Bible Study with Danelle

Hosanna!

We have reached the part in Mark where he begins to account for the events of Passion week. We start off with the story we are all familiar with of the triumphant entry into Jerusalem on a young donkey.

While this may seem insignificant, the choice of the donkey is incredibly important to the reveal of Jesus as King.

First, the donkey is a symbol of peace, servanthood, and humbleness. These are all three important aspects of Jesus’ character. It symbolized the kind of leader he was. Many thought that the Messiah was going to be a great warrior and defeat the Romans with a huge army. That was not what God intended, and Jesus shows us that here.

Second, this fulfilled prophesy of the Messiah (Zechariah 9:9). This is why so many were laying down cloaks and palm leaves on the ground to worship his arrival. The rumors of Jesus were out there that He was a healer, miracle worker, and prophet. Many were talking that he was possibly the Messiah, but when they saw Him fulfilling another prophecy, they rejoiced shouting Hosanna!

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey

Zechariah 9:9

If you want more on this discussion on Jesus’ triumphant entry, please check out this sermon from Jeff Stott.

As we read further in this passage, we read about the curse Jesus puts on the fig tree which we will talk more about that later on.

As Jesus arrived late in Jeruselum He goes to the temple. He looked around and probably saw all the tables or booths set up in the temple for money changers and people selling animals for sacrifice. He is upset to see that the place that is supposed to be for worship has turned into a marketplace. The next day, Jesus returns and he overturned the tables and drove them out.

My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations. But you have made it a den of robbers.

Mark 11:17

I think about this a lot with the modern church. Are our churches places for worship or have we made them into something they were not supposed to be?

As we continue on in the passage, we read more about the fig tree and the lesson Jesus told Peter.

And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Mark 11:22-24

Jesus’ lesson on mountain-moving faith. Think about that.

Mountain-Moving Faith.

That is something I am not sure many of us can say we have, but Jesus tells us that is the kind of faith we need to have. I know that is definitely something I need to work on. I am guilty of thinking that I can handle so many things on my own. Or that I don’t think that my issue is something God would concern himself with. Reading this passage reminds me that I can pray for anything and that my belief needs work. How much doubt do I have in my heart?

I pray today that we all will have the faith that moves mountains. That our faith in God grows stronger every single day.