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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 11:8 mean?

Explanation

Mark 11:8 references an event known as Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, which occurs during the week leading up to his crucifixion and subsequent resurrection.

As Jesus enters the city riding on a donkey, people lay their garments and leafy branches on the road as a symbolic act of honor and recognition of his messianic kingship.

The spreading of clothes and branches before royalty was a traditional sign of homage and respect in the ancient world, reflecting the population's high regard or hope for their leader.

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Historical Context

The event takes place during the Jewish festival of Passover, a time when Jerusalem would be crowded with pilgrims from all over the region.

The act of spreading garments and branches likely reflects the Jewish practice of honoring someone whom they esteemed highly.

This moment in Mark's Gospel is reminiscent of a regal procession, and the use of palm branches may have also carried connotations of victory and Jewish nationalism, possibly linked to the Maccabean revolt when such symbols were used.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse signifies the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies about the coming of the Messiah.

Some commentators interpret the people's actions that day as acknowledgement of Jesus's kingship, while others see it as a misunderstanding of the nature of his mission, expecting a political or military leader rather than a spiritual savior.

The event also prefigures Jesus's rejection and suffering, juxtaposing the crowd's temporary adulation with the forthcoming betrayal and crucifixion.

Practical Applications

The verse can be seen as a call to recognize and honor the presence of the divine or sacred in our daily lives.

It suggests that individuals should be ready to offer what they have, symbolized by the garments and branches, as an act of worship and reverence. This passage can encourage believers to reflect on the nature of true leadership and to challenge their perceptions of power and glory.

Cross-References

Matthew 21:8: "And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way."
Luke 19:36: "And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way."
John 12:13: "Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord."
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."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, key words include:

"strawed" (Greek: "estrōnnuon", ἔστρωννυον) meaning to spread or strew, as in preparing a way
"branches" (Greek: "kladous", κλάδους) meaning boughs or twigs cut from trees

The verb "strawed" comes from the practice of strewing or scattering materials like reeds, rushes, or garments on the ground to prepare a way or for a festive occasion.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The act of laying down garments and branches before a person of distinction can be paralleled in various other cultures.

For example, in ancient Rome, similar reverence was shown to triumphant generals during their victory processions.

In many religious traditions, nature elements like branches, flowers, or special textiles are used symbolically in processions or rituals to mark sacred occasions or honor deities.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific point of view, the act described in the verse does not have direct implications other than the human behavioral aspect of expressing honor and recognition through physical actions.

The use of plant material in cultural practices could be discussed in terms of ethnobotany, which studies how people use plants in their culture and rituals.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians offer various interpretations of this verse:

Some commentaries focus on the prophetic elements, linking the event with Zechariah 9:9 and the anticipation of a messianic figure.
Others highlight the contrast between the crowd's expectations and Jesus's actual mission, viewing it as an ironic prelude to the rejection Jesus would face.
Additional commentators may focus on the participatory nature of the crowd as an act of worship and recognize this event as an outward expression of inner faith and declaration of Jesus's kingship.

Mark 11

Mark 11

What does Mark 11:8 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 11:8 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?