God’s Word for You
Mark 11:7-9a The carpeted road
by Pastor Timothy Smith on Tuesday, December 14, 2021
7 They brought the colt to Jesus, threw their garments on it, and Jesus sat on it. 8 Many people spread their garments on the road. Others spread branches that they had cut from the fields. 9 Those who went in front and those who followed were crying out…,
They threw their garments on the colt (and on its mother). They spread their garments on the road to create a soft carpet for the animal to step on. They cut branches, palm branches (John 12:13), and spread those on the ground as well. Doubtless there were also those who waved more branches in the air as they did at the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:40). And there were two crowds: one that had followed and another that was approaching him.
The approaching crowd, to be sure, had heard that Jesus was on his way, They had heard that he raised Lazarus from the dead, and they were looking for him. John reports: “They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple area they asked one another, ‘What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the Feast at all?’” (John 11:56). It’s easy to imagine the shouts in the city. First, a confused smattering of voices: “He’s coming!” “I saw him!” “Is it Jesus?” Then a few might ask, “Are you sure? Which way is he coming from?” And then the finger points and voices begin to shout: “See! He comes! Down the road from the Mount of Olives!”
The road was carpeted with cloaks, garments, and palm branches. This was a road of triumph, with shouts of adoration and praise. Many in the shouting crowds did not fully understand. In fact, if even the disciples did not fully understand (Acts 1:6), did anyone in the crowd truly know what was going to take place? Yet they praised Jesus as the Messiah, their King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16). The way before him was carpeted with soft garments now, but shortly the way before him would change to rough stones, thorns, dust, and blood. He did not come for praise, but to shed his blood. His blood paved the way for our salvation, and the salvation of all. Isaiah had said, “The Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the people; the (Gentile) nations will rally to him” (Isaiah 11:10). The prophet was showing that the coming Messiah was not for the Jews alone, but for all people, Jews and Gentiles alike. And here he came, riding the carpeted road on a donkey.
The city began to empty as people rushed out of the gates. The donkey didn’t care. It didn’t balk at all. It wouldn’t have mattered if the man on its back had shouted or if a thousand Jews of Jerusalem were shouting; it just kept walking the carpeted road. The Holy Spirit wrote through blessed Job about such a donkey: “I gave him the wasteland as his home, the salt flats as his habitat. He laughs at the commotion in the town; he does not hear a driver’s shout. He ranges the hills for his pasture and searches for any green thing” (Job 39:6-8). Gods creation had such moments in mind as he formed the animals, one by one, from the dust of the earth before he brought forth Adam (Genesis 2:19) and he knew each creature and planned out the sort of lives they would live. The righteous Christian looks after the needs of his animals (Proverbs 12:10) and surely this one was well cared-for. Truly here was an answer to Isaiah’s prophecy: “The envoys carry their riches on donkey’s backs” (Isaiah 30:6), for no greater treasure was ever carried by an animal in all the history of the world.
Lowly and humble he rode, ready to humble himself even further, to the point of torture, crucifixion, death, and burial. In his humility, he entered the grave in order to lead us out of the grave, to resurrection, life, triumph, and glory! This is the work of our King. Behold, he comes! Behold, Christ the King!
Oh, come, O Root of Jesse, free
Your own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell your people save,
And bring them vict’ry o’er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel!
Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel, vs. 2
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy Smith
Pastor Smith serves St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in New Ulm, Minnesota. To receive God’s Word for You via e-mail, please visit the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church website.