Mark 11:7-11 - Jesus Hailed as King

Mark 11:7-11
7 They *brought the colt to Jesus and put their coats on it; and He sat on it. 8 And many spread their coats in the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields. 9 Those who went in front and those who followed were shouting:

      “Hosanna!
      Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord;
10  Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David;
      Hosanna in the highest!”

11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and came into the temple; and after looking around at everything, He left for Bethany with the twelve, since it was already late.


Message: Jesus Hailed as King

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus is on his way into Jerusalem, letting the disciples know previously that he is headed there to die and be resurrected, but the disciples don't know the events or how it will happen. It begins though with Jesus entering on a colt and thus far he has told his disciples to go get him a colt, it will be waiting for him where they are to get it and they are to bring it back to him.

They brought the colt to Jesus and put their coats on it; and He sat on it. This was a colt that had never been ridden before and yet, Jesus was able to simply sit on it for the first time as if it had been used many times. The disciples laid out their coats on the colt, to provide a saddle but also out of respect for Jesus and to give him honor.

And many spread their coats in the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields. This was an example of the crowd responding to Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. They were aware of the messianic claims He was making. 2 Kings 9:13 says, "Then they hurried and each man took his garment and placed it under him on the bare steps, and blew the trumpet, saying, “Jehu is king!”Perhaps the people remembered this event from almost 900 years prior or remembered its significance. Again, what they were doing was showing great honor for Jesus. For Jehu they were acclaiming his as King. Jesus, the same way, as king of the Jews.

Those who went in front and those who followed were shouting: "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!" There is much going on here. The word Hosanna means "Save." From Psalm 118:25-26 it reads, "O Lord, do save, we beseech You;O Lord, we beseech You, do send prosperity! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord; We have blessed you from the house of the Lord." It was an appropriate cry from the people. For Jesus to save his people, that salvation must be associated with the reign of David. Jeremiah 23:5, "Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord,“When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land." This is Hosanna in the highest. This is salvation or being saved in the most ultimate way. This is the crescendo or culmination of it all. There is nothing greater.

Yet, they possibly did not understand the salvation that Jesus was bringing. It was perhaps a misunderstanding of the type of kingdom that Jesus would be bringing. 

They thought it was a kingdom of David rather than the kingdom of God. They were perhaps looking merely for the return to the glory days of Israel, when David and Solomon ruled a united Jewish kingdom renowned for its wealth and military might. - Ligonier

Jesus was receiving now the title of Messiah. That is clear. Jesus entered Jerusalem and came into the temple.He was not there entering the holy of holies for he was not of the tribe of Levi. Instead he was in the courts. And after looking around at everything.At that moment, his purpose was to survey everything. It was only to survey the scene for correction would come at another day. For now, he simply looked around. [It is interesting that this is not mentioned by Matthew. Again, most of what I've seen in Mark is details that he forgets and that Matthew mentions but in this final week, here is a detail that Matthew does not mention.] Then, He left for Bethany with the twelve, since it was already late.So he went back to Bethany, outside of Jerusalem, probably another 4 to 5 miles back. It was probably about 3pm, so he had time to head back. He had come into the City, entered it, as prophesied, but now headed back with his disciples to rest as it was late. Resting was necessary for he was about to begin his most important work.

Summary - Again, the purpose of this passage is to announce Jesus, as the Messiah. The people perhaps don't understand ultimately that his reign will be the kingdom of God and not simply returning Israel to a time they were before. Jesus comes into the temple area to survey and see what it looks like. Then he leaves and goes back to Bethany to rest. 

Promise: The people may not have understood the nature of Christ's kingdom, but they were correct to acclaim the Davidic king as the bringer of salvation. 

Prayer: Blessed in the name of the Lord. You are salvation. Thank you for my understanding of your coming Lord, that you are salvation in the most perfect sense. You have saved me. I cannot save myself. You are the only Savior. Your way is the only way. You are the only truth to life.