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Mark 11

And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,

And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.

And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.

And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him.

And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt?

And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.

And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him.

And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.

And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:

Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.

And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.

And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:

And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.

And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.

And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;

And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.

And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.

And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.

And when even was come, he went out of the city.

And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.

And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.

And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders,

And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things?

And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.

The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me.

And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?

But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.

And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

What does Mark 11:1 mean?

Explanation

Mark 11:1 describes an event which takes place as Jesus approaches Jerusalem, a pivotal moment leading up to the final days of his earthly ministry.

Jesus and his disciples reach the outskirts of Jerusalem, specifically the areas of Bethphage and Bethany, which are near the Mount of Olives.

This geographical reference is significant as it indicates Jesus' entry point to Jerusalem.

Jesus then sends two of his disciples on a task, the nature of which becomes evident in the subsequent verses: to procure a colt for Jesus to ride into the city, fulfilling the prophecy found in Zechariah 9:9.

This event marks the beginning of what is traditionally known as the Triumphal Entry, where Jesus enters Jerusalem as a peaceful king, contrasting with the expectation of a militant Messiah.

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Historical Context

At the time of this event, Jerusalem was under Roman rule, and the Jewish people were awaiting a Messiah who would liberate them from Roman dominance.

Bethphage and Bethany were small villages on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, within close proximity to Jerusalem.

The Mount of Olives held significant religious importance, being associated with several key events in Jewish religious history and prophecy.

The fact that Jesus chose to enter Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives during Passover, when the city was filled with pilgrims, was highly symbolic and ignited messianic expectations among the people.

Theological Insights

Different theological interpretations have been drawn from this verse:

Fulfillment of Prophecy: Many see this event as a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy (Zechariah 9:9), thereby affirming the Messianic identity of Jesus.
Divine Foreknowledge: The detailed instructions Jesus provides suggest an awareness of events before they occur, which theologians interpret as evidence of divine foreknowledge.
Model of Humility: Jesus' choice of a colt, a humble beast of burden, instead of a warhorse, puts forward a model of humility and peace in stark contrast to the expectations of a conquering king.

Practical Applications

This verse can be applied in daily life in several ways:

Obedience: The disciples follow Jesus' instructions without hesitation, exemplifying obedience to God's direction.
Preparation: The act of preparing for Jesus' entry reminds believers of the importance of spiritual preparedness for the Lord's work and activities.
Humility: Jesus' approach to Jerusalem can inspire individuals to embrace humility and service over grandeur and dominance.

Cross-References

Zechariah 9:9: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass."
Matthew 21:1-2: "And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the Mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me."
Luke 19:29-30: "And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither."

Language Study

Bethphage (Βηθφαγὴ): Likely means "house of unripe figs."
Bethany (Βηθανία): Possibly means "house of affliction" or "house of dates."
Mount of Olives (ὄρος τῶν ἐλαιῶν): Named for the olive groves that once grew on its slopes and is significant in Jewish eschatology.
Sendeth forth (ἀποστέλλει): This Greek term means "to send out" or "to dispatch," and it's the root from which the word "apostle" is derived.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The entry of Jesus into Jerusalem can be compared to the entrance of kings and figures of authority in various other ancient cultures. Rulers would often enter cities with great pomp and circumstance, but Jesus' entrance is markedly humble.

In contrast to the Roman Triumph, where generals paraded their victories, Jesus rides in on a donkey, which in the Near Eastern context was a symbol of peace, rather than a chariot or warhorse which would signify conquest and force.

Scientific Perspectives

This verse does not directly intersect with modern scientific understandings; however, geographical and archaeological studies contribute to understanding the locations mentioned, such as the Mount of Olives and its proximity to Jerusalem and its role in Jesus' entry.

These studies provide a real-world context to the historically significant places mentioned in this verse.

Commentaries

Various biblical commentators and experts offer insights on this verse:

John Calvin comments on the obedience of the disciples and the divine providence evident in Jesus' foreknowledge of the colt.
Charles Spurgeon emphasizes the humility of Jesus and the significance of the choice of a lowly animal for his entrance.
William Barclay suggests that Jesus' method of entry deliberately fulfilled Zechariah's prophecy and discussed the event's deliberate planning and message to the people of Jerusalem.
Matthew Henry offers a broad commentary on the passage, focusing on the nature of Jesus' kingdom and how Jesus' actions exemplified his spiritual authority.

Mark 11

Mark 11

What does Mark 11:1 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 11:1 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?