And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple

 

 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 Jesus and the disciples came to Jericho, 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 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.  As Jesus approaches Jerusalem, He instructs the two disciples to prepare for what is understood as Christ's Triumphal Entry into the holy city.  The colt is a young donkey, never before ridden (on which no one has sat).  It is an animal symbolic of peace and humility, and contrasted with a conquering king who would enter with full military and chariots drawn by horses.  As the text shows, Jesus clearly picks this animal for a specific purpose.

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.  Christ's followers welcome Him to Jerusalem.  My study Bible tells us that the people who spread their clothes before Jesus do so as paying reverence to a King.  This is spiritually interpreted as our need to lay down our flesh, even our lives, for Christ.  The leafy branches are related to the Feast of Tabernacles (also known as the Feast of the Coming Kingdom; see the following verses and comment).

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 cry of the people comes from Psalm 118:25-26, which was associated with messianic expectation and the coming of the Kingdom.  It was recited daily for six days during the Feast of Tabernacles -- and seven times on the seventh day as branches were waved.  Hosanna means, "Save, we pray!"

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 shows a messianic intent -- He goes directly into the temple as He enters the city, and looked around at all things.

The events in today's reading are called Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.  Jerusalem is the holy city, the place of the great temple, and that is His first destination as He enters.  He clearly enters as Messiah and is welcomes as Messiah.  We celebrate this day in the Church as Palm Sunday, named for the branches that are waved and spread before Him as He enters.  There are many ways in which the Church thinks of this day and this event.  Christ comes into Jerusalem as the Bridegroom claiming His Bride, the holy city, the temple, and His people.  It is considered to be an event that mirrors the eventual union with the New Jerusalem, a cosmic event reflecting the risen Christ as Lord Almighty, an eternal "future" toward which we all look.  (See 1 Corinthians 15:20-28.)  We mustn't forget that the true mystical realities of Christ are always with us; they exist outside of time as we understand it.  Jesus' Triumphal Entry may mirror the fullness of a cosmic Kingdom, one that is not simply worldly or earthly, as my study Bible might put it.  We know the events that are coming in this final week of Christ's earthly life, and they will open us to the power of the Cross and Resurrection.  They will give us the fullness of God's love for us in Christ's willingness to suffer and die so that we are liberated through His life as Jesus.  Let us keep in mind that as Jesus draws into the city, riding on the donkey's colt, He knows full well what is going to happen, what He is coming into.  He has already warned the disciples three times of the Passion to come, and He comes willingly into the city and into the temple.  I wonder if we can understand the courage this takes, and draw upon the strength of Christ facing what He knows He must do, and on His faith and love and trust of the Father.  For it is here that we find ourselves at times:  knowing there are things we're called upon to do, sacrifices we might need to make in life, and drawing upon the strength of the faith Christ has given to us.  There are times we know we will be rejected or suffer for doing what must be done for a bigger picture:  dealing with the death of a loved one, or nursing an ill person, taking on responsibility for someone who can no longer be responsible for themselves, or helping one less fortunate because they are unable to help themselves.  There are times when it is our faith that becomes our strength, gives us capability for sacrifice, for enduring suffering even for others, and it is Christ upon whom we draw for our image of strength and faith, and our faith in the Resurrection to follow.  Those who lack such faith are lacking indeed in the fullness of what life can be for human beings, for Christ has shown us what we are capable of, the strength and greatness met in humility before the Cross and service to God who is love.  Let us remember this picture when we go through or own times of the Cross, even the moments of temporary celebration when we know something difficult is in front of us.  For it is here where we meet our Lord, our Messiah, and He goes into Jerusalem for us.  For we are His true Bride, His Church.  And He claims us and loves us even when no one else does (Psalm 27).