ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (JANUARY 5, 2013)

Riding on a Donkey

Mark 11:1-10


"The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, 'Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!'"
(MATTHEW 21:9)

We call it the Triumphal Entry. Some day in the future, Jesus will come again, riding on a warhorse of judgment. But on this particular Sunday, on His way to the cross in that final week, He chose to ride on the animal of the symbol of Israelite kings: a colt of peace.

Though the expectation was for a conquering Messiah, this time He came on a mission to save. By which gate did He enter the royal city as the palm fronds and cloaks were spread and shouts of Hosanna went up? Did He enter by way of the Royal or Golden Gate - walled up by an Arab leader in the year 810 AD? Or did Jesus make a slight detour, coming down from the Mount of Olives, down through the Kidron Valley and up to the city walls? Indeed, He entered by way of the Sheep Gate in the northeast corner. This was the way of the Passover lambs, on their way for sacrifice, symbolic of the coming Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world! He was the Passover Lamb given for us! On His mission to save, He conquered death and hell.

INSIGHT
MAY WE LOOK FORWARD TO JESUS' RETURN, COMING ON A WARHORSE OF JUDGMENT, BUT TO AN ETERNITY OF PEACE.

READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Deuteronomy 7-8
Psalm 83
Acts 5-6

Mark 11:1-10
New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
11 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”
4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it,5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
“Hosanna![a]”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[b]
10
“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
Footnotes:
a. Mark 11:9 A Hebrew expression meaning “Save!” which became an exclamation of praise; also in verse 10
b. Mark 11:9 Psalm 118:25,26


LEARNING TO LINGER
with Scotty Smith

It is easy to treat prayer as a way to get what we want. But there is a deeper meaning to prayer that is motivated by the Gospel. When we understand this, prayer turns into fellowship with the Father.