Triumphal Entrance in Jerusalem
At the end of his journey, quite naturally, the destination of Jesus was the Temple in Jerusalem – Mark 11:1-11.
The events in the section of Mark conflict stories; disputes between Jesus and the religious authorities in and around the Temple. There are five such stories, and in them, the prominent theme is the rejection of Jesus by the Temple authorities.
‘Triumphal Entry’ is a misnomer. Only on the surface does it appear to be a victorious moment when he arrives at the city. In the end, Jerusalem failed to accept her true Messiah, the “Son of David” and King of Israel. The crowds had not gathered to welcome Jesus, but instead, to celebrate the feast of Passover.
HIS TRANSPORT. The town of Bethany lay about three kilometers from the city, and Bethphage about one kilometer. The Mount of Olives was approximately 780 meters above sea level and 90 meters higher than the city itself.
- (Mark 11:1-6) - “And when they are drawing near Jerusalem, toward Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives, he sends forth two of his disciples, and says to them: Go your way into the village that is over against you, and straightway, as you are entering it, you will find a colt tied on which no man yet has sat. Loose him and bring him. And if anyone should say, Why are you doing this? Say, The Lord of him has need. And straightway, he sends him off again here. And they departed and found a colt tied to a door outside, on the street, and they loosed him. And certain of them that were there standing were saying to them, What are ye doing, loosing the colt? And they said to them, as Jesus said, and they let them go.” - (Parallel passages - Matthew 21:1-11, Luke 19:29-38, John 12:12-15).
From the Mount of Olives, one could overlook much of the city, including the Temple complex. Jesus passed by Bethany and Bethphage on his way to reach it, where he commanded his disciples to fetch the colt.
The Greek term rendered “colt” means a young animal, whether a horse, donkey, or a camel. Throughout his ministry, Jesus walked. This is the first recorded instance of him riding any beast of burden - (Genesis 32:15, 49:11, Judges 4:10).
At times of pilgrimage, the common practice was to enter Jerusalem on foot. Thus, his decision to ride on a donkey into the city symbolized something about his messianic status. In that society, a donkey or a horse was the appropriate beast for a king to ride.
Images from several Old Testament passages are at play. Jesus specified a colt that no man had ever ridden, an allusion to the requirement for sacred animals not to be employed for ordinary use. Commandeering a beast for official use was the prerogative of a king, implying his regal status - (Numbers 19:2, Deuteronomy 21:3, 1 Samuel 6:7).
His Entrance. The spreading of robes and branches was the kind of welcome offered to an approaching king. This act suggests the beast on which he rode was an impromptu throne for the Messiah. Pressing it into service for Jesus stresses his royal status as the king of Israel - (2 Kings 9:13).
- (Mark 11:7-11) - “And they bring the colt to Jesus, and throw upon it their mantles, and he took his seat upon it. And many spread out their mantles along the way, and others young branches, cutting them out of the fields. And they who were going before, and they who were following after, were crying aloud, Hosanna! Blessed is he that is coming in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest! And he entered Jerusalem, into the temple, and looking round on all things, late already being the hour, he departed to Bethany with the twelve.”
The account includes language from the books of Zechariah and Genesis, passages that had acquired messianic overtones within first-century Judaism:
- (Zechariah 9:9) - “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, humble, and MOUNTED ON AN ASS, EVEN ON A COLT, THE FOAL OF AN ASS.”
- (Genesis 49:10-11) - “The scepter will not depart from Judah or the commander’s staff from between his feet, until he comes in as Shiloh, and his be the obedience of the peoples. He ties HIS FOAL to the vine, and his DONKEY'S COLT to the choice vine.”
“Hosanna” transliterates an Aramaic word that means “Save now,” which is derived from Psalm 118:25-26:
- “Save us, we beseech thee, O Yahweh! O Yahweh, we beseech thee give, us success! Blessed be he who enters in the name of Yahweh!”
Jesus may have entered the city at the same time Jewish pilgrims were celebrating the Passover. That the crowd did not continue with him to the Temple to there proclaim him “king” supports the conclusion that they were not shouting “Hosanna” to Jesus, at least not intentionally. Nothing is said about the crowd celebrating after his arrival at the Temple.
Despite the day’s enthusiasm, nothing significant occurred after Jesus entered the Temple. The crowd dispersed, or at least, disappeared from the scene in the account recorded in Mark.
The description of his brief visit and inspection of the Temple is enigmatic. Was this the act of a devout Jewish pilgrim, or perhaps, a kind of quick inspection tour? Or was it a quick reconnaissance of the Temple? Apparently so, for after returning the next day, Jesus took decisive action based on what he had observed.
The specific destination of Jesus at the end of his journey - “On the way” - Was not Jerusalem itself, but the Temple. The events and controversies in the coming days and hours all center on it and its rituals.
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