Mark 11:1-101And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples, 2And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him. 3And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither. 4And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him. 5And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt? 6And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go. 7And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him. 8And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way. 9And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: 10Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest. (Mark 11:1‑10).
JESUS was on His last journey up to Jerusalem, just a short time before they put Him to death. When He came near to the city, as He was at the mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples to a village near by, telling them they would find a colt tied there, that no one had ever sat on. This colt they were to untie, and bring to Him. If anyone asked them why they were taking the colt, they were to say, “The Lord hath need of him;” then they would let the colt go. So the two disciples went and found the colt, just as Jesus had said, and when the men asked them why they were loosing the colt, they said Jesus had commanded them. Then they let them go; and they brought the colt to Jesus, and spread their garments on him and Jesus sat on him. “And many spread their garments in the way, and others cut down branches off the trees, and strewed them in the way. And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord. Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.”
About five hundred and fifty years before this a prophet of the Lord had foretold of this event. You will find it in the ninth chapter of Zechariah, and ninth verse, where the prophet says, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem; behold, thy King cometh unto thee; He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.”
So we see this event gives us Jesus entering into Jerusalem as the King of Israel. It was not indeed on a golden chariot, with great pomp and glory, but “lowly” and sitting on “a colt the foal of an ass.” And He came bringing “salvation,” if only they would receive Him. And there was indeed a multitude who cried “Hosanna,” which means, “Save, we pray.” But alas! the rulers did not receive Him, and perhaps some who cried “Hosanna,” afterwards cried “Away with Him.” But whether they received Him or not, He was the King of Israel, and He had salvation for all who received Him in truth.
But Jesus knew very well that He was rejected as the King, and He would not stay overnight in Jerusalem. He entered Jerusalem according to the prophecy of Zechariah, and entered the temple, and looked around at everything, and then He went with his twelve disciples, and stayed overnight at Bethany, a little town about two miles out of Jerusalem. It would seem there were none to receive Him in the great city, even though He was the King, so He went to Bethany where His friend Lazarus was, whom He had raised up from the dead, and where Martha and Mary were, and perhaps other friends who believed on His name.
In another article we will see what followed. In the meantime, I want to ask you, dear children, if you have received Jesus in your hearts? Have you received Him as your Saviour? Have you cried Hosanna, save, we pray? Though hated and rejected by the rulers, many of the people cried Hosanna, and hailed Him as King; and even the children cried in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David.” “Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings” God “perfected praise” to His blessed Son. Oh! will not you, dear children, add your note of praise also to that blessed Saviour? He is worthy that you should believe on Him, who not only came as King, but who has died on the cross to make atonement for sin, so that He might save poor sinners like you and me. Believe on Him, and send forth the note of praise, “Hosanna in the highest.”
ML 05/11/1902