Description: Jesus begins his journey through the streets of Jerusalem. (PC: Eunice Nygard)
In the story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem in Mark 11:1-11 It’s hard to imagine all the people who greeted him as he came into the holy city of God. Laying down palm leaves as he rode a mule which had never been ridden before, this is similar to the coronation of Solomon in 1 Kings 1:33. Mules in the east were highly esteemed, and Jesus rides in on a borrowed colt and the crowd cries out ‘Hosanna!’, which in the Hebrew means ‘save us now.’
I want you to think about the crowd for a moment, made up of thousands of people who had experienced Jesus over the past three years of his ministry. As he entered they were saying ‘save us now.’ So the question arises, save us from what? They had already been healed, delivered from demonic oppression, and every kind of disease and sickness but they said ‘save us now.’
The truth of the matter is the people were asking him to deliver them from the Roman empire that had been oppressing them for years. One time when Jesus fed the five thousand (which only counted the men, so probably more like 15 to 20 thousand people) they wanted to set him up as king and overthrow the Roman government. Jesus sent the crowd away and went into the mountains to pray. What many people don’t understand is that Jesus’ first coming wasn’t to overthrow the kingdom of the world, his first coming was to rule over the hearts of men and break the back of sin.
In his second coming he will bring all kingdoms under his feet, but until that happens we are to spread the good news that Jesus came and died on the cross so you can be free from your sins and have him abide in your hearts.
Jesus taught a lot about people who believed in him for the wrong reasons. In fact he states that at the end of the age many will say ‘Lord, Lord we prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and did wonders in your name,’ yet Jesus will say ‘I never knew you, depart from me you workers of iniquity.’ What is starkly different about the people in this example is the double use of the term ‘Lord.’ Whenever Hebrew people would double up a name it inferred that they had a close, intimate relationship with that person. Jesus said ‘my God my God why have you forsake me,’ David cried when his son was killed ‘Absalom, Absalom,’ and when Jesus rebuked Martha he said ‘Martha, Martha.’
Jesus reveals that having a close relationship with him is not determined even by operating in supernatural power. Prophecy and casting out demons and doing wonders by his name take supernatural power, but don’t indicate a close relationship. Instead he reveals that it’s only when his word rules your heart that truly you have an intimate relationship with him in your life. It’s easy to do outward things, but yet on the inside your heart is telling you that you shouldn’t do this or that. But when you are born again your heart starts to direct you through the word of God and that’s how you have a close relationship with Him. if God is not ruling in your heart he’s not your Lord and Savior. Jesus’ first coming was to pay the price for our sins and set up his kingdom in our hearts, and I encourage you this Easter to make him Lord of your life.
Immerse Yourself:
Listen to “Palm Sunday | Easter Drama Day 1” on Spreaker.
Lord, open our eyes. You have come to turn the world on its head and save it. Help us to see your path to victory with fresh eyes. Help us to fully realize the glory of what you are doing. Heavenly Father, thank you for taking this road.
Reflection Questions:
- What do you think about Jesus coming in on a donkey in a humble way? How does this message of service and peace translate into your own life?
- People watched Jesus coming into the city and they thought he was there to overthrow Rome. Why do you think he came the way he did?
- What do you think was going through Jesus’ mind as he began this journey?
by Pastor Jack Holt, River of Life Fellowship
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