Mark 11:7 – 11

⁷ When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. ⁸ Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. ⁹ Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”  ¹⁰ “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” ¹¹ Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

In this passage we see a beautiful picture. One of the people recognising Jesus as who He is, the Son of God. It’s hard to believe that it was only three chapters earlier that these same people did not recognise him at all. When asking his Disciples who the people said that he was, they responded with “John the Baptist” or “Elijah” or even “one of the prophets.” Yet here they are, now recognising Jesus as the True King. For instance, we see them throwing their cloaks over the donkey, such was the ancient practice of welcoming a new king. In addition, they are exclaiming “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”, alluding to Jesus being the Messiah as promised in David’s lineage.

Do you recognise Jesus as the True King or simply as another teacher? As we see with the crowd, when we see Jesus as King, we also see him as saviour (“Hosanna” originally a Hebrew prayer meaning “save now”). In our everyday lives, let us make sure not only to recognise Jesus as King, but to proclaim him as king as well, through the way we speak and act.

Joel Bulow – Creek Road