Mark 11:1-11

¹And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,

 ²And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.

 ³And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.

 ⁴And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him.

 ⁵And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt?

 ⁶And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.his 

 ⁷And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him.

 ⁸And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.

 ⁹And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:

 ¹⁰Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.

 ¹¹And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.

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At this time, Calvary is just 5 days away, 10th day of Nisan. (His entry into Jerusalem on the 10th day of Nisan also corresponds with Exodus 12:3-6, in which a lamb was separated from the flock and put on display as the lamb destined to be sacrificed on Passover. On this day, Jesus was put on display as he proceeded from Bethany down the Mount of Olives toward Jerusalem. While the People welcomed Jesus as the Messiah, the King, his primary purpose at that time was to die, as he explains in John 12:23-33.)

v.1 Bethphage, Bethany, Mt. Olive were 'suburbs' of Jerusalem.

*White donkey - traditional

v. 2-3  Mount of Judges of Judah

(Judges 5:10; 12:14; II Samuel 16:2; I Kings 1:33)

It is possible that Jesus knew the people and about the donkey.  It was an unbroken donkey, yet it carried Christ through the city.

v. 4-6  also evidence they may have known Jesus.

v. 7-8 rode with no saddle.  Also note the action of the crowd just 5 days from Calvary.

v. 9-10 There is a crowd gathered around Him.

v. 10 Psalm of Praise sung at Feast of Tabernacles.

Hosanna - 'Save us now, I beseech you!'  From Ps 118:26

Purpose of this triumphant entry:

Victory procession of ancient kings.  Donkey was a symbol of peace.  (Horse was a symbol of war) I Kings 1:33.  The spreading of garments and branches usually done when kings entered the city.

Christ had to do it this way to fulfill prophecy.  Matt 21:4; Zac 9:9.

I Cor 5:3 - links Christ to the Passover

Ex 12:3-6, 10

On the 10th day of Nisan the Passover lamb was secured. On the 14th day the lamb was sacrificed/Christ was on the cross, consumed (Dead and gone)

v.11 The procession continued to the Temple, but only to the courtyard. Jesus was from the house of Judah, not Levi.  

Christ and His disciples then returned to Bethany--about 2 miles away.

BGPeek 8-1-10