The Entry into the City

Jesus enters Jerusalem triumphantly, riding on a donkey, fulfilling the prophecy of a compassionate king. The people shout "Hosanna" as they anticipate the promised salvation. Jesus then goes to the temple and inspects it. The atmosphere shifts from a lively celebration to a quiet and empty temple. Jesus knows that judgment will fall upon Jerusalem. Sunday, we're reading one of the Palm Sunday texts and in this particular case we're in the Gospel of Mark. So Mark chapter 11 starting with verse 7 reading today through verse 14, Mark's Gospel giving us Mark's accounts of Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem. So this is Mark chapter 11 starting with verse 7 through verse 14 and this is God's Word. When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 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. Jesus then entered Jerusalem and went to the temple and he looked around at everything but since it was already late he went out to Bethany with the twelve. The next day as they were leaving Bethany Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruits. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, May no one ever eat fruit from you again. And his disciples heard him say it. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Please be seated. Today the entry of the Christ into the city, we study this text from Mark and Jesus' entry into Jerusalem and the events around the beginning of Holy Week. And so today we'll look at this text. We see verses 7 through 10. We read of the streets of the crowded city. But then verse 11, it's the quiet of the empty temple. And then verses 12 through 14, the curse upon the fig tree. The day and the time having arrived, we now read of the entrance of the king. We now read of Jesus' ride into the city of David. Notice again verses 7 through 9, when they brought the colt to Jesus and they threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it, and many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. And those who were ahead of Jesus and those who followed him were shouting. So here we see a very visible, very public entry into the streets of the crowded city. And of course Jesus is not entering Jerusalem incognito. He is riding on a donkey. And this ride lays claim to royal status. During this time and in this part of the world, when a victorious warrior or a general would ride into the city, he would ride on a horse, the ride declaring power and victory. But when a king rides into a city, he rides on a donkey, portraying not power but peace. Now this being true, Jesus is not appearing here the absence of strength. He's not appearing here as timid, despite the schemes of the accusers to take his life. Rather, Jesus as always is certainly bold and straightforward. He is not afraid of the malice of his enemies. He is not flinching in the face of his approaching sufferings, because he is fully confident that he will indeed fulfill the work that awaits him. And we know the work that awaits him. But in response, the crowds in this day cry out along Jesus' entry route, and they are in a full-throated celebration. So let's consider what the people are declaring. We read of shouts of Hosanna. The word Hosanna reads as a proclamation, as an exclamation of praise. But this word, however, is not really a proclamation as much as it is a request. Hosanna means save now. Save now. The people are crying out to God, and they're crying out for the salvation that God has promised. Amidst the oppression of Roman rule and of Pharisaical legalism, and amidst the darkness of this world, of the world, and the sin that darkens the hearts of all people, could this be the moment when salvation would finally come to man? Could this Jesus indeed be the Savior? So why Jesus? And why are the people so energized about this opportunity? Remember that these people don't know what we know. We, of course, have the benefit of the vantage point of being on the other side of the cross. But for them, this is a promise. And it's in the promise that they have hope. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the coming kingdom of our Father David. God, we look to you for your promised salvation. Hosanna in the highest. So we must revisit one more observation that's made by Mark. And notice again in our text for today, he says in verse 9, Mark writes, those who went ahead and those who followed shouted Hosanna. Now can we not expand this picture a bit beyond the crowd watching the parade on that day? Just think about this for a moment. Those who went ahead shouting Hosanna. Now we would typically think and understand that those who went ahead means those who were lining the streets on that day in Jerusalem. They were anticipating the parade. They were waiting for the parade to come through town. But there's also a greater meaning here. For those who went ahead should also be understood as the saints of the Old Testament who for centuries have looked to and longed for the promise of a Redeemer and a Deliverer and a Savior and a compassionate King. And we see this all throughout the Old Testament. You know this, we've seen this all throughout the Old Testament. Remember Jesus says in John's Gospel that Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day. Or in Hebrews, where the writer of Hebrews writes Moses was faithful as a servant in all of God's house testifying to what would be said in the future. Or in Romans, Paul writes about a righteousness from God apart from the law has been made known to which the law and the prophets testify. So if the Old Testament saints are those who went ahead, so not only are the people who went ahead those waiting for the parade on that day, but we can imagine a long line of saints, those who went ahead, those who were looking forward to the promise, the promise of a Savior. And if it is that the Old Testament saints are included in those who went ahead, then it continues therefore that those who followed shouting a Hosanna are not only the people who were following the parade through the streets of Jerusalem on that day, but also those in the parade that continues. Is there not a parade that continues? Those who followed shouting Hosanna, are they not also the New Testament saints? Those who have found Christ, those who know that Jesus is the Redeemer and the Deliverer and the Savior and the Compassionate King? And my friends, is this not also you and me? Are we not also part of that parade? Are we not also following Jesus shouting Hosanna? For we know that Jesus is indeed the one who fulfills all the promises of God. And because this, because we know this, so now it's our task, it's our calling, it's our burden to follow Jesus shouting Hosanna. And we do this because Christ is worthy of all glory and honor and praise. And we do this because there's a world that needs to know Christ. This world is undoubtedly in need of salvation. The darkness of this world, the hatred and the anger that so pervades, and the sin that horribly maligns every corner of our society and of our culture, and the sin that remains within the recesses of each and every heart, even within our own hearts. The world and all that is in it is undoubtedly in need of salvation. So we follow the one riding into town on the donkey, and we shout Hosanna, because Jesus is the only one who saves. The Bible says that the law of the prophets testified concerning the Christ. How much more must the believers in Jesus, today's followers of Christ, how much more must we testify concerning the Christ? Here we see Jesus, who is clearly the one who is driving the scene. And it's also Jesus who is the central focus of the scene. Here we see the Son of God entering the city of God, the Son of David riding through the city of David. And the people respond with shouts of joy as they petition God when they say Hosanna, they say, save us now. We then come to verse 11. A little later on in the day, Jesus entered Jerusalem and he went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. So it's a late afternoon, early evening, and the crowds have now all dispersed and the people have all gone home, and Jesus makes his way alone through the city, down the streets, and up to the temple. And the picture we find here is certainly different than the one of just a few hours before. Jesus' entry into Jerusalem was a melee, it was a crowd, but now Jesus is all alone. It's markedly different from the scenes we've seen recently in our study of Luke's Gospel. Remember how we studied Luke's Gospel and we looked at Jesus' Galilean ministry, and how the crowds have followed Jesus wherever he goes, and the crowds have gone, have grown wherever he grows. But now Jesus comes to Jerusalem and now all is quiet, and he's by himself. He's walking amongst the colonnade and into the temple courtyard, and the long shadows cast with the sun setting over the city. So now there's no shouts of Hosanna, there's no crowds, but there's also no argumentative Pharisees, and there's no disciples, but here in the quiet of the early Sunday evening, Jesus is walking around the temple, and he's inspecting the property. He's making a quick sweep of the location, and all in the quiet of the empty temple. Now, why is Jesus doing this? Well, of course, we know that Jesus is going to spend a lot of time in the next several days teaching in the temple courts. He'll be engaging with the faithful who will be in Jerusalem for the celebration of the Passover. Perhaps we might be wise to see this time as the calm before the storm, as the melee that's about to hit the city of Jerusalem. It's like Jerusalem has no idea what's coming around the corner, and what Jesus knows is that judgment will fall upon Jerusalem. Look at what the prophet Micah would declare concerning this judgment to come upon the city. This is Micah chapter 6. It begins with verse 9. Listen to what prophet Micah declared concerning what's really coming for Jerusalem. This is Micah chapter 6, starting with verse 9. Her people are liars, and their tongues speak deceitfully. Therefore, I have begun to destroy you, to ruin you because of your sins. You will eat, but not be satisfied. Your stomach will still be empty. You will store up, but save nothing. Because what you save, I will give to the sword. You will plant, but not harvest. You will press olives, but not use the oil on yourselves. You will crush grapes, but not drink the wine. You have observed the statutes of wicked and ungodly kings, and you have followed their traditions. Therefore, I will give you over to ruin, and your people to derision. You will bear the scorn of the nations. This is what's coming. This is the coming storm before Jerusalem. In anticipation of all this, Jesus' appearance on this day in the city of David, and throughout this week in the temple courts, there is another prophecy that comes into play. The scene that confirms for us that Jesus is the one who is to come, who comes to fulfill the promise of God. This is in Malachi chapter 3, verses 1 and 2. Hear the words of the prophet Malachi when he writes. He says, Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple, the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire will come, says the Lord Almighty. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? And so as we read now the life and ministry of Jesus, and as we read the story of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, we see that things are not recorded for us as mere events. We see rather that we must comprehend the sense of momentum, that things are moving towards a conclusion. And a conclusion not driven by fate, or chance, or circumstance, not driven by the disciples, not driven by the crowds. The disciples must think that something is up, and even the arrangement of the available donkey tells them something's up. The crowd is shouting, Hosanna, save us now. Remember though, this will be the same crowd, many of the same crowd, a few days later, who will shout, crucify, crucify. Here we then find that Jesus exits Jerusalem, and he returns to Bethany. Bethany is around the road just a few miles to the east. So to get to Bethany from Jerusalem, you would walk through the valley and up the Mount of Olives and a few more miles to the east, and you'll find the town of Bethany. And Jesus knows the Jewish authorities are looking for him throughout Jerusalem, and as John's Gospel has recorded numerous times, Jesus will often say to his disciples, my time has not yet come, and so the time of Jesus' arrest and trial and execution will come in several days, but it's not yet. And so for these reasons, Jesus leaves the city of Jerusalem. And it's here that we see that Jesus goes to Bethany, and he rejoins the twelve, he rejoins the disciples. Jesus, of course, finds peace and rest in the company of the disciples, time for prayer, time for a meal, time for fellowship. The disciples will certainly be criticized for their lack of loyalty to Christ, displayed later in the week, but for now, the disciples are sticking with Jesus. They remain faithful to their friend and to their teacher. Now generally, when we refer to Mark's Gospel and his description of the day of Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, we stop at verse 11. Now certainly we do that because of chronology. When Mark tells us that Jesus exited to Bethany as the day was already late, then we then go to verse 12 and we find out that the events of verse 12 take place during the next day. So it makes sense that we stop at verse 11 because according to Mark, the story doesn't pick up until Monday. But I wonder if we might also be quick to stop at the end of verse 11 because the subsequent story that's in verses 12 through 14 is just really strange. This just has to be the most unusual story in the Gospels. And as we all know, there are some Bible verses that we see on t-shirts and bumper stickers and on Facebook memes that float around, but I don't think I've ever read Mark 11 verses 12 through 14 on a t-shirt or on a bumper sticker or on one of those magnets that's on your grandmother's refrigerator. Remember those magnets on your grandmother's refrigerator that had Bible verses? Okay, I don't think I've ever seen any of these verses on a magnet on a refrigerator or on one of those Facebook memes that says you have to like this and share it or else you'll go to hell. Remember, you've seen those on Facebook. If you haven't, then you haven't been on Facebook much because they're there. And you're guilty when you don't like them and share them and that kind of thing. All right, so we might be quick to stop at the end of verse 11 because this story is really strange. So it's been a few minutes since we looked at it. Let's look at it again. Mark 11 verses 12 through 14. The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing the distance of fig tree and leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. And when he reached it, he found nothing but leaves because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, may no one ever eat fruit from you again. And his disciples heard him say it. So we know that the 12 were with Jesus. They awoke when he awoke and they followed him out the door and down the street that morning. The next day as they were leaving Bethany, heading east toward Jerusalem. And along the way is seen in the distance a rather prominent fig tree. Maybe it's noticeable because it's large, because it's near the road, but also it's noticeable because it's fully leafed as it says in the text. And we know that over the centuries, fig trees in this region have always produced two crops. There's an early fig crop in the spring and there's a later fig crop in the summer and on into the fall. That's how fig trees usually produce fruit in this region. And with this particular tree fully leafed, one might also think it's full of figs. If you see that tree and it's full of leaves, it's fully leafed, then you would think, well, there must be figs on it as well. But as Mark recalls, it was not yet the season for the early figs. So when Jesus gets to the tree and inspects it, he sees it's fully leafed, but he finds no figs. From a distance, the fig tree looked good, it looked fruitful. But it was only on closer inspection that we find that the fig tree is fruitless. Now Christ, of course, is omniscient, he is all-knowing, so he is not surprised by this. He didn't wander thinking, hmm, I see that tree there. Does it have figs or does it not have figs? He knows because he's Jesus, so he knows. But what follows is a strange verse indeed. Notice the first half of verse 14. Then he said to the tree, may no one ever eat fruit from you again. So okay, now let's look at that first phrase, the text that says Jesus spoke to the tree. Sounds kind of odd. Yes, a little strange. But this is nothing new. Speaking to creation is not new. Speaking to trees is not new. Recall all the way back, Genesis chapter 1, day 3, third day of creation. This is Genesis chapter 1, verses 11 and 12. Then God said, let the land produce vegetation, seed-bearing plants and trees in the land that bear fruit with seed in it according to their various kinds. And it was so. The land produced vegetation, plants bearing seed according to their kinds, and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. Well, you know, when you've made creation and when you're the one who maintains creation, you of course reserve the rights and you possess the authority to speak to creation and to do with it what you will because it's yours. You made it. You sustain it. You designed it. You created it. It's yours. So Jesus said to the tree, may no one ever eat fruit from you again. So here Jesus condemned the fig tree. So let's clarify a few things about Jesus' condemnation of the fig tree. Jesus is not angry with the tree. Jesus is not punishing this tree for its failure to bear fruit. And no, Jesus is not being unfair to the tree. Further, he's not hurting the tree's feelings, or he's not otherwise taking away its rights. All complaints that you will read from various commentators about this particular instance. Because, folks, it's a tree. And each tree, as you know and as I know, is a gift from God. We marvel at its creation. We admire its beauty. We rest under its shade. We harvest its fruit. We use it for firewood for both warmth and for cooking. And we harvest it for lumber from which we make houses and which we make furniture. And we then plant its seeds and we cultivate it because it is a renewable resource. It's a tree given to us by God. But on this particular day, this particular tree serves an even deeper purpose. Because the fruitlessness of this tree, of this fig tree, is a symbol and thus a statement of the spiritual condition of the people of the nation of Israel. In his commentary on Mark's Gospel, the 20th century theologian and professor, William Lane, describes it this way. He writes, And so, just as the barren fig tree is condemned by Christ, there is an impending judgment to fall upon Israel. Christ has judged and Christ will judge. The nation and the people are declared to be fruitful and to bear fruit. And so, just as the barren fig tree is condemned by Christ, there is an impending judgment to fall upon Israel. The nation and the people are declared to be fruitless and faithless. And to reinforce this, Mark here, then in his Gospel, the next story, which you can read for homework, if you'd like to have homework this week, read this next story. Mark, in the Gospel, next includes his telling of Jesus turning over the tables of the money changers in the temple upon his arrival in Jerusalem. Jesus' action of cleansing the temple, as portrayed by Mark, serves also as the commentary that underscores Christ's judgment upon Israel. The Jewish temple, magnificently adorned on the outside, but is found by Christ to be spiritually empty on the inside. And Mark's Gospel reminds us that Jesus had, on a previous occasion, quoted the words of the prophet Isaiah when he says, And we notice the closing line, the last phrase found in verse 14. The text says, So the disciples were listening. The disciples understood that Jesus had pronounced a curse upon the fig tree. And we see in the text, a little further along, that the disciples clearly witnessed the effect of the curse upon the fig tree. So if you're looking with me in the text in Mark, skip down to verses 19 through 21, and let's notice the text together, and it says, starting with verse 19, And in the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, Rabbi, look, the fig tree you cursed has withered. Now we can only but speculate as to whether the disciples truly comprehend the meaning of this curse. Do the disciples see the big picture of what Jesus is communicating by this action? You know, able to see it or not able to see it, they would have at least understood that Jesus certainly holds and maintains and wields power, the very power of God, and He wields it as He sees fit. Who else can curse a fig tree? Throughout the history of the New Testament church, we have battled with a heresy that holds that the Old Testament God is the God of anger and judgment. But the New Testament Jesus, well, He's all about love and forgiveness. You've heard that argument before. And there are those within the church today who still like to teach this view. But here is the truth of this story buried here in the gospel, and it's this. This Jesus who pours out mercy, this Jesus who will heal and will deliver and will restore and will save, is also the Jesus who speaks to this world and will declare the truth to this world and will judge and condemn this world. Listen to what Isaiah writes, and we can see how Christ fulfills this truth. Isaiah chapter 45, For this is what the Lord says, He who created the heavens, He is God. He who fashioned and made the earth, He founded it. He did not create it to be empty, but He formed it to be inhabited. He says, I am the Lord and there is no other. And I have not spoken in secret from somewhere in a land of darkness. I have not said to Jacob's descendants, Seek me in vain. I, the Lord, speak the truth. I declare what is right. Gather together and come. Assemble, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood, who pray to gods that cannot save. Declare what is to be. Present it. Let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago? Who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the Lord? And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior. There is none but me. Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth. For I am God and there is no other. So, Jesus comes to speak the truth of condemnation. He comes to speak the truth of condemnation. But, that's not all. For yes, He comes to speak the truth of condemnation. But, He also comes to bring wholeness and restoration and fulfillment. And we see this by thinking about all these references in the Old Testament and then one in the New Testament. But, references to the true and righteous branch. There's all these references in the Old Testament. For example, Isaiah chapter 4, verse 2. In that day the branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors of Israel. Or, Isaiah chapter 11, verses 1 through 5. A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse. From his roots a branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him. The Spirit of wisdom and of understanding. The Spirit of counsel and of power. The Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes or decide by what he hears with his ears. But with righteousness he will judge the needy. With justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth. With the breath of lips he will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness a sash around his waist. And then Jeremiah chapter 23. The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up to David a righteous branch. A king who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called the Lord our righteousness. And Zechariah chapter 3. Listen, O high priest Joshua and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come. I am going to bring my servant the branch. Zechariah 6. Tell him this is what the Lord Almighty says. Here is a man whose name is the branch. And he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the Lord. It is he who will build the temple of the Lord. And he will be clothed with majesty. And he will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. And then one of my favorite verses of all Scripture. Revelation chapter 22. And it's prophecy looking forward. Revelation 22 verses 1 and 2. Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life as clear as crystal. Flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. Down the middle of the great street of the city. And on each side of the river stood the tree of life. Bearing twelve crops of fruit. Yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. The Jesus who comes to speak truth. And speak righteousness. And yes, declare condemnation. Is also the Jesus who comes to bring fulfillment for all of God's people. This Jesus who rode into Jerusalem is also the Christ, the Son of God. Who rules and reigns over all things. And all things must conform to his will. And all things must exist for his glory. And all things must declare his glory. And this Jesus is also the true and righteous branch. The tree that never fails. The one who always brings the blessing of God to the people of God. And as we heard this morning during our call to worship. So we hear again David's words. The truth proclaimed for all the world to hear. Psalm 24 starts this way. The earth is the Lord's. And everything in it. The world and all who live in it. Let's bow our heads and pray, shall we? Heavenly Father. Heavenly truth for us today from your scriptures. Reminding us of your love for us. Reminding us of your commitment to the truth. Reminding us that there is to be a truth and a righteousness that prevails over all things. You didn't call us just to join a club. You called us to set aside our burdens. And to kneel before the cross. That we might be your children. That we might be the sons and daughters of God. Saved by Christ. Whose blood shed on the cross for our sins. This is what you called us to do. Forgive us Father for any time that we have been shallow and self-centered. In our allegiance to you. And our devotion to the gospel. Strengthen us and bring out of us, Father, a boldness to adhere to your truth. And to see our lives lived out according to your truth. And Father, see the wicked ways that remain in us. And lead us in the ways everlasting. That you would continue to sow work in our lives and our hearts. That we would be a people truly changed by you. Father, for those who have been Christians for seven days. And those who have been Christians for 70 years. There is still much work to be done in our hearts. Each and every one of us. Father, continue the work you are doing. As you are readying us and fitting us for glory. That we would see Jesus high and lifted up. Rule reigning over us and over all of creation. We praise you and we give you glory. In Christ's name we pray. Amen. Amen.