Daily Bread 2011 Mark 11
Daily Bread 2011 – Thursday February 25th, 2011 Mark 11
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’” 4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
What Does This Mean?
As the story begins to come to a completion, we have seen how Jesus has been interacting on two main levels. First, it came through his preaching, teaching and healing to the crowds. Secondly, in his teaching and equipping of His disciples the meaning of all the things He was doing. In many ways Mark is called the “secret gospel”, because it seems Jesus is keeping his identity as the Messiah a secret.
Now as the drama draws nigh, he fulfills some rich symbolism from the Old Testament by coming into Jerusalem on a colt, the foal the donkey. Usually, when a king was coronated he came riding on a war horse to show his power. Instead, Jesus chooses a donkey, which was more a symbol of peace and humility. Jesus knew exactly what these symbols would mean and choses them intentionally not only to fulfill the Old Testament prophecy in Zechariah 9:9, but also to show just what type of King He would be.
What Does This Mean For Us?
Power, and the use of it, is an issue for every culture in every period of history. In Jesus’ day, power was used to oppress others. The Jewish people had been under the oppression from the Roman empire for quite some time. Since the Messianic visions in the Old Testament came with a return of the temple to prominence, many Jewish leaders associated Jesus’ being the Messiah, with the overthrow of the Roman Empire.
Although times have changed, there is a similar tendency in the church today to make its leaders like a Messiah that can come in fix everything through power and control. A lot of people would rather be told what to do than to be given the responsibility for the growth of the church. Many pastors come in thinking it is their responsibility to fix everything and be the Messiah. The problem is often times instead of pointing to Jesus the author and perfector of our faith, people can become dependent on their leaders and not assume responsibility for their own spiritual life.
Jesus is a great model for leaders today. Jesus’ leadership was marked by a one who brought peace and displayed humility, rather than power and control. As we realize what type of King Jesus truly was, we can follow His lead and fulfill the promise, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”
Jesus thank you for showing us what true leadership was like. Thank you for bringing us peace through your sacrifice on the cross, not domination and control. You showed us that Your kingdom does not come in by force, but through one person laying down their life for the sake of another. May we follow in your footsteps! Amen.
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’” 4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
What Does This Mean?
As the story begins to come to a completion, we have seen how Jesus has been interacting on two main levels. First, it came through his preaching, teaching and healing to the crowds. Secondly, in his teaching and equipping of His disciples the meaning of all the things He was doing. In many ways Mark is called the “secret gospel”, because it seems Jesus is keeping his identity as the Messiah a secret.
Now as the drama draws nigh, he fulfills some rich symbolism from the Old Testament by coming into Jerusalem on a colt, the foal the donkey. Usually, when a king was coronated he came riding on a war horse to show his power. Instead, Jesus chooses a donkey, which was more a symbol of peace and humility. Jesus knew exactly what these symbols would mean and choses them intentionally not only to fulfill the Old Testament prophecy in Zechariah 9:9, but also to show just what type of King He would be.
What Does This Mean For Us?
Power, and the use of it, is an issue for every culture in every period of history. In Jesus’ day, power was used to oppress others. The Jewish people had been under the oppression from the Roman empire for quite some time. Since the Messianic visions in the Old Testament came with a return of the temple to prominence, many Jewish leaders associated Jesus’ being the Messiah, with the overthrow of the Roman Empire.
Although times have changed, there is a similar tendency in the church today to make its leaders like a Messiah that can come in fix everything through power and control. A lot of people would rather be told what to do than to be given the responsibility for the growth of the church. Many pastors come in thinking it is their responsibility to fix everything and be the Messiah. The problem is often times instead of pointing to Jesus the author and perfector of our faith, people can become dependent on their leaders and not assume responsibility for their own spiritual life.
Jesus is a great model for leaders today. Jesus’ leadership was marked by a one who brought peace and displayed humility, rather than power and control. As we realize what type of King Jesus truly was, we can follow His lead and fulfill the promise, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”
Jesus thank you for showing us what true leadership was like. Thank you for bringing us peace through your sacrifice on the cross, not domination and control. You showed us that Your kingdom does not come in by force, but through one person laying down their life for the sake of another. May we follow in your footsteps! Amen.
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