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“DON’T LET THE PARADE PASS BY”
MARK 11:1-11
FEBRUARY 5, 2017
1. [SERIES] Begin with illustration of parades. Who doesn’t love a parade? When the
sounds, sights, and season are right, the parade has arrived!
a. Talk about Rose Bowl, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Memorial Day in my dad’s
home town, and the Christmas Parade here in Waterford.
b. This morning, we are going to look at one of the most famous parades in all of
Scripture…
2. [SERMON] I am referring to Jesus’ “Triumphal Entry” into Jerusalem on what we
now call “Palm Sunday” – the beginning of the Jewish Passover - just days before His
trial and crucifixion.
3. [SCROLLS] This is the “Third Act” in Mark…
a. Mark 1:1 – 10:52 (3-4 years) deal with the question of Jesus’ identity, and the
revelation to His followers that He is the Messiah.
b. Mark 11:1 – 16:8 (1 week) deal with how Jesus becomes the Messiah: through
His death on a cross and resurrection.
4. Even though this is an important event, which is recorded in all four Gospels –
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John – from Mark’s perspective, the parade that
accompanied Jesus into the city was anything but triumphal…
a. It is a story of unmet expectations, anti-climactic, and yet another example of
how people failed (both then and now) to accept Jesus as king because they
did not understand who He was, and what He had come to do.
b. You see, despite the sights, the sounds, and the season they were in – when it
came to receiving Jesus as King – the people He died to save let the parade
pass them by.
5. [MARK 11:1-11] Total = 3 slides. Go to [SERMON] during prayer.
6. Rather than break this down into several points, what I want to do is go back
through this passage and look at each element of this “parade” and show you why
the people got so excited…
a. And how their excitement and expectations obscured the importance and
meaning of Jesus’ mission.
7. This is an important lesson for us here today, because as we follow Jesus, and share
His message in word and deed, we can find ourselves like the people in the parade: so
caught up in the spectacle and moment that we fail to see how God is truly working.
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a. And when the disappointment sets in because the Lord did not meet our
expectations, we can leave Jesus – like all but His most faithful followers –
alone at the foot of the Temple.
8. Transition. As with any parade, location is very important… Where else would the
Rose Bowl Parade begin other than in Pasadena, or where would the Waterford
Christmas Parade go other than down Bentley? In the same way, the mention of
Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives are significant…
9. [V 1] Jerusalem. From the time of Israel’s greatest king, David, the city of Jerusalem
was identified as the seat of religious and political power for the Jewish people.
a. Their place of worship, The Second (Herod’s) Temple was here. Built on the
site of King Solomon’s Temple (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient
World), this was not just the centerpiece of religious life in Israel, it was the
place in the city where the very glory of God once resided… and where it
would reside again when Messiah – God’s chosen Savior - came.
10. The Mount of Olives. Jesus’ journey starts here, due east of Jerusalem; the summit
is about 100 feet higher than the city; from it, you can see the Dead Sea
a. King David fled his son, Absalom, across the crest of the mountain “where
God was worshiped” (2 Sam. 15:30-32).
b. Ezekiel saw the glory of God depart from the temple (Ezek. 11:23).
c. History tells us that many rabbis taught that the Mount of Olives would be the
direction that the Messiah would come from.
11. As Jesus entered Jerusalem – city of David, Holy city of God – from the direction
people had been taught to look for Messiah (cf. Zech. 14) on Passover – the
celebration of Jewish deliverance – the crowd would have been filled with excitement
and expectation.
a. The Gospel of John tells us the crowd intensified as Jesus approached after
they heard that He had raised a man from the dead (John 12:18-19); and just
outside the city, Jesus healed Blind Bartimaeus, the man who identified Him as
“Son of David.”
b. Briefly mention that Pontius Pilate was likely entering the city at roughly the same time from
the other direction… like two boxers entering a ring from opposing sides.
12. From the crowd’s perspective, the parade was coming to the right town, at the right
time, from the right direction…
a. The miracles always drew the crowds, and excited them to the point of riot –
Jesus has fled from, and warned about this from the very beginning.
b. His followers, however, knew better… Jesus told them on 3 different
occasions that His fight wasn’t against political powers; He came to confront
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the religious authorities, and to restore a broken sacrificial system by giving
His life as a ransom for many.
13. Transition. Every parade is different, yet every parade is the same – they all have floats,
fire engines, and horses, hay wagons, etc. You can’t have a parade without
transportation! The same is true of Jesus’ Triumphal Entry…
14. [VV 2-7] Slides = 2. In the ancient world, they might not have had flower covered
floats, or antique cars, but parades back then did have horses, chariots, and wagons
to show off the spoils of war.
a. Jesus’ choice of a colt held a lot of significance – some the people understood,
some they didn’t…
15. The Colt. All four Gospels emphasize that this is a fulfillment of a prophecy
regarding how Messiah would enter Jerusalem…
a. Zechariah 9:9 (ESV)
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
16. I know that a little donkey might seem weird, but the significance was meaningful.
a. Priests road donkeys as a sign of humility; a colt would have been even more
so because it was a young animal that had never been ridden, making it suitable
for sacred purposes.
b. Similarly, when a king entered a city his choice sent a message: a donkey meant
that he was coming in peace; a chariot or war horse meant either victory or
trouble!
17. The people in the parade saw a king riding into town, hopefully to vanquish the
enemies of his people…
a. but they apparently didn’t notice the real message amid all the excitement and
expectation – one that the rabbis of Jesus’ taught concerning the spiritual
condition of the people when Messiah arrived.
b. “A biblical verse concerning the coming of the Messiah – ‘the Lord will hasten it [i.e., before
its proper time] in its time’ (Isa. 60:22) appears to contain a contradiction: The Talmud
explains: ‘If they [the Jews] are deserving, I will hasten it; if not, [the Messiah will come] at
the due time.’ The Rabbis add that if Israel is worthy, the Messiah will come ‘with the clouds
of heaven [swiftly]’ (Dan. 7:13); if not, he will come as a humble man ‘riding on a donkey’
(Zech. 9:7) (Sanh. 98a).”1
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Eisenberg, Ronald L. What the Rabbis Said: 250 Topics from the Talmud. Praeger, 2010. 196.
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18. The people may have wanted an earthly deliverer, but because of the condition of
their hearts, and the need for a restored relationship with the Lord, the King entered
on a lowly, humble beast of burden2.
19. Transition. Just as you know the parade is about to start when you see the drum major
coming down the street, or flashing lights on escort vehicles, certain images in this
passage signaled the coming of someone important…
20. [V 8] The practice of throwing down cloaks and waving palms before Jesus is a sign
that – again – they saw Him as some sort of white knight, instead of the High Priest
of heaven…
21. The cloaks. This is a very rare event, but it is not without precedent in the Bible…
in 2 Kings 9, the prophet, Elisha, anoints one of Israel’s generals (Jehu) to wipe out
the family of a wicked king who sinned greatly, and encouraged idolatry in the Land.
a. 2 Kings 9:11-14 (ESV)
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When Jehu came out to the servants of his master, they said to him, “Is all
well? Why did this mad fellow [Elisha] come to you?” … he said, “Thus and so
he spoke to me, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, I anoint you king over Israel.’” 13
Then in haste every man of them took his garment and put it under him on
the bare steps, and they blew the trumpet and proclaimed, “Jehu is king.”
b. Jehu was a king and an avenger for the Lord… but where the people might
have seen Jesus as one who came in the same manner to punish the wicked,
His real mission was to restore the hearts of the people to the one true God.
22. The waving branches. Typically, people would not wave these branches at
Passover; this was a Sukkoth ritual (one of three pilgrimage holidays), which is when
Jewish people are instructed to build temporary “booths” or “huts” to commemorate
God’s faithfulness and provision for His people during their 40 years in the desert.
a. After doing some extensive research, I found a very convincing explanation
for this practice at the Triumphal Entry… In 141 B.C., Jewish forces reclaimed
their Land from foreign invaders; as the rebel forces came back into Jerusalem,
the Apocryphal 1 Maccabees (explain) tells us…
b. 1 Maccabees 13:51 (NRSV)3
51
On the twenty-third day of the second month, in the one hundred seventyfirst year, the Jews entered it with praise and palm branches, and with harps
and cymbals and stringed instruments, and with hymns and songs, because a
great enemy had been crushed and removed from Israel.
Not only was this symbolic and prophetic, it was also smart as it made his entry non-threatening to the city’s Roman
occupiers!
3 Also, a possible connection to the cleansing of the Temple and establishment of Hanukkah (see 2 Maccabees 10:6-7).
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c. A good argument could be made that the people were anticipating that Jesus
had come to lead a glorious uprising, as other Jewish patriots had done; but
those closest to Him were reminded just a few days earlier that the priests and
scribes would not welcome Him as a great teacher, they would mock Him and
kill Him.
23. Transition. When the whistle blows, and the band begins to play, we know that the
parade has started. In the same way, the praises of the people signaled another hope
and expectation that Jesus was about to save them… He was, but just not in the way
they figured!
24. [VV 9-10] The words “Hosanna” and the blessing “Blessed is he who comes…” are
both from Psalm 118:25-26, a thanksgiving psalm that pilgrims would sing on their
way into Jerusalem…
a. Psalm 118:25-26 (ESV)
25
Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success! 26 Blessed is he
who comes in the name of the Lord! We bless you from the house of the
Lord.
25. These two verses make it clear what the crowds were expecting: Hosanna means
literally “save now,” He who comes was a synonym for “Messiah,” and the
reference to David’s kingdom is a clear messianic title.
a. The crowds in front and behind – NOT the people in the city (as was
customary at Passover) – were crying out for deliverance from captivity; they
were crying out their hope that the heir to David’s throne had come, and that
he would establish his kingdom immediately.
26. Finally, every parade must end; some at a giant block party (Fiesta Bowl), others at
the spot where Santa can be found (Macy’s & Waterford). Jesus’ parade is no
different; it’s what happens (or doesn’t happen) when He gets there that catches us
off guard…
27. [V 11] With all the buildup, you’d think this scene would end like something out of a
Western: with two gun fighters squaring off in the heart of town; instead, all we get is
a tumbleweed blowing down Main Street.
a. The Temple. Mark ends the account very low-key, almost lonely; but make
no mistake, it is a clear foreshadowing of the fight to come.
b. Jesus’s beef is with the Temple, and the wicked shepherds that preside over it.
The words of the prophet Malachi echo in this moment…
c. Malachi 3:1 (ESV)
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“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And
the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple…
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28. The parade has ended, and everyone has dispersed; all, that is, except His closest
friends and followers.
a. Unlike those in the crowd, His disciples know that Jesus is completely worthy
of the parade… just not for the reason the crowds and bystanders were hoping
for.
29. [RBI] Do not mistake expectations and excitement for faith.
30. As we’ve learned throughout Mark’s Gospel, the people clearly wanted to incite Jesus
into a conflict based on their earthly expectations and messianic excitement…and
many of the elements in this account added fuel to their fervor.
a. Jesus, however, is only focused on His mission to cleanse a broken and
bankrupt religious system by instituting a new covenant – a new way to
relationship with God – through the sacrifice of His body and blood!
b. Our Salvation did not happen because of a parade, or through the
encouragement of a cheering crowd; it happened on a cross of wood as the
crowds cried, “Crucify Him!” – to which, Jesus responded, “It is finished.”
31. As we prepare for communion, let me leave you with this question: Who is Jesus to
you? There are three types of people that witnessed this parade, and each one of you
is just like one of the folks that saw Jesus ride into Jerusalem…
32. [TIH #1] Are you a follower? Notice who left with Jesus when He came to the
Temple: the Twelve. His closest followers.
a. Those who had been with Him from the beginning. Those who had
wondered if He was the Messiah. The ones who struggled to understand what
He had come to do. Those who – even as they praised Him as the Coming
King – were likely hoping against hope that Jesus would not have to suffer and
die as He’d said.
33. [TIH #2] Are you a fan? A fan is one who gets caught up in the moment, but turns
away when the commotion fades, and their expectations go unment.
a. It is very likely that some these fans who shouted “Hosanna” stood silently
nearby when another crowd cried out “Crucify Him!” a few days later (cf.
Matthew 21:9; 23:37–39; 27:20–23).
b. Don’t let your excitement for what might be, or your unmet expectations
shake your faith; God knows your heart, your fears, your needs, and your
dreams… and He has promised to save you despite what you want or think
that looks like.
34. [TIH #3] Are you a foe? Without question, there were those among the religious
elite and the politically connected that wanted Jesus dead; they wanted the crowds
silenced, and the parade to end…
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a. Luke 19:39–40 (ESV)
39
And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40
He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”
35. Remember, a foe isn’t necessarily one who is hostile to Jesus; being indifferent is
enough.
a. Don’t let your doubts, daily affairs, or other distractions turn your heart away
from God’s offer of grace; don’t let the parade pass you by…
36. [BLACK] If you are a fan or a foe, today is the day to change all that… Share Gospel
and transition to Communion.
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COMMUNION
FEBRUARY 5, 2017
As we partake of the bread and the cup today, let us reflect upon the fact that – as
followers of Jesus – we are joined with Him in His mission to extend God’s offer of
grace and forgiveness to a world in need of hope.
There is no more important message for us to proclaim in word and deed; this makes us
more than just followers… His Word calls us “priests.”
1 Peter 2:4–6 (ESV)
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As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,
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you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood,
to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture:
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in
him will not be put to shame.”
Jesus is that cornerstone. We are part of something that God is doing, something He is
building as each new person comes to hear and accept His sacrifice.
As we remember the body that was broken for us, and the blood that was spilled, may
these elements inspire us to offer ourselves back to Him…
[QUOTE] “It is ourselves that we must spread under Christ’s feet, not coats or
lifeless branches or shoots of trees, matter which wastes away and delights the eye
only for a few brief hours. But we have clothed ourselves with Christ’s grace, with
the whole Christ – ‘for as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on
Christ’ – so let us spread ourselves like coats under his feet.” – Andrew of Crete
Read 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, take elements, and close in prayer.
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2/4/17
MARK 11:1-3
Act 1:
Is Jesus
The
Messiah?
Mark 1:1 – 8:26
Act 2:
The
Messiah
Revealed
Mark 8:27 – 10:52
Act 3:
Jesus
Becomes
Messiah
Mark 11:1 – 16:8
ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION
Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage
and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of
his disciples 2 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. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing
this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back
here immediately.’ ”
1
MARK 11:4-8
MARK 11:9-11
And they went away and found a colt tied at a door
outside in the street, and they untied it. 5 And some of
those standing there said to them, “What are you doing,
untying the colt?” 6 And they told them what Jesus had
said, and they let them go. 7 And they brought the colt
to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. 8
And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others
spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields.
9
ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION
4
ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION
And those who went before and those who followed
were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in
the name of the Lord! 10 Blessed is the coming kingdom
of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” 11 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.
1
2/4/17
MARK 11:1
ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION
Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage
and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives…
1
MARK 11:2-4
MARK 11:5-7
Jesus sent two of his disciples 2 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. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why
are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will
send it back here immediately.’ ” 4 And they went away
and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and
they untied it.
5
ZECHARIAH 9:9
MARK 11:8
Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and
having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a
donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
8
ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION
ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION
ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION
And some of those standing there said to them, “What
are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 And they told them
what Jesus had said, and they let them go. 7 And they
brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it,
and he sat on it.
ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION
And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others
spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields.
2
2/4/17
2 KINGS 9:12-13
1 MACCABEES 13:51
12
And he said, “Thus and so he spoke to me, saying,
‘Thus says the Lord, I anoint you king over Israel.’ ” 13
Then in haste every man of them took his garment and
put it under him on the bare steps, and they blew the
trumpet and proclaimed, “Jehu is king.”
51
MARK 11:9-10
PSALM 118:25-26
9
And those who went before and those who followed
were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in
the name of the Lord! 10 Blessed is the coming kingdom
of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”
25
MARK 11:11
MALACHI 3:1
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.
1
ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION
ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION
ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION
11
NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION
On the twenty-third day of the second month, in the
one hundred seventy-first year, the Jews entered it with
praise and palm branches, and with harps and cymbals
and stringed instruments, and with hymns and songs,
because a great enemy had been crushed and removed
from Israel.
ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION
Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us
success! 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the
Lord! We bless you from the house of the Lord.
ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION
“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the
way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will
suddenly come to his temple…
3
2/4/17
THE REALLY BIG IDEA
EXPECTATIONS
EXCITEMENT
TAKING IT HOME
≠FAITH
Who is Jesus to you? Are you…
•A follower.
TAKING IT HOME
TAKING IT HOME
Who is Jesus to you? Are you…
• A follower.
• A fan.
Who is Jesus to you? Are you…
• A follower.
• A fan.
• A foe.
“It is ourselves that we must spread under Christ’s
feet, not coats or lifeless branches or shoots of
trees, matter which wastes away and delights the
eye only for a few brief hours. But we have
clothed ourselves with Christ’s grace, with the
whole Christ – ‘for as many of you as were
baptized into Christ have put on Christ’ – so let us
spread ourselves like coats under his feet.”
~Andrew of Crete~
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