a short time, this same Jesus is hanging on a cross and rejected by many.

We also come across a familiar account where Jesus curses an innocent fig tree and we wonder what the point is.

Is Jesus having a moment of selfishness and unrestrained anger?

Then we see him enter the temple area in Jerusalem and are again confused as to why Jesus would have such a strong reaction to the activities going on inside.

So this study, for me, helps me to slow down and consider these things and gain a greater understanding to otherwise familiar accounts.

Let’s read the text as we get underway.

We are in Mark 11.1-25.

*READ.*

*            *Jesus and the disciples have been on their way to Jerusalem.

Jesus is approaching the close of his mission.

And Mark will focus in on these events and slow the pace down while we are in this geographical region and theologically significant territory.

Mark indicates that they are drawing near to Jerusalem and come to the surrounding areas of Bethpage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives.

Bethany, you will remember, was the hometown of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus and could be viewed as the home-away-from-home of Jesus.

These were people near and dear to him and he likely spent considerable time here.

Though not certain of its exact location, Bethpage was probably on or near the road from Jericho to Jerusalem and between Bethany and Jerusalem.

The first point this morning is *“Enter the King.”

*It is the time of Passover in the land.

And it is during this time that Jews travel to Jerusalem to celebrate their exodus out of Egyptian slavery.

It was also the time of the annual temple tax when the Israelites would give half a shekel and purchase animals for sin and thanksgiving sacrifices.

These details will become quite relevant as we witness Jesus’ arrival into Jerusalem.

Having come to this point, Jesus sends two of the disciples ahead to into the village and tells them that they will find a colt.

In fact, this is a colt that no one has ever sat upon.

He tells them to untie and bring it back to him.

And, of course the person whose colt they are taking might be a little curious to say the least.

So, if they are questioned, Jesus tells them to say that the Lord has need of it and will return it shortly.

This is not your everyday request.

But notice the certainty in the details.

Doesn’t it seem as though Jesus knows precisely what will happen?

And that things are going according to plan?

Remember last week when Jesus tells his disciples that he will be handed over to the Jewish leaders and then the Gentiles?

He knows exactly what is happening and his mission will soon be completed.

So the two go and (surprise, surprise) they find a colt tied at a door outside in the street.

They untie it.

Some folks standing there say, “what are you doing, untying the colt?”

They tell them what Jesus told them to say and they are let go with the colt.

They bring the colt back to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it.

Jesus sits on the colt.

And all the while I am sure that Jesus had the words from the prophet Zechariah in his mind.

In Zechariah 9.9, the Old Testament prophet records these words: “9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold, */your king is coming/* to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, */on a colt/*, the foal of a donkey.

Throughout the Gospel of Mark, Jesus has taken great pains to try to conceal his identity as Messiah.

The acts that follow will demonstrate that this is certainly no longer the case.

No longer is Jesus hiding but claiming the authority as the King of the Jews.

Now, if you were coming to town to declare your kingship, you would probably choose to enter Jerusalem on something like one of these horses.

Wouldn’t you?

Or this?

How about this?

Probably not!

In fulfillment of prophecy, the King of Kings enters the holy city of Jerusalem riding on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

And he is led in by his company of disciples and other followers.

They spread their cloaks on the road.

We know that this is customary for paying royal homage.

When Jehu was anointed king of Israel, 2 Kings 9:13 records, “13 Then in haste every man of them took his garment and put it under him on the bare steps, and they blew the trumpet and proclaimed, “Jehu is king.””

Branches were also waved in homage to rulers.

And here we have the rightful heir to the eternal throne of David entering Jerusalem to the excitement and chants of “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!” “Hosanna” means “O save!

Save now O God!” During Passover, it would have been customary for the Jews to sing the Hallel Psalms of which this was one.

Psalm 118.25-26, “25 Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success!

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

We bless you from the house of the Lord.”

As the Passover season reminded the people of their freedom from Egyptian slavery, so they likely anticipated the time when they would escape from under the Roman oppression as well.

This time would have a heightened sense of hope for the restoration of the Davidic Kingdom.

The Romans were probably well aware of possible insurrection during this season as they had troops that stayed within the Antonia Fortress on the end of the temple area.

It’s difficult to know with certainty what actually transpired here.

We know from elsewhere that people misunderstood the coming Messiah.

They anticipated that he would come as a political and military figure who would relieve them of oppression and establish the kingdom.

And yet they missed the more important features of the coming Messiah – that he would first have to conquer Satan, sin, and death.

So as I ponder this text, it is unclear as to what the scene actually looked like.

The Jewish historian, Josephus, suggested that Jerusalem could have swelled to two and a half million people during the Passover season.

Normally, it would hold about a half a million.

Is it likely that the majority of these people saw Jesus and his company and joined in this declaration?? Or was it that it was primarily by those who were with Jesus?

The reason I ask these questions is because the excitement quickly fizzles out as Jesus enters the temple, looks around, and goes home.

Would this be possible if the people had genuinely joined in the declaration of the fulfilled prophecy?

Or would they have lifted him up on the shoulders of the masses and escorted him right to the throne?

To be sure, this would have drawn some attention and will certainly force the issue that leads to his death.

I’m not sure of this, but perhaps it was similar to a rallying cry that people enjoin in the moment – kind of like O Canada in the midst of the Olympics.

If the people were accustomed to the singing of the Psalms at Passover, they could unite over the coming hope of the Messiah.

And yet they missed it again.

Jesus enters Jerusalem and goes to the temple.

When the Gospel writer speaks of entering the temple in our text, I believe he refers to the temple area and not specifically the place where the priests would enter.

Mark indicates Jesus entered this vicinity when the daily activity had begun to subside.

It was later in the day.

As we will see, and in fulfillment of more Old Testament prophecy, Jesus enters the temple to inspect it, and the next day’s events reveal that he comes not to restore the temple but to pronounce judgment on it.

Malachi 3.1-2 state, “1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me.

And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?

For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap.”

Jesus then retreats to Bethany with the twelve disciples in anticipation of what will happen in the morning.

What is interesting and important in Mark’s Gospel is that he structures his accounts by sandwiching Jesus’ cleansing of the temple between the situations regarding the fig tree.

This is a clue that indicates that the fig tree serves to teach a spiritual lesson regarding the temple incident.

And this will introduce the second point, which is *“Inferior Worship.”