Hosanna in the Highest

Mark 11:1–11

¹Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples ² and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. ³ If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” ⁴ And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. ⁵ And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” ⁶ And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. ⁷ And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. ⁸ And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. ⁹ And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “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!” ¹¹ And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

This is at least the 6^th time I’ve written about the events of the Passion of Christ. That story begins in earnest with what we now call Palm Sunday. This parade into Jerusalem by Christ and His followers puts Jesus into the place where His life will be given for the sins of us all.

The prophet Zechariah foretold this event in words that are read almost every year on Palm Sunday.

Zechariah 9:9

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

In fulfillment of this prophecy, Jesus signifies that He comes as a victorious King; thus we find Him riding on a donkey. Had He rode in on a horse, it would have signified a warrior King which we don’t see until the Final Day as told to us in the book of The Revelation.

For this ride, we find Jesus borrowing a donkey that has never been ridden before and that is significant to the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy as well. That the donkey was so easily surrendered to the disciples for this ride says that the lender was probably a fellow follower of Jesus and he also knew he would have his property returned.

The stage is set and Jesus is prepared to complete His saving work. The week will be eventful and tragic. In His death we are saved and in His resurrection we are invited into His eternal kingdom!