Jesus did not turn right, this time He turned left!

Mark 11 verses 1-11 – Passover is just a few days away. Jesus is being received by many, while others felt challenged, upset and angry, on what has been called ‘Palm Sunday’. More than a million Jews would visit Jerusalem for Passover. Would Jesus come to the party? Many asked that, many wondered. John 11 verses 55 to 57.

Some would have seen Jesus on their way to town. They all had to climb the hills and cross the peaks and enter the city.

Jesus has come up from Jericho. Go find the colt. I need that colt.

What does Jesus need from us today?

Jesus was immediately able to control this untrained and untamed donkey.

It takes years to train a police horse.

For many it was emotion and song; Jesus saw it as a day of tragedy. The people had been waiting a thousand years for this day, ever since King David reigned in Jerusalem. After David and Solomon there was a civil war, and the nation was never united again. Then Israel was invaded and brought to Babylon for 70 years.

Some returned, but soon other invaders arrived: the Syrians, Alexander the Great and the Greeks, and finally the Romans.

Philip ruled in the north from Caesarea Philippi; Galilee belonged to Herod, Herod’s grandson who killed the children in Bethlehem; the Samaritans had the center; Pontius Pilate ruled in Jerusalem. The people went back to looking for another man like King David. This was his expectation for a thousand years.

There were fanatics, there were conspiracies. Nationalism was a hope in many hearts.

They were fed up with being ruled by others. Isn’t this weirdly relevant?

They had tried to make him King some years before, but Jesus said ‘NO’. John 6.

This king could be a wonderful teacher and a loving friend to many. He loves common people, he is able to put hypocritical religious leaders in their place, he likes children, he can feed the hungry and heal the sick.

Here it comes. That’s all. There is a tide of national sentiment. This was to be the end of foreign domination and the end of a divided country.

They shouted “Hosanna”, which means “Save us now”, it is an expression of impatience. Jesus, now is the time to deal with all of this, these Romans.

They quoted Psalm 118, which deals with the defeat of the Egyptians. This was a militaristic sentence. They took Palm Branches. They did this with clothing, for a man named Jehu, who came to deliver Israel from the rule of weak Ahab and his wicked wife Jezebel. II Kings 9 vers 13.

They took palm branches in the days of the Maccabees.

And, on ‘Palm Sunday’, they took palm branches or palm leaves.

People thought it was going to be a great military victory, as Jesus was riding down the Mount of Olives on a donkey! You can walk the same path today.

Can you imagine the feelings among the disciples on this occasion?

Jesus does not rejoice. Jesus is sobbing – Luke 19 verse 41. Jesus loved this city and this town. Jesus knew that this kind of nationalism would end in total disaster. Jesus could see the temple and the invaded city. All of this happened 40 years later, when more than a million people died in that Roman invasion.

The people had not noticed the animal, their eyes were on Jesus, and they did not notice the meaning of the colt, the donkey, the donkey. This was culturally appropriate at the time: a king would enter a city publicly and be cheered by cheering crowds. But Jesus deviated from part of the script: Jesus did not ride on a strong and powerful horse, but on a POLO, a donkey or a donkey.

Jesus was indeed King, but Jesus would not fit into the kingdom categories of the world. Jesus unites majesty and meekness.

Jesus comes with infinite majesty – and complete total humility – and perfect justice.

This is our King, and he goes to battle, spiritual warfare, to Jerusalem, on a donkey. Jesus comes as the Prince of Peace, not as a military leader.

Zechariah chapter 9 explains: Riding a donkey is not a symbol of humility but of real power, fulfilling prophecy, submitting to the Scriptures, but the people did not know the Scriptures.

When General Allenby liberated Jerusalem on December 11, 1917, he dismounted from his horse. He entered the city through the Jaffa Gate, on foot.

Jesus came in peace – Jesus came for peaceful purposes, but the people didn’t realize it. Many were disappointed in Jesus, and with Jesus, that day.

Jesus entered Jerusalem through the Golden Gate and turned left, not right, where the Roman fortress of Antonia was, the headquarters of the Roman garrison.

Jesus enters the Temple area. There were crowds of people, buying and selling animals, exchanging money at an exorbitant rate. Some 250,000 lambs were bought, sold and slaughtered during this Easter season.

Think of the noise, the tumult, and this was supposed to be the place for quiet reflection, meditation, worship, and prayer. This was deeply disturbing.

Jesus’ reaction was to start tearing down the furniture.

“What’s going on? Why are you doing this?” Jesus quotes from Isaiah 56 verse 7: “My house will be called a House of Prayer for all nations.”

These courts were meant for the Gentiles, for us, and had been turned into trading floors.

It was popularly believed that when the Messiah arrived, the Messiah would cleanse the Temple of foreigners. Instead, Jesus is clearing the courtyard of the Gentiles, the place of worship for the Gentiles, for the foreigners, for us.

Within the week we were to have direct access to God, although that did not happen for a few weeks, not until Peter went up to meet the Roman centurion Cornelius in Caesarea, but the curtain was torn in two (15 verse 38). The dividing wall was about to be demolished. Ephesians 2 verse 14. God did it.

The curtain was not only ruined, it became obsolete, and we now have access to God through Jesus Christ. Our loving and caring God did.

The crowd was so disappointed in Jesus that within days they shouted “Crucify him.” Either you crown it or you kill it.

Jesus wanted to gather the people together like a hen gathering chicks under its wings, but they did not want to come – Luke 13 verse 34 ff.

Oh Jerusalem, if only you had known what would bring you peace!

Oh Europe, if you knew him, who could bring you peace.

Oh Islam, if you knew him, who could bring you peace.

Oh Scotland, if you only knew him, who could bring you peace in this turbulent time.

Jesus wants to come in and fix what’s wrong,

I want to deal with your sin and your sins and throw away what shouldn’t be in this temple.

Meekness and majesty – virility and deity –

In perfect harmony – the man who is God –

The pure radiance of the father – perfect in innocence –

Yet learn obedience – even death on a cross –

Suffering to give us life – conquering through sacrifice –

And while they crucify, pray: “Father, forgive.”

Oh, what mystery, meekness, and majesty!

Bow down and worship, because this is your God!