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Mark 11 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Triumphal Entry

1 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.

REFLECTION

1. The crowd shouted and waved and praised Jesus as their Messiah – the savior (v9-10).  But soon after, they became the crowd that wanted to nail Jesus on the cross.  It is easier to follow and praise God when everything seems to be going well, when God is meeting our expectations, and when faith is supported by those all around us.  The strength of our faith is tested when all of these supports and assumptions begin to fall away.
2. Has your faith in God been tested through changes of time, location, community?
3. Has anyone at church or cell group been going through this testing period and has not come out yet?  Write down his/her name on this page.  Commit to pray for him/her regularly for the whole month.  If possible, give him/her a call, write an email or send a card to encourage him/her and to accompany him/her to come through this process.

PRAYER

Lord, how sinful human nature is and how rebellious the heart is! Just as sweet and bitter waters spring from the same fountain, so do the words of blessing and cursing spring from the same mouth. Lord, those who cheered on You and praised You as the Messiah are also the murderers who shouted to crucify You! Lord, I will also meet such people in my life, please enable me to stand firm in my faith in such a crowd, and let me be like You to sympathize with them, love them, and pray for them, because they do not know what they are doing. Lord, please also have mercy on my weakness, walk with me, strengthen my dedication, don’t let me become such a person. I pray in Your victorious name. Amen!

 
HYMN

He Will Hold Me Fast – youtu.be/936BapRFHaQ