Expectations

Now 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.

What are your expectations for Jesus?

On the day of his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus had expectations. He expected to enter Jerusalem on the back of a young donkey to fulfill Zechariah 9:9. He expected the donkey tied exactly where he envisioned it to be, and expected the animal’s owner to wonder why his disciples would take it away.

The shouts of the people revealed they expected something too.

“Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”

Hosanna is an Aramaic term of praise which means ‘save us.’ More than likely, they thought Jesus would save them from their Roman oppressors—they expected to be on the winning side of military conquest. They also expected this colt-riding savior to usher in a grand kingdom, and an equally grand coronation to herald the arrival of God’s kingdom rebuilt. 

And they were correct—in a way. The decisive and final victory over our enemy was at hand, and a conquest was coming. A new king had arrived and he brought with him the new kingdom of God. But the battle ground was not the streets of Jerusalem, nor the city of Rome, but within the hearts of the children of Israel—hearts ruled by sin. The new kingdom was not a kingdom built on political or military power, but a people ruled by the Spirit of God seated on the throne of their hearts. 

Mark records that Jesus secured that final victory, and invites us into God’s family as sons and daughters through his death and resurrection. Take your place at the table—invite Jesus to rule and reign over your life. Hosanna in the highest!