The Pilgrim Path---Mark 11: 1—11

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The LORD has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” And they went away and found a colt tied at a door in the street, and they untied it. And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their cloaks on the road, others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. Ans those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”

And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

THE LORD HAS NEED…

---Sent by the Savior: Two disciples had to acquire a colt, the foal of a donkey (Zechariah 9: 9). This was for the promised Messiah to enter Jerusalem, He would have to come, be executed, and then rise after three days from the dead. Seemingly simple---this chore for a donkey? “Go”---when the owner asks, “What are you doing?” tell him, “The LORD has need of it.” That is ALL that was needed for the Sovereign One. Simple---when you are God in the flesh…

---Seated on the colt: The LORD Jesus rides into Jerusalem this way. Ancient kings were not typically known for donkey riding---unless they came as those who “bring” peace---and “rule”---as this King does, with God’s honor upon His heart and mind (The LORD Jesus transforms people from the inside out). Consider that Jesus comes---making His way to the Temple---to sort out the right worship of God---in a city where much had been astray…

---Shouts went Up: Hosanna! But weren’t many of the “shouts” more to do with establishing a temporary kingdom on earth---rather than a solid, day-to-day allegiance to Jesus the LORD? Weren’t more people interested in driving out the Romans---than in driving out sin from their lives---and yielding to the LORDSHIP of Jesus?

---Seriously: How Deep and rich is My love to the LORD Jesus Christ? HE is honored by people who love Him supremely…

From J. C. Ryle: When he rode into the holy city, it was on a borrowed beast. When he was buried, it was in a borrowed tomb. We have this simple fact, an instance of that marvelous union of weakness and power, riches and poverty, the godhead, and the manhood, which may be so often traced in the history of our blessed LORD. Who that reads the Gospels carefully can fail to observe, that He who could feed thousands with a few loaves, was Himself sometimes hungry---and He who could heal the sick and infirm, was Himself sometimes weary---that He who could cast out devils with a word, was Himself tempted---and He could raise the dead, could himself submit to die? We see the very same thing in the passage before us. We see the power of our LORD in His bending the wills of a vast multitude to conduct Him into Jerusalem in triumph. We see the poverty of our LORD in his borrowing an ass to carry Him when He made a triumphal entry. It is all wonderful, but there is a fitness in it all. It is meet and right that we should never forget the UNION of the human and the divine natures in our LORD’S person…

HYMN

Have thine own way, LORD! Have thine own way!

Wounded and weary, help me, I pray!

Power, all power, surely is thine!

Touch me and heal me, Savior divine!

Adelaide A. Pollard, 1902

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason