Mark 11:1-121And 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. 11And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve. 12And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: (Mark 11:1‑12)
When the Lord Jesus and the disciples came to the end of their journey, Jerusalem, a very special event took place: Jesus rode into the city and up its streets, to offer Himself as the Great and Holy King for Israel, promised by God (Zech. 9:99Rejoice 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. (Zechariah 9:9)).
Most kings in those times rode on horses, or with horses and chariots, but the kings of Israel, when crowned, rode on asses or mules. These are not swift as horses, but patient, sure footed and safe. A horse was used for battle, an ass for work and to carry loads. The king of Israel was to come peacefully, not as for battle, nor as a conqueror over the people, but to help them. He was chosen by God, and meant to rule for God (1 Kings 1:32-3932And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king. 33The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon: 34And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon. 35Then ye shall come up after him, that he may come and sit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my stead: and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah. 36And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: the Lord God of my lord the king say so too. 37As the Lord hath been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David. 38So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon. 39And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon. (1 Kings 1:32‑39)).
That was the reason Jesus, as rightful King, chosen by God, rode on an ass into the city where the kings had lived and ruled. Jesus and the men with Him had no doubt walked from Galilee, and He had no animal to ride: one had to be borrowed. Jesus knew where to send the disciples to get one, and they were to tell the owner, that the Lord had need of it.
The animal is spoken of as a colt, perhaps we would have called it a donkey: it must not have been very little, but was young, and had never been ridden on. Usually a young animal not trained to be ridden, would not let a stranger on it. But that colt let the men place the garments on its back, and let Jesus ride into the city and up the streets and must have gone obediently, showing Jesus had power over, the animal, the same as fish and the wind and sea obeyed His will.
This ride was made a few days before the feast of the Passover, when people of Israel came to Jerusalem from all countries to keep the feast. So there were many to see Jesus as HE rode through the city. Many had come from Galilee and towns along the way, who had seen the wonderful cures of the sick, blind, and lame, and other great miracles; some had been raised from death.
No other could do as He did, or had such wisdom, and the people wanted to honor Him: some spread their cloaks along His way, others cut branches from trees, probably, palm branches, much used to welcome great heroes. They were under the Roman nation, with no king of their own, and would have gladly made Jesus King. They sang from the psalms,
“Hosanna,” which’ meant, “Save, we beseech Thee.” And,
This was true of the Lord Jesus: He came in the Name of God, His Father, not by His own authority. When He came to the Temple, the leaders there should have crowned Him the Great King, chosen by God. But they did not, nor welcome Him, nor give Him a place to stay the night. Mark wrote, “Jesus entered into the Temple: and when He had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, He went out unto Bethany,” (a village near).
ML 04/30/1944