Mark 11:1-11
Find a way to separate yourself from whatever’s going on around you so you can fully enter into today’s passage. if you haven’t read the introduction to Mark’s Gospel, read it here.
Read the words of the prophet Zechariah below, and then read Mark 11:1-11.
“Rejoice, O people of Zion
Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem!
Look, your king is coming to you.
He is righteous and victorious,
yet he is humble, riding on a donkey—
riding on a donkey’s colt.” – Zechariah 9:9, NLT
For thousands of years the nation of Israel had waited for God’s promised rescuer who would restore God’s kingdom on earth. The Old Testament prophets had spoken often of this rescuer, the Messiah, who would free Israel from oppression. But prior to the birth of Jesus, God had not spoken to the nation of Israel through the prophets for 400 years. For the generations of Israelites that experienced the 400-year absence of God’s messages, the promise must have become a dusty story that no one thought would actually happen during their lifetime.
But here was Jesus, working miracles and teaching with words that sounded like God’s. When it became obvious that he was fulfilling the predictions of the prophets, it’s no wonder that some people got excited while others felt threatened and skeptical.
Now the excited ones line the road and throw down palm branches – symbols of victory and triumph – to welcome the one they believe will rescue them from oppression and become their king.
Read Mark 11:1-11 again imagining the sights and sounds of the crowd.
Throughout Mark’s Gospel so far, we’ve seen that people’s expectations of Jesus often didn’t match Jesus’ intentions. Do you think it is a human tendency to see what we long to see rather than see the truth of a situation?
Jesus is the king, the rescuer and the Messiah, but he is very clear that his kingdom is not of this world and that his followers must lay down their lives and their expectations in order to find the true life available in him.
How does the thought of surrendering your life and expectations to Jesus make you feel?
If you struggle with this thought, it might be helpful to reflect on Jesus’ goodness and identity for a while. Just finish the sentence, “Jesus, you are…” over and over.
If Jesus is truly the Messiah and rescuer, and following him leads to a life filled with meaning and purpose, what do you need to do or adjust in order to trust him fully and follow him with abandon?
End your time today by talking this over with Jesus for a while. Then write down any action you feel led to take.
Are you finding these meditations to be helpful? If so, please forward them to a couple of friends. Interested in going deeper? Check out The Everyday Jesus Follower’s Guide and blog.
