Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!

 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples; and He said to them, "Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat.  Loose it and bring it.  And if anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The Lord has need of it,' and immediately he will send it here."  So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it.  But some of those who stood there said to them, "What are you doing, loosing the colt?"  And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded.  So they let them go.  Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it.  And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road.  Then those who went before and those who followed cried, out, saying:

"Hosanna!
'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!'
Blessed is the kingdom of our father David
That comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest!"

And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple.  So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.

- Mark 11:1-11

Yesterday, we read that as Jesus and the disciples are on the road to Jerusalem, they came to Jericho.  As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging.  And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"  Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"  So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called.  Then they called the blind man, saying to him, "Be of good cheer.  Rise, He is calling you."  And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.  So Jesus answered and said to him, "What do you want Me to do for you?"  The blind man said to Him, "Rabboni, that I may receive my sight."  Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way, your faith has made you well."  And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.

Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples; . . .   My study bible explains that "Jesus approaches Jerusalem from nearby villages directly to the east.  The Mount of Olives rises higher than Jersusalem (about 2,700 feet above sea level) and has messianic significance, for the Messiah is to appear and enter Jerusalem triumphantly from there."

. . . and He said to them, "Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat.  Loose it and bring it. "  My study bible tells us, "Jesus fully understands what He is about to do.  He deliberately prepares His entry into Jerusalem as a messianic act, thus challenging the authorities.  He also, therefore, makes a statement regarding humility in His Kingdom, for He has just commanded His disciples not to be as worldly rulers (see 10:40-45, in Thursday's reading).  He will practice what He preaches.  The donkey is a symbol of peace.  Jesus comes on a donkey's colt as a Messiah of peace, not on a chariot or war-horse as a political or military deliverer.  Using a donkey on which no one has sat is appropriate to the dignity of the messianic entry of Jesus."

And if anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The Lord has need of it,' and immediately he will send it here."   So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it.  But some of those who stood there said to them, "What are you doing, loosing the colt?"  And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded.  So they let them go.  A note here tells us, "There are many in Israel who love and follow Christ.  It is not presumptuous of Jesus to request this colt, for the owner will be told, The Lord needs it -- granting him the privilege of giving to God."

Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it.  And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road.  Then those who went before and those who followed cried, out, saying:  "Hosanna!  'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!'  Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that comes in the name of the Lord!  Hosanna in the highest!"  And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple.  So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.  My study bible says:  "An excited crowd acclaims Jesus as messianic King, a dangerous act before the Jewish and Roman authorities.  Hosanna (lit. 'save now, ' quoted from Psalm 118:25) was sung at the Passover as a greeting or blessing with messianic significance." Jesus' first act is to go to the temple, and "look around at all things."  This is another symbolic key to His identity at Jerusalem.

It's interesting to consider forms of travel as symbolic of Jesus and of His ministry.  Here, the donkey's colt is a symbol of peace.  As my study bible notes, the donkey's colt is both messianic (in the sense that it is an animal that has never been sat on by anyone else), and at the same time a symbol of peace as it is not an animal for war and conquest.  Jesus does not come into Jerusalem as a warrior king, as a conquering military hero.  He comes into Jerusalem, welcomed by crowds who know who He is already, onto this common animal used by human beings for their daily lives, and not in a chariot with cavalry.  The people in Jerusalem are fully aware of the might of empire, and specifically the tremendous Roman Empire, at the height of its power, with its still-today acclaimed military and tremendous might and discipline and organization.  No, Jesus is not the conquering king who is going to overthrow such an empire and such a military organization.  He is the Prince of Peace, with a much deeper and bigger battle to fight, that not only touches people's hearts, but exists in the place where spiritual battle is fought and won, in the hearts and minds of human beings.  And for such a battle, an entirely different prescription must be followed.  My study bible has already pointed out what we read in Thursday's reading, in which Jesus spoke of sacrifice, and His words regarding the leadership in His Church, that those who would be great among them must not "lord it over" others, but be servants of all.  A spiritual battle isn't really won by force and coercion, but rather by those who can receive the love of God.  And that takes humility and service, and a passion for truth, rather than manipulative power and faith in the purely material.  If we look at the transportation means Jesus has used throughout His ministry, we find one startling thing.  Throughout His travels, and the travels of the apostles when they were sent out, we see one means of transportation mentioned in the Gospels, and that is walking.  Human feet upon the ground, walking with only the essentials (and on two occasions feeding crowds of thousands with the very little that was on hand), Jesus travels not just "light" but also in the most humble way possible.  He walks.  And if we're looking at transportation as symbolic of rank and style and power, then Jesus presents us with the most humble picture that is possible, in His society and frankly, in ours as well.  He not only presents the picture of humility, but if you think about what it is to walk, then you understand that He's in a place to really see and to know people.  Walking, one gets a sense, really closely, of one's surroundings.  You can look at people, and neighborhoods, and details.  You can speak to people along the way, and stop in at various places.  And our Lord is on a mission not for military might and conquest of nations, but on a quest for human beings who can respond to His love with their love.  And that's the heart of His ministry.  If they're going to be impressed with trappings, well, that's not really touching the heart, is it?  On the other hand, this man who walks everywhere, until His entry into Jerusalem, has a chance to truly touch (as He does in so many healings, literally) the hearts and minds of human beings not because they're impressed by might and power, but because they put their trust in Him.  The lack of all the trappings of power is Jesus' best assurance that those who truly want what He has to offer:  the power in Him, the Kingdom with Him, and that also will dwell within them, through faith -- will be His through trust in Him, His Person.  Not an empire of power and might in a material sense.  So, as we really get down to it, here in Jerusalem -- to the time of His confrontation with the religious establishment and those who rule -- Jesus makes very clear His mission.  And just like the people of Jerusalem -- which, by the way, means "dwelling of peace" -- we are offered this choice.  Who and what do we really love?  What do we put our trust in?  The question will always be with us.  It may come in new forms all the time.  But love calls us to see past outward show and into the heart of a person -- especially this Person, Jesus.  What are we going to put our faith in?  What -- and Who -- do you really trust?