This sermon was preached at Red Rocks Baptist Church (14711 W. Morrison Rd. Morrison, CO 80465) on Nov. 11, 2012 by Pastor Les Heinze. These notes are provided as a recap and for further study into the message from God’s Word.
Please feel free to listen/download the entire audio sermon on mp3 here.
THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY
Mark 11:1-11
Jerusalem at Passover season was the delight of the Jews, but the despair of the Romans. With over three times the normal population present for several days, there was always the potential for a revolt against Rome or a riot by religious factions. Although he had missed the last three, Jesus was present at this feast because it was time for him to be presented as the King of the Jews.
We can see at least two ideas in this text that help us understand how Jesus expressed both his deity and humanity at the same time.
We can observe that Jesus was in control
The detail recorded for us does more than add color or intrigue to the account. It is there to allow us an additional glimpse into the King demonstrating one of his divine attributes: his omniscience. Jesus told two of his disciples exactly where to find the donkey and colt. A skeptic could argue he had advance knowledge by sending someone ahead to report back to him before he gave the instructions, but there is no hint of that in the Bible.
When the animals were found where Christ said they would be, the conversation the disciples had with the donkey’s owner, however, indicate the events happened exactly as Jesus described it (Luke 19:30-34). A mere man could not have foreseen that.
We can observe that Jesus was in need
This also brings the human and divine aspects of Jesus’ earth-bound years together. Although he was fulfilling prophecy by using the colt (Zechariah 9:9), he genuinely needed the assistance. He had traveled from Jericho, an eight hour walk. Along the way he had stopped to minister to blind Bartimaeus, and possibly others. He was weary as he arrived to the outskirts of a vastly overfilled Jerusalem, as anyone would have been. When Christ rode into the city itself, it was the kingly ride of a true, but tired servant.
The name he instructs his messengers to use when speaking with the colt’s owners is almost ironic. It is actually a title , Lord (Greek kurios), meaning master or owner. As God, the cattle on a thousand hills are already his, so he is asking permission to use something that already belongs to him! Yet, think about it. Why did Jesus need anything? He needed the colt because he didn’t have one of his own, another indication of God in a human body as the only true God-Man.
But God still has needs. He needs you. He has chosen to accomplish his purposes now through people who will place themselves at his disposal. Matthew 16:18 reminds us that it was Peter Jesus was addressing when he promised to build his church. He needed a man like Peter, and many more who devote themselves to Christ like Peter did, for the ongoing building process.
What are you doing to further that endeavor? God always returns what he uses with added value and future reward. When Jesus left Jerusalem, he returned to Bethany, going through Bethphage, where he had borrowed the colt. The account doesn’t tell us specifically he returned the young animal, but it is safe to assume that he did. What God uses, he gives back.
