Mark 11:1, commentary and pictures

On the first day of the week, five days before His crucifixion, Jesus pauses near Jerusalem at Bethphage and Bethany by the Mount of Olives while going up for the Passover, and sends two disciples a short distance ahead. His errand is to fetch an ass and its colt, a young foal upon which no one had ever sat, which the owners readily release when told of His need and upon which the disciples spread garments to seat Him. The choice is striking because the distance is short and He had always traveled on foot, marking the first time He accepts homage as Messiah. In this He begins the fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9, coming publicly to the city as the promised heir to David's throne, just, having salvation, lowly and riding upon an ass. By riding the animal of Israel's kings He presents Himself as King coming to His people and draws attention to Himself as the world's Redeemer and to the sacrifice He is about to make, though the crowds mistake His kingdom for political deliverance from Rome.

Time, Place and Errand

Jesus was drawing near to Jerusalem from Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, resuming the short journey from Bethany toward the city. From that spot He sent two of His disciples a short distance ahead to fetch the animals for His entry.

It was the first day of the week, five days before the crucifixion, when He went up for the Passover feast. It was the year's most beautiful season, when hillsides and groves were green and the trees were clothed in green with fragrant blossoms. Great crowds gathered for the feast joined His company on the way.

Among them were multitudes who had flocked to Bethany to see Him after the raising of Lazarus, with other pilgrims on the road, and crowds coming out from Jerusalem to meet Him and conduct Him to the city. The raising of Lazarus had drawn an enthusiastic crowd eager to see Him.

His errand for the two was to bring an ass and its colt, a young donkey foal upon which no one had ever sat. He gave precise directions about where to find them, revealing divine knowledge, and the owners readily released the animals when told of His need, that the Lord had need of them. The disciples spread their garments on the colt and seated Him upon it.

The choice to ride was striking because the distance was short and He had always traveled on foot. It puzzled the disciples that He should now choose to ride. That riding marked the first time He accepted homage as Messiah.

Prophecy and Kingship

The approach to Jerusalem begins the fulfillment of the prophecy given five hundred years before His birth, identified as Zechariah 9:9, that Zion's King would come to her just, and having salvation, lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt. After long refusing royal honors and declaring that His kingdom was not of this world, He now comes to the city as King, the promised heir to David's throne, in a public triumphant presentation of Himself as Messiah and King. Riding the animal associated with Israel's kings, He advances in humble triumphal entry as the King coming to His people under the proclamation that the King is coming. By accepting the crowd's homage He draws attention to Himself as the world's Redeemer and to the sacrifice He is about to make.

The people mistake His kingdom for political independence from Rome and a temporal kingdom, expecting Him to be acknowledged as King of Israel and to establish an earthly rule. Yet the praise is so fitting that if the disciples were silent, the stones would cry out.

Procession and Response

Unlike the triumphs of earthly conquerors, the procession has no train of mourning captives as trophies of kingly valor. Its trophies are captives rescued from Satan's power praising God for deliverance. The blind to whom sight was restored lead the way, the mute whose tongues were loosed shout the loudest hosannas, and the cripples who were healed break off and wave palm branches. Widows and orphans exalt His mercy, lepers cleansed by His word spread their garments in His path and hail Him as King of Glory, and those awakened from death join the praise. Lazarus, whose body had seen corruption in the grave and was restored to full strength, guides the humble beast He rides.

The multitude hails Him with a loud shout of triumph and hosannas in the worship of happy hearts. They spread outer garments as a carpet across the rocky road and strew leafy olive and palm branches in the way. They wave spreading palm boughs, nature's emblem of victory, raise branches, gesture toward Him, and kneel and bow in welcome. Men, women, and children gather around Him among palms, trees, hills, and nearby buildings, and the procession continually grows as Passover pilgrims and crowds from Jerusalem come to meet and conduct Him to the city with palm waving and sacred song.

His riding and acceptance of homage are taken by the disciples as proof He will be acknowledged at Jerusalem as King of Israel. They hope He is about to enter the capital to proclaim Himself King of the Jews and assert His royal power. On their errand to fetch the colt they share this expectation with His friends, so excitement spreads far and near and raises the expectations of the people to the highest pitch. Astonished spectators ask who He is and what the commotion means, since He had before refused kingly honors. The priests sound the trumpet for evening service to few hearers, while the rulers say in alarm that the world has gone after Him.

Their palm branches, spread garments, and cries of praise express high hopes of a temporal kingdom soon to be established. Those hopes are soon shattered when He is crucified and buried, but revive after His resurrection and appearance to them. The entry together with the cleansing of the temple and the blighting of the barren fig tree points to Jerusalem's doom. His tears over the city amid the rejoicing are His last pleadings of rejected love and compassion near the close of His ministry.