The Way of Triumph, Mark 11:1-11 (All quotes from the ESV)
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 outside 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, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And 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.

Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem a few days before he would be taken, beaten and crucified. Several things happened on the way to this triumphal parade. I think they are important and should be included in our understanding of this special day. We will look at the events immediately leading up to this momentous procession. Then we will think about the immediate after affects. Friday night we will think about the cross and, next Sunday, the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

On the way with Jesus.
As Jesus was setting out on His journey to Jerusalem a man who asked about eternal life immediately confronted him. (Mark 10:17-31) Jesus asked him a question, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.” Perhaps Jesus was trying to goad the man into making the confession, “You are the Christ, the son of the Living God.” We can’t know for sure but the man surely knew that certain words should be used of God alone. Then immediately Jesus quoted some of the commandments. All of them were man to man commandments. Paul used a similar list when he taught us that the greatest commandment is “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Romans 13:8-19) In neither list did the teacher quote the man to God commandments – not even the Sabbath commandment! It could be said that these two list are the “easy” commands while the first four of the ten commandments are impossible to keep without God himself working a work of grace in the heart.

When the man responded, “I have kept these from my youth,” the Bible says that Jesus “loved him.” I know, Jesus loves everyone, but Jesus LOVED this man and, I am convinced, there is a difference in these to ideas. This was a special love for one who was working hard at pleasing God. So Jesus tested his level of commitment by saying, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come follow me.” The man went away disheartened because he had many possessions. Or rather many possessions had him.

Jesus then stated that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. Now lots of commentators, teachers and preachers have tried to take away the impossibility of what Jesus had said. Remember, the way in is to “confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord” and if he is Lord then our possessions become his and if our possessions are not his then he is not Lord. Jesus is either Lord of all or not Lord at all.

The disciples’ response of “Then who can be saved?” shows that they understood that even though they might have physically left all to follow him theirs hearts were still selfish and greedy. Praise God, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”

Jesus assured them that God knew and would reward – along with persecutions – and give eternal life.

Then Jesus went on to tell them that cross was waiting. (Mark 10:32-34) At least three times he had told them he would be taken, beaten, crucified and raised from the dead. He had been very clear on this subject. One has to question where the disciples’ heads were at when they heard these things because of the next exchange.

James and John, two of his closest men, wanted a promotion. (Mark 10:33-45) Remember that a short time before they, along with Peter, had been there on the mountain when Jesus met with Moses and Elijah. The same trio had been the only ones taken into the room when Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead. These were special men – key disciples. Now he had just told them and the others that he was going to his death – a very violent death. Instead of being dismayed and grief stricken they want assurances that they will be able to be his number one and two commanders in the coming kingdom. How could they? Had they not heard? Did they care? We may find out in heaven but we will never know for sure.

Jesus did not reject them – he challenged them with a question. “Can you drink the cup I am about to drink?” Again, what were they thinking when they replied, “We are able”? Jesus assured them that hey would and then told them not to be like the world, demanding to be served, instead to follow his example that they would have so strongly demonstrated in a few days when he washed their feet an the table.

The journey continued and at Jericho Jesus met the son of Timaeus, a blind beggar and immediately restored his sight. (Mark 10:46-52) The denseness of his disciples did not stop – and does not today – the ministry of Jesus.

A borrowed donkey.
Entering the city on a borrowed donkey characterized Jesus’ ministry. (Matthew 8:18-20) Jesus had lived his life of ministry with few, if any, personal possessions. He had nowhere to lay his head. The guards had to cast lots for the robe that had been put on him when he was crucified. He had described himself as humble. (Matthew 11:28-30) Paul reminds us that he made himself nothing. (Philippians 2:5-8) He did that for us: For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

He had an honor guard of the common people.
Jesus’ followers were mostly common. (John 7:48-49) As Paul would later write: “not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Therefore, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:26b-31)

A few were wealthy but not many. (Nicodemus – Joseph of Arimathea)

The presence of all these uneducated commoners offended the religious leaders. (Luke 19:37-40) Jesus responded to them with, “if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” We need to be careful whom we reject. We also need to be careful whom we listen to. As John wrote in his first little letter: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,” (1 John 4:1-2)

Jesus faced many difficulties on his way to the cross. The people had no way to understand. His disciples should have but just didn’t get it. They, like the crowds, were trying to divide the kingdom among themselves. Jesus faithfully moved on and ministered as he traveled. In the same way we need to keep on with our faith and minister as we have opportunity. We are to bear our own cross day-by-day. Not a burden but a cross of death to the world and life crucified with Christ.