Mark 11:2, commentary and pictures

On the first day of the week on His journey from Bethany to Jerusalem, Jesus sent two disciples ahead into the village opposite them to find a colt tied whereon never man sat and to loose him and bring him.
His minute directions came to pass exactly as He foretold, revealing His divinity, yet though the cattle on a thousand hills are His He was dependent on a stranger's kindness for the animal.
He deliberately chose for His own use this unused colt, breaking His custom of always traveling on foot by consenting to ride for the first time in His ministry.
By riding it He presented Himself publicly as Messiah and King, the promised heir to David's throne coming to Jerusalem as Zion's King in fulfillment of what Zechariah foretold five hundred years before of a just King having salvation, lowly and riding upon an ass and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
The disciples took His choice to ride and His acceptance of homage He had never permitted before as proof He would assert royal power and claim David's throne in a temporal kingdom, and His death soon brought them bitter disappointment.

Sending for the Colt

On the first day of the week Jesus resumed His journey from Bethany to Jerusalem to join the feast of the Passover, sending two disciples ahead to bring an animal for the short distance into the city. It was the year's most beautiful season, with trees clothed in verdure and blossoms shedding fragrance, and multitudes accompanied Him, including those who had flocked to Bethany to see Him and were eager to witness His entry, others on their way to keep the Passover continually joining His company, and an enthusiastic crowd gathered after He raised Lazarus. He directed the two to go into the village opposite them, where as soon as they entered they would find a colt tied, the foal of an ass, whereon never man sat, and to loose him and bring him.

His divinity was revealed in the minute directions for the errand, which happened exactly as He foretold when the plea that the Lord has need of them was readily granted. Though the cattle on a thousand hills are His, He was dependent on a stranger's kindness for the animal, just as at His birth He was dependent on strangers for the borrowed manger where He lay. He deliberately chose for His own use this unused colt on which never man had sat. This was a break from His custom of always traveling on foot, and the first time in His ministry that He consented to ride.

The command puzzled the disciples, but they took His choice to ride as a sign that He was about to enter the capital, proclaim Himself King of the Jews, assert royal power, and claim kingly authority and David's throne. While on their errand they shared their glowing anticipations with His friends, so that excitement spread far and near and raised the expectations of the people to the highest pitch.

Riding in as King

The disciples spread their garments upon the colt and seated Him upon it for His entry into Jerusalem. The beast was guided by Lazarus, whose body had seen corruption in the grave and who was now restored to the full strength of glorious manhood.

Seated on the donkey in robe and mantle He advanced along the road toward the city in a humble triumphal procession. It was unlike those of earth's famous conquerors, with no train of mourning captives as trophies of kingly valor. He was surrounded instead by the glorious trophies of His labors of love: captives rescued from Satan's power, the blind given sight, the dumb given speech, cripples healed, widows and orphans shown mercy, lepers cleansed, and those awakened from the sleep of death.

A large crowd of men, women and children welcomed Him by raising leafy and palm branches, waving them, and spreading garments and foliage in His path. They gestured toward Him, kneeled and bowed before Him, praised God, shouted hosannas, and hailed Him as Messiah their King and King of Glory under the proclamation Thy King cometh. He now accepted this loud shout of triumph and homage, though He had never permitted it before. The disciples took it as proof that He would be acknowledged at Jerusalem as King of Israel and that their hopes of His public recognition would be fulfilled.

The colt was an animal associated with Israel's kings, and by riding it He presented Himself publicly as Messiah and King. He came to Jerusalem as the promised heir to David's throne, and as Zion's King. The ride fulfilled what Zechariah foretold five hundred years before the birth of Christ, that the coming King to Israel would be just and having salvation, lowly and riding upon an ass and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

The disciples mistakenly expected Him to establish a temporal kingdom, and His death soon brought them bitter disappointment. The triumphal entrance amid rejoicing and hosannas pointed to the city's doom, while His tears over Jerusalem were His last pleadings of love and compassion to the city.