Mark 11:1-14

11:1-6 | In anticipation of Christ’s triumphal entry in Jerusalem, the disciples found everything just as Jesus had said. The colt was a donkey, long connected to the coming Messiah (Gen. 49:8-12). By laying hold of the colt, Jesus both fulfilled an important messianic prophecy (Zech. 9:9) and reenacted the coronation of Solomon, the son of David (1 Kgs. 1), just as “blind Bartimaeus” foresaw.

11:7-9 | Laying clothes and branches on the road publicly signified the arrival of a person of royalty. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD! Quotes Psalm 118:26 – a messianic text as well as a common form of greeting in Jerusalem during Jewish celebrations. In calling Jesus the “one who comes” in this context, the crowd essentially calls Him the Messiah. Unfortunately, they meant it on their own terms, not His.

11:9-10 | Originally the word Hosanna meant “Save now,” but over the years it came to be used as a simple expression of praise – much like the word Hallelujah has changed from meaning “Praise God” to something much more generic, such as “How wonderful!”

11:12-14 | The fig tree without fruit is a picture of Israel: it has the appearance of life but produces nothing of substance. Just as Jesus cursed the tree because it was fruitless, God would judge the nation for its spiritual barrenness (Matt. 3:10; 7:19; Luke 6:43-44).