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

 Now when they drew near to 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

On Saturday we read that Jesus and the disciples came to Jericho, as they were on the road toward Jerusalem.  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 to 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.  Jesus arrives in Jerusalem as was prophesied of the Messiah, coming from the East, the Mount of Olives.  This is known as Jesus' Triumphal Entry, which the Church celebrates on Palm Sunday.  And although the people expect a triumphant king who will restore the fortunes of Israel at this time of political turmoil and furious nationalism, Jesus comes into Jerusalem on a colt; that is, a young donkey.  This is a humble domestic animal, not the cavalry of imperial military power.  It fulfills the prophecy of Zechariah:  "Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey" (Zechariah 9:9).  It is a sign of humility and peace.  My study bible says that this entrance into the Holy City declares the establishment of the Kingdom of God.  Tradition tells us it is a promise of Christ's final entrance into the heavenly Jerusalem with all believers -- and of His accepting the New Jerusalem as His pure bride (Revelation 21:2). 

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!"  The people spread their clothes on the road before Jesus in paying homage to a King.  This is spiritually interpreted to say that we must lay down our flesh, even our lives, for Christ.  The people shout particular verses from Psalm 118.  These were associated with messianic expectation -- they were recited daily for six days during the Feast of Tabernacles (that is the Feast of the Coming Kingdom), and seven times on the seventh day as branches were waved.  Hosanna means, "Save, we pray!"  (see Psalm 118:25-26). 

 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.  Jesus' first act is to go directly into the temple.  This is appropriate as Messiah.

It's interesting to note that Mark tells us Jesus went directly into the temple.  Like a king inspecting the kingdom he's just conquered or inherited, we may think, He looked around at all things.  The following day will come the cleansing of the temple, and a curse on a fruitless fig tree on the way -- with a teaching on prayer and faith to the disciples.  These immediate acts, the curse on the fruitless fig tree and the cleansing of the temple, make negative suggestions to us.  They are uncharacteristic of the overall "positive" nature of Jesus' ministry.  But perhaps we may assume that in looking around at all things inside the temple, Jesus is unhappy with what He's found in this kingdom and among His people -- especially those who are to care for His people, their spiritual leaders.  He will let them know what has displeased Him here in this place of His house.  But of that we will learn further in tomorrow's reading.  Everything in His ministry has led up to this point, this entry into the temple in Jerusalem in triumph as a king.  We know what will happen from here.   It is the beginning of Passion Week,  and only a few days until another crowd shouts to crucify Him.  The Cross will be an entry into His true Kingdom, an opening for all the rest of us who wish to truly follow Him.  For today we take note that Christ comes willingly to Jerusalem, and enters immediately into the temple.  He is not afraid; He does what He has to do.  Three times He has already warned the disciples what is to come.  But everything He does is for the faithful -- those who are with Him and all those who will follow.  His descent into Jerusalem on the young donkey, even His humiliation and suffering:  it's all for us, so that we understand this story and know what kind of King He is -- and how much He loves us.