Mark 11:1-11, CEB - When Jesus and his followers approached Jerusalem, they came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives. Jesus gave two disciples a task, saying to them, “Go into the village over there. As soon as you enter it, you will find tied up there a colt that no one has ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘Its master needs it, and he will send it back right away.’”
They went and found a colt tied to a gate outside on the
street, and they untied it. Some people
standing around said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” They told them just what Jesus said, and they
left them alone. They brought the colt
to Jesus and threw their clothes upon it, and he sat on it. Many people spread out their clothes on the
road while others spread branches cut from the fields. Those in front of him and those following were
shouting, “Hosanna! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessings on the coming kingdom of our
ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest!” Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the
temple. After he looked around at everything, because it was already late in
the evening, he returned to Bethany with the Twelve.
Jesus
and His disciples arrive in the Jerusalem area and they stop at Bethphage/Bethany
on the Mount of Olives. Jesus arranges
for his disciples to procure a donkey for the entrance into Jerusalem
proper. Entering the city on a donkey both
fulfills messianic prophecy and dramatically reinterprets it at the same
time. Yes, Jesus is the long-awaited
savior, but the salvation He brings is vastly different from all
expectations. There is much less pomp
and circumstance in Mark than in the reports of the other three canonical gospels. There is no mention that the branches laid
before Jesus are palms. Religious
leaders whom Jesus will clash with are not mentioned as they are in other
accounts. People are indeed shouting their
acclamations about Jesus, but there is no sense that anyone beyond this
relatively small crowd has noticed. When
they arrive at the Temple, there is not much going on and it was late in the
day. So Jesus retires for the night back
to Bethany. As we will see, the real
drama in Mark doesn’t begin until the next day.
For now, Jesus’s disciples have had an encouraging, if not misleading
day.
In Mark, “Palm Sunday” is the calm
before the storm. Tomorrow, Jesus will harshly
confront the money-changers in the Temple,
prompting authorities to begin plotting against Him. This will set in motion the chain of events
that have Jesus hanging on a cross before week’s end. But for now, on this day, the mood among the
disciples is celebratory. Jesus is the
Messiah who has arrived as prophets foretold that He would. Jesus’s authority is established and
recognized in a surprising way in the procurement of the donkey. Jesus has repeatedly warned them about the
trouble that is coming, but that trouble is not here yet. It is a day to just be and enjoy being a
follower of Jesus. It is a gift.
I have come to appreciate such days
over the years. There have been many
times in the past when I knew trouble was coming, but before it arrived, there
were times gracious celebration and gratitude.
They served as a confirmation that God was with me and they helped me be
a bit more prepared before the turmoil arrived.
I have to admit that, in the moment, I often missed the blessing. I was often too stressed to realize until
later that the moment was a gift until much later. But after this happening dozens of times over
the course of my life, I have learned to recognize these serendipitous moments
more frequently. When I have been able
to do that, the gift more fully served the intended purpose – to allow me to
regain composure and prepare for what is next.
My encouragement today is to look
for and welcome provided respites and celebrations when they come. Especially in seasons of stress and difficulty,
it is important to keep breathing and find ways to maintain composure. God is
faithful to provide what we need when we need it, but the process works better
when we learn to recognize the provision for what it is. Celebrate the acclamations that come even when
they are short-lived and/or few-and-far-between. Welcome a day of nothing in a season full of
stormy weather. Trouble may indeed be
coming, but God will get you ready if you allow it.
Question: What do you
normally do when you encounter a “calm” before a storm you know is on its way?
Prayer: O God, you
are an ever-present help in times of trouble.
Help us recognize the ways in which You seek to sustain us and prepare
us for all that is to come. We need Your
provision; we count on Your faithfulness and grace. We trust You; help us trust You even more.
Amen.
Prayer Focus: Pray
for people who are fighting chronic illness and pain.
Song: Needtobreathe
(ft. JohnnySwim) – Forever on Your Side
No comments:
Post a Comment