Welcoming Jesus

Mark 11:1-11

¹ As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, ² saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. ³ If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’ ”

⁴ They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, ⁵ some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” ⁶ They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 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.

Mark has a focus on Jesus as the King.  Jesus rides into the city on the back of a donkey.  And then a strange thing happens.  The people spread out their cloaks on the ground – truly weird in the dusty, stony Middle East!  I don’t think I would do it for a friend or even my aged father, it would have to be someone truly special – royalty comes to mind.  For that matter you don’t cut branches off trees to wave in the streets just because you feel elated; you do it because something or someone truly special is in the area. The disciples believe that Jesus is the true and rightful King of the Jews, on his way to the capital city to be hailed as such.  This is the moment for his royal reception.

‘Hosanna’ is a Hebrew word which mixes exuberant praise to God with the prayer that God will save his people and do so right away.  It is a welcome!

I am drawn to ponder the welcome I give to Jesus.  In the mundane, routine of my life, in the going out and the coming in routines – is there an exuberant welcome for Jesus – or have I become more lethargic.

Father, may I remain exuberant in my praise of You, my welcome to You!  May I choose to always make room for you in my life, in my time, in my heart and my head!

Written by Ps. Richard Botta