Mark 11
Ecclesiastes 7
Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
“Hosanna!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
Mark 11:9-10
It’s hard to imagine, as these words here in Mark 11:9-10 were declared for all to hear, that Jesus would be dead within a week. It’s not how we would continue the story.
Here was Jesus entering Jerusalem, according to prophecy and riding on a colt. Unassuming and yet being praised as God’s forever king, the one who is the fulfilment of the Davidic promise.‘”I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son…Your house and your kingdom shall endure for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever.”’ (2 Samuel 7:12ff). The people were recognising Jesus as this promised king and yet He was about to die. What a tragedy! Tragedy that those who praised Him mostly abandoned Him, some certainly betrayed Him, and others, well, we know the hearts of men. But despite this tragedy Jesus was in control and purposeful about His journey. He was resolutely going to the cross. Coming as the King and going to the cross for the very purpose of dealing with the tragedy of humanity. The tragedy of a creation who reject their creator; of people who are fickle in faith and sinners at heart. Yet the glorious King, come in humility, will die for us.
Think about that for a moment! Kings usually demand of us a sacrifice to be accepted. But this King sacrificed Himself so that we could be accepted, #enoughsaid.
Prayer: Lord may we never lose sight of the glory of the cross and the faithfulness of Your Son Jesus. Help us, by your Spirit, to live lives worthy of Him.