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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 11:3 mean?

Explanation

Mark 11:3 is a part of the narrative of Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, an event also known as Palm Sunday.

In the verse, Jesus instructs two of His disciples to go into a village where they will find a colt tied, which no one has ever ridden.

He tells them to untie it and bring it to Him.

Jesus anticipates that someone might question their actions, so He provides the disciples with a response: "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."

This verse reflects Jesus' foreknowledge of the situation and represents His authority over circumstances.

The phrase "the Lord hath need of him" underscores both Jesus' divinity as the Lord and His humility in needing something from others.

The response He instructs the disciples to give reveals that the owner of the colt would recognize the authority in 'the Lord's need' and would allow the disciples to take the animal without objection.

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Historical Context

The historical context of Mark 11:3 lies in the first century, during the time of Jesus' ministry in the week leading up to His crucifixion.

The event narrated is part of what is known as the Passion Week.

In Jewish tradition, the Messiah was prophesied to enter Jerusalem as a king.

This was a common expectation among the Jewish people that the Messiah would liberate them from Roman rule.

The use of a colt, in particular, fulfills the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9, which describes a king who would arrive "lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass."

Theological Insights

Theologically, the verse has been interpreted in various ways:

Divine Providence: This passage is often seen as an example of God's sovereign control over events. Jesus not only predicts the presence of the colt but also the response of those who would question the disciples' actions.
Messianic Fulfillment: The act of riding on a colt is a direct fulfillment of Messianic prophecies, indicating Jesus' awareness of His role and mission as outlined in the Hebrew Scriptures.
Authority of Jesus: The way in which the colt's owner complies with the disciples' explanation indicates Jesus' authority. By referring to "the Lord," Jesus is implicitly claiming His divine authority, and this is recognized without dispute.

Practical Applications

Practically, Mark 11:3 can be applied in several ways:

Trust in God's providence: As Jesus instructs His disciples trusting in the Father's plan, individuals are encouraged to trust that God will provide and prepare the way in their own lives.
Recognition of authority: The disciples' and the owner's recognition of Jesus' authority can inspire believers to acknowledge and respect the authority of Jesus in their lives.
Obedience in faith: The disciples followed Jesus' instructions without knowing the outcome. Similarly, believers are called to obey God's instructions, even when they do not see the full picture.

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 21:2-3: "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.

And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them."

Luke 19:30-34: "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...

And they said, The Lord hath need of him."

Language Study

The original Greek term translated as "Lord" is "κύριος" (kyrios), which signifies someone who has authority, such as a master or lord. The use of "κύριος" in reference to Jesus emphasizes His divine authority and position of mastery.

The phrase "straightway he will send him" uses the Greek word "εὐθέως" (euthys), meaning immediately or at once, which illustrates the immediacy of the response from the colt's owner and the unfolding of God's plan without delay.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The use of a colt or donkey in royal processions was not unique to Judaism but was a common Near Eastern practice, symbolizing peace rather than war, as opposed to a horse, which was typically associated with warfare and conquest.

In other ancient cultures, such as Egypt and Rome, the use of certain animals often had symbolic meanings attached to religious and kingly authority.

In religious terms, the notion of divine figures with a preordained path or prophecy to fulfill occurs in various mythologies, where the deity's actions often align with a larger cosmic plan.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, Mark 11:3 has limited direct relevance, as science does not typically engage with supernatural prophetic fulfillment.

However, behavioral science looks at the phenomena of trust and obedience, principles at play in this narrative. Studies on authority and compliance may shed light on the societal and psychological factors that could lead the colt's owner to comply with the disciples' request.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and commentators have given various insights into Mark 11:3:

William L. Lane comments on the providential arrangements made by Jesus, highlighting the theological importance of Jesus' foreknowledge and divine authority.
John Calvin focuses on the simplicity and humility represented by the colt, pointing to the nature of Christ's kingdom, which contrasts with human expectations of grandeur.
R.T. France discusses the significance of Jesus' use of the word "Lord," considering it as a messianic claim, and regards the unhesitating compliance of the colt's owner as indicative of the wider theme of Jesus' acceptance by the 'common people'.

Mark 11

Mark 11

What does Mark 11:3 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 11:3 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?