December 3, 2023
Pastor John Hering
Mark 11:1-10
Mark 11:1-10
As they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, on the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples 2 and told them, “Go into the village ahead of you. As soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it, and he will send it back here without delay.’”
4 They left and found a colt on the street, tied at a door; and they untied it. 5 Some who were standing there asked them, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 The disciples answered them just as Jesus had instructed them, and the men let them go.
7 They brought the colt to Jesus, threw their garments on it, and Jesus sat on it. 8 Many people spread their garments on the road. Others spread branches that they had cut from the fields. 9 Those who went in front and those who followed were crying out, “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!”
Quite a contrast to last Sunday when we celebrated Christ the King in all his glory! Today we see him riding on a donkey! So, what picture comes to mind when you think of Jesus? I like to picture Jesus dressed in a long white robe with a fine looking beard and long flowing hair parted down the middle. You might picture Jesus as a laughing, short-bearded fella, or maybe you picture Jesus to be more of a no-nonsense German Jesus. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Jesus pictured to be a blonde-haired, blue-eyed guy, have you? And what about the color of his skin? Being of Jewish descent most people picture Jesus with either tanned olive or with a lighter color of skin. There haven’t been any archeologists who have uncovered a portrait of Jesus or any details descriptions of how he looked. So over the years painters and sculptors have imagined the face of Jesus. You can find these pictures in old Bibles, museums and even in stained glass windows like we have here at Divine Peace. Would you agree with me that the true image of Jesus remains a mystery? Or does it?
Other kings have gone to great lengths to preserve their image for the world to remember with their faces painted on palaces, coins or with their names creatively imbedded into the names of the greatest cities of the world. But some are forgotten nonetheless. To make sure that he would not be forgotten, our King Jesus implemented a different strategy for immortalizing his image into the minds and hearts of the people of this world. We get to see it today in Mark’s gospel so you can
Observe The Lasting Image Of a Loving King
To correct misunderstanding
Some people might find it rather strange that we are reading the account of Palm Sunday on the 1st Sunday of Advent! However, the historical church made a connection between the two. Come with me to stand on the Mount of Olives with Jesus. I heard from this point you can see the blue line of the Dead Sea off to the south and the hills of Moab to the east. But, look at Jesus. He was looking west rather than east across the Kidron Valley, were the slopes of Mt. Zion, topped with the huge walls of the temple. It stood strong with its gold ornamentation glowing in the sun. More than any building this was Jesus’ palace. A palace adorned with heavenly splendor and yet stained with the uncleanness of bloody sacrifices. Jesus understood this. But many in the crowd did not have a correct understanding, yet. This is what Mark was inspired to record in his gospel:
“As they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, on the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples 2 and told them, “Go into the village ahead of you. As soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it, and he will send it back here without delay.’” 4 They left and found a colt on the street, tied at a door; and they untied it. 5 Some who were standing there asked them, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 The disciples answered them just as Jesus had instructed them, and the men let them go. 7 They brought the colt to Jesus, threw their garments on it, and Jesus sat on it.”
Jesus continued his journey into Jerusalem after a week of instructing the people about the coming of the kingdom of God and taking the religious leaders to task for their misguiding of God’s people. Mark continued, “8 Many people spread their garments on the road. Others spread branches that they had cut from the fields. 9 Those who went in front and those who followed were crying out, “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!”” To be fair, some who shouted were thanking God for sending the descendant of David whose kingdom, unlike David’s, would never end. But other Bible accounts make it very clear that many who shouted this were seeking something from God which he never promised in the first place. The image of Jesus their minds was not the picture drawn by the prophets but their own picture scribbled together by their own selfish expectations of a king. They longed for the glory days of David’s reign when their Jewish nation ruled the world. So their image of Jesus the Messiah was pictured with blood on his sword—the blood of other nations. Rather, the true picture of the promised King did include a sword and blood, but it wasn’t the King’s sword, and it was his own blood. Only this kind of King could truly fulfill their cries of, “Hosanna!” meaning, “Save us!” So, do you see how Jesus was cleaning up a misunderstanding of who he was. Jesus made his parade less of a spectacle than any ordinary king might–no military guards, no screaming trumpets, no royal attendants. Just one man humbly riding alone to his death.
Let us heed the warning so we don’t fall into a misunderstanding of our Loving King. What do I mean? Well, if you paint a picture of Jesus in a white lab coat (because he has the cure that prevents any ill health), a policeman’s hat (because he keeps you from any violence and pain), holding a banker’s pen (because he can write out checks to you that make you rich), a carpenter’s belt (because he can fix all your problems and decorate your life with extra features), and running shoes on his feet (because he’ll zip around everywhere to do your dirty work) then you’ve just created your own god and fueled a misunderstanding about the true God and expecting things from him that he has never promised. No offense to bankers, carpenters, police, and doctors, but combining all those expectations into Jesus mistakenly make him into our own “personal savior,” that is, the savior we make him out to be. When the bomb drops or the boogey man breaks in; or the doctor tells us of a severe sickness, we won’t be prepared if we have a misunderstanding of our King. Misunderstand Jesus and he’ll ride his donkey right on by without you even noticing that he’s waving at you with his love. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to start the holy week that ended with his death on the cross. So, our season of Advent is to prepare for the birth of our Savior and is a season of repentance. It isn’t time to misunderstand Jesus. He came with great humility. He came to suffer and die for our sins. He came to save you! That is the Lasing Image of Your Loving King. Jesus was exalted by his Father NOT by detouring around all suffering but by riding to it and through it confident of his Father’s love. This is the image of Jesus you want in your heart and mind! Observe the Lasting Image of Your Loving King riding into Jerusalem….
To confirm believing
As Jesus rode that donkey into Jerusalem he knew he was fulfilling the Old Testament prophecies that spoke of this day. Jesus was confident as he put his trust in his Father in heaven that he came to save the world from the power of sin, death and the devil. Mark wrote: “7 They brought the colt to Jesus, threw their garments on it, and Jesus sat on it.” Jesus sat on that donkey because he was confirmed in his faith. Listen to St. Paul’s commentary, “Being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8,9). This is our true King. Our loving King. He humbled himself—denying all kinds of other ideas about greatness and firmly believing in the way he had asked his Father in the Garden of Gethsemane if he could avoid. For God’s image of the Loving King was the way of suffering and lowliness to save the people of the world who were all tainted by sin. Jesus accepted that way because he believed it was the right way, the best way, his Father’s way.
This is the image that our King Jesus wants in our hearts and minds. It is also God’s will that we look intently at our Savior, have his image of amazing love for us burned into our hearts to be confirmed in our faith. So he leaves us with this Palm Sunday image to confirm our believing. Jesus wants us to:
- Take him at his word and hold on to them when everything else is falling apart.
- Stand strong to do his will even when we’re not in control of the risks and results. Jesus’ world was falling apart as he rode toward his death, and Jesus found it difficult to stand up against the assaults of evil and the curse of our sins but he humbled himself to trust in his Father’s care. Now, as our King, he asks us to do the same.
- Accept his way only because we believe it is the right way, the best way, our King’s way. And if our King wants it that way (+) then our King will make sure that everything will be okay.
Just Observe How Jesus Is our Loving King. Look at his loving knowledge
“As they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, on the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples 2 and told them, “Go into the village ahead of you. As soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it, and he will send it back here without delay.”
Jesus knew there would be a donkey tied up for him to use. Jesus also knows there are resources for us to use. Confirmed in our faith let’s look for ways to use our resources for God’s kingdom. Look at his loving acceptance of gifts “8 Many people spread their garments on the road. Others spread branches that they had cut from the fields.” Jesus delighted in gifts of cloaks and palm branches. You may also offer Jesus your gifts of generous, special offerings and know your King loves those gifts. Look at his loving power. Jesus had the universe at his fingertips to use to strike down his enemies thunderbolts of judgment. But, our loving King held himself back in the hopes that rebellious sinners would have a change of heart, repent, and trust in his forgiveness. Yes, today our Advent King paints the picture of just who he is so we can Observe The Lasting Image Of Our Loving King.
So, what image do you have of Jesus in your mind? It isn’t a mystery for us, is it? For during Holy Week we see a King riding into Jerusalem in order to suffer and die. Today, as we prepare to celebrate his birth, we Observe Our Loving King who came to save us! That’s a great way to picture Jesus. Amen.
