Mark chapter 11 verses 1 to 11. It's very, very familiar, isn't it? The famous ride of Jesus into Jerusalem on a donkey. Two things I want to say right from the off. Two things immediately. Number one, I want to say this is a lonely ride. It's a lonely ride. And I think that's often overlooked.
But I want to show you that although Jesus had a great crowd around him, great crowds thronging him, nobody was really with him. He was really on his own.
I wonder if you know that. Sometimes when I talk to people who are going through a really difficult circumstance, and I know that I myself, I can't identify with them.
What I find myself thinking and saying to them is, there is no one who will understand what you're going through except the Lord Jesus Christ. And not only will he understand, but he is able to help you.
And the second thing I notice as I've read these verses about this walk into Jerusalem on that Palm Sunday is everything's upside down. Everything you think is impressive is actually not impressive.
All the things that you think are not impressive are actually very impressive.
I read this week that two art students last year went to a modern art show in Aberdeen.
And they took with them a pineapple, and they left the pineapple on an empty stand at the art show.
They were delighted to find that a couple of days later, when they went back to the show, that the pineapple had been given its own glass case, and had been made part of the art show.
That's the world we live in, isn't it? That's the world you live in.
Things that are completely stupid become serious, and some things that are serious become stupid.
And so look at Mark 11, and let's look at it under two headings.
First, a lonely ride and a loving word. First of all, a lonely ride.
Chapter 11, verse 1.
And we're on the road to Jerusalem. That's where he's going.
And Jerusalem is the point where Jesus wants to get to. That's the aim of his mission.
He came into this world to save sinners.
And to die on the cross.
He goes to the city, because that is where he'll be crucified.
Look at just chapter 10, and verse 33, just the chapter before.
He says to his disciples,
See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man, that's the way he refers to himself,
will be delivered over the chief priests and the scribes,
and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him over to the Gentiles.
They'll mock him, spit on him, and flog him, and kill him.
After three days he will rise.
And even though the way that Jesus rides into Jerusalem,
with this great crowd around him, singing and shouting,
he is riding to his death.
And it should have registered, shouldn't it, to the disciples?
But it doesn't register at all.
They might have said, he's about to ride in on a donkey.
And it says in the first book of the Bible, in Genesis,
that someone of the tribe of Judah,
and Jesus is from the tribe of Judah,
and they would eventually link donkey and death together,
from that passage, but they don't get it.
They might have gone to maybe the last,
nearly the last book of the Old Testament, Zechariah,
where he says this,
Rejoice, your king comes to you,
humble riding on a donkey.
But they've obviously not been reading their Old Testament.
And they don't remember,
and they don't register,
and they don't get what Jesus is doing.
And even though we need the word of God
to understand the events that took place,
no one obviously remembers the word of God in this context.
In the previous story,
that brilliant story about Bartimaeus in Mark 10,
blind Bartimaeus,
this blind beggar puts one and one together,
and he makes two.
He's been begging,
and suddenly he hears that a king is coming.
A king who is the son of David.
And he recognises that Jesus is acting like the son of David.
He is the son of David.
He puts one and one together,
and he makes two,
and he calls out,
and he cries and relies upon Jesus,
and is healed.
But nobody here puts one and one together.
Now as we think about this Palm Sunday passage,
you and I,
many of us have been to church nearly all our lives,
and we've got Palm Sunday services,
flashbacks,
and memories.
Do you remember when you were in Sunday school,
and you made palm branches,
and you waved palm branches?
I remember that as a boy.
It was a day,
wasn't it,
of celebration in church life,
where everybody got very excited about Jesus.
There seemed to be lots of faith in Jesus.
Lots of recognising him as king.
And really strangely,
a week later,
the crowd all turned against him,
and started a call for his crucifixion.
That's the way I remember it.
Maybe it wasn't exactly like that.
Be like the crowd on Palm Sunday.
I want to say to you,
as I've read it this week,
I want to say to you that
what is going on at the start of Mark 11
is not faith at all.
There's no faith in it.
And actually the message this morning
is don't be like the crowd.
And I think I can prove that to you.
I think I can prove to you
because all four Gospels record
the coming of Jesus into Jerusalem
on a donkey.
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John,
all talk about it.
So it's a big event.
This is what Matthew says
in Matthew 21.
He finishes with this verdict
from the crowd.
They say Jesus is a prophet.
And I'm absolutely sure
that they've completely missed the point.
They don't say
he is the king.
They don't say he is the Messiah.
They say he's just a prophet.
Luke in his Gospel in chapter 19
finishes with this verdict.
Jesus wept.
He wept and he said to the people,
if only you had known
what makes for peace.
Yet you did not recognise
God's coming to you.
John's Gospel,
chapter 12,
the final sentence there,
the disciples did not
understand what Jesus was doing.
And in Mark's Gospel,
you might have noticed
that he records a number of things
that they said,
that none of the things
that the crowd says
really connect to Jesus.
So I want to ask you
to look with me
at why this is such a lonely ride.
And it's important to think
that it is a lonely ride.
Because Jesus is doing a mission
on his own
that no one else can do.
As we look at verses 9 and 10,
I think it may be
that some of you think,
oh it was so clever
of our minister
to show us these things
that we'd never seen.
And without him,
where would we be
without our great guide
and guru minister?
I want you to know,
perhaps none of you
will say that.
There's always hope there, isn't there?
But I want to say to you,
I am not saying anything
this morning.
I think you couldn't have
figured out for yourself
by carefully reading the text
and looking at
the Old Testament references.
The problem is,
when we come to a familiar story
with this,
we don't carefully read the text.
It's all that.
So first of all,
chapter 11, verse 9.
Hosanna.
Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord.
Blessed is the coming kingdom
of our father David.
Hosanna in the highest.
What does the word Hosanna mean?
It means save.
Save.
It's the sort of thing
that actually,
the people often cried out
when they gathered together
or marched into Jerusalem.
It's a very general word
calling on God
to save us.
Save us.
Save us from what?
It doesn't say
save us from our sins.
It could be just
save us from our oppressors.
It is general.
Oh God,
save us
from our problems.
There's nothing specific
being said about Jesus
in verse 9.
Hosanna.
Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord.
And we think,
don't we,
ah,
that's obviously
talking about Jesus.
They're recognising
he is the son of David.
But if you go back
to the Psalms,
Psalm 118 verse 26,
it's not talking about Jesus.
It's talking about the pilgrim.
It's talking about
the people of God
who go to Jerusalem.
Blessed is the person
who goes to Jerusalem.
Blessed is the person
who goes to Jerusalem
and ends up in the temple.
It's not specifically
about Jesus at all.
And then verse 10.
Blessed is the coming kingdom.
Well again,
that's just standard language.
Looking forward
to better days
without the Romans,
without the oppressors.
There's no direct link
to Jesus at all.
And the final sentence
in chapter 11 verse 10.
Hosanna in the highest.
Save us.
It's vague.
It's general.
It's not related
specifically to Jesus.
It's pretty empty.
And so you need to see
that each of the Gospels
in its own way
is telling us
that Jesus
is on a very,
very lonely ride.
This Palm Sunday,
the crowds
don't understand him.
Not even the disciples
understood him.
They're just having
a standard Passover celebration.
There's no grasp
that Jesus
is the king
at all.
Shocking.
But do you think
it's possible
people could be
so in the dark?
Do you think
it would be possible
for people
to be in a crowd
saying
orthodox things
and singing
things that are
orthodox
but completely
missing
the point
of Jesus
and the person
of Jesus?
Do you think
it might be possible
for that to happen?
Sadly it is.
Think about the
funerals
that take place.
This funeral in the church
can be a very,
very sad funeral
and everybody
in the building
is faced
with the sad
departure
and this great
sadness
and suddenly
a hymn is sung
and they sing
and the song
and the Bible
reading explains
that Jesus
lived and died
and rose
and somebody
will speak
and preach
that Jesus
lived and died
and rose
and somebody
will read the Bible
again
that Jesus
lived and died
and rose
and then you go
to the wake
afterwards
and you discover
that everyone
is standing around
and basically
saying
it's all in the past
there's no future
all but hope
is there
we each drink
and be merry
for tomorrow
we die
but they've got
no idea
who Jesus is
even though
they've been
singing and saying
and listening
nothing has gone in
I heard recently
of a nurse
who went to a funeral
of a hundred year old woman
and the words
of John 14
6 were read
I am the way
the truth
and the life
no one comes
to the Father
but through me
and as the woman
heard that
she said
that is Jesus
she put her faith
in him
and she walked
out of that funeral
believing in the Lord
Jesus Christ
but I tell you
about that
because it is
so so rare
in fact
I can't
think of another
funeral
where I
have heard
of that
happening
think about
Christmas
people pile
into Christmas
services
don't they
still
and they
hear amazing
readings
they hear
that he's
the King
of Kings
that he's
the Messiah
he's the
Saviour
that he is
the one
who gives
second birth
and we discover
who he is
and what he's
come to do
and we sing
about him
and we listen
to him
but nothing
goes in
think about
a normal
church service
where people
sing hymns
they hear
the reading
and they say
the creed
and they hear
preaching
nothing
goes
in
it's possible
to be like
the crowds
on Palm Sunday
to be listening
and singing
and not getting
it
and if we
look very
carefully
at Palm Sunday
I think we
are meant
to see
that Jesus
is alone
he is alone
and we're not
meant to despair
of that point
because
because he
is alone
he alone
is the answer
to our problem
he is the answer
to unbelief
and he is the answer
to our sin
and to our lostness
and by the time
he gets to Jerusalem
and to the cross
and he does his work
the curtain of the
temple is torn
in two
and people
start to pour in
one more clue
in Mark 11
that this crowd
is not appreciating
who Jesus is
here in verse 11
when he actually
gets to the temple
that's the meeting
place where people
meet with God
Mark doesn't tell us
anything does he
there's no red
carpet laid out
for him
there's no people
looking for him
no one is
talking to him
he walks in
he looks around
and in Mark's
gospel
that little phrase
looks around
is always
ominous
it is always
ominous
whenever he looks
around
he is looking
for life
he is looking
for faith
you see it
with the victory
in the next passage
and then how
many does he
have when he
leaves with
12
doesn't he
verse 11
no big crowds
it is perhaps
isn't it
the loneliest
ride in the
universe
and I want to
say this to you
because loneliness
is such a big
issue
I don't mean
being alone
I absolutely
love sometimes
to be alone
but to be lonely
is a very
different thing
isn't it
to be lonely
is where you
feel nobody
is really
connecting with
you or caring
for you
and there's no
guarantee for you
that if things
get worse
that there's
going to be
somebody there
for you
it's a terrible
terrible feeling
and especially
if you've lost
a loved one
and you just
have a slight
panic that you
might be left
alone and adrift
loneliness is a
very big thing
and in a city
like ours
loneliness is an
enormous problem
and there's a lot
of loneliness
out there
and in here
it's not surprising
is it
in a world
where people are
told there is
no loving father
there's no loving
father that exists
whatsoever
it's just you
in an empty
universe
no wonder
there's a great
deal of despair
but God has
two answers
to loneliness
and one
is his son
one is his son
who is able
to bring you
immediately
to a heavenly
father
so that you
return to him
and he runs
down the road
to meet you
and to embrace
you
and the other
partial answer
to loneliness
is God's
family
the church
and although
God's family
is made up
of very
sinful people
like me
and like you
and very
imperfect people
it is one of
the ways
in which God
builds
the bridges
of relationships
in this world
as we begin
to show
kindness
and care
for one another
and we never
do it perfectly
but we do it
profitably
that's the
lonely ride
secondly
the loving
word
first few
verses
I don't know
about Mark 11
but you find
yourself scratching
your head
don't you
at them
and say
what is this
here for
why are you
being told
about this
about a donkey
that's tied up
and you're going
to untie it
and somebody's
going to ask
you why are you
untying it
and if they do
ask you
you will say
I'm untying it
because of this
what is that
all about
why has
Mark put this
in the gospel
I don't get it
but here's the
answer I take
Jesus is giving
his disciples
isn't he
in these really
detailed instructions
and then
relaying the
detailed instructions
when they actually
have them
what is Jesus
doing
he is
giving his
disciples
you and I
a reminder
that he can
be trusted
and that his
words can be
trusted
and the reason
I say this
is if you look
at what he says
he says to his
two disciples
in verse 2
remember they've
forgotten the
Old Testament
haven't they
they don't know
what they should
know
they don't know
what's happening
they're not
thinking but he
wants to help
them
so he says
in verse 2
go into the
village in front
of you and
immediately as you
enter it you
will find a
coat a donkey
tied on which
no one has
ever sat
untie it
and bring it
and if anyone
says to you
why are you
doing this
say the
Lord is
in need of
it and
we'll send
it back
here
immediately
they went
away and
found a
coat tied
at a
door outside
in the
street and
they untied
it
some of
those standing
there said
to them
what are you
doing
untying the
coat and
they told
them what
Jesus had
said and
they let
them go
the implication
is this
isn't it
Jesus knows
what's in
the future
he knows
what is in
front and
around the
corner
and this
is a
prediction
about the
future that
is going to
be proved
to be true
and it's
going to
prove to be
true in a
matter of
minutes
most of the
promises in the
bible you've
got to wait a
long time for
haven't you
hundreds of
years for
but this
promise is
going to be
fulfilled in
minutes
and therefore
the disciples
would have
said to
themselves
he is
amazing
as they
untied that
donkey and
someone comes
and says
exact words
that Jesus
says
what would
you say
to somebody
that says
I'm going
to ride a
donkey
that's never
been ridden
your reaction
is well don't
attempt to
ride it
it's going
to be a
disaster
but Jesus
is lord of
all and so
this is no
problem
so they turn
up they start
to untie the
donkey and
people say
why are you
untying the
donkey and
they say
dot dot dot
and the
owners of
the donkey
say it's
all yours
it's all
yours
so in other
ways nobody
in the scene
is listening
to the word
of God but
the donkey
owners are
listening to
the word of
God
and when
they hear
Jesus needs
it they say
it's all
yours
they cooperate
and the
fourth thing
in verse
three is
Jesus gives
them the
key as to
who he
is
do you
see what
he says
the Lord
has need
of it
the Lord
needs it
the Lord
needs it
and if you're
familiar with
the gospels
you will know
that Jesus
did not throw
the word
Lord
around about
himself
that's not
how he
usually described
himself
in fact he
rarely described
himself in
that way
most of the
time he
called himself
the son of
man
the son of
man is one
of those
phrases like
Bruce Wayne
or like
Clark Kent
it means a
lot doesn't
it if you're
in the
know
but it
doesn't mean
anything
if you're
not in
the know
and son of
man was a
veiled way
of saying
I am
significant
but I'm
not making
it too
obvious
but here he
says the
Lord needs
it and the
word Lord
is the word
used to
describe God
and so
finally he
speaks to
these two
disciples and
he tells them
go into the
city tell the
owners that God
needs the
donkey
Jesus needs
the donkey
and so these
owners of the
donkey get
the point
but I wonder
if the
disciples got
the point
I don't think
they did
did they
Jesus tells
us
John tells
us that
even as they
marched in
with Jesus
on the donkey
they hadn't
listened to the
Old Testament
and they
weren't listening
to Jesus
and they did
not get it
that Jesus
was on a
lonely ride
even though he
had given
them a
loving word
now this
instruction is
to cause the
disciples
you and I
to say
something like
this
Jesus Christ
he knows
what's in
front of us
this week
and he is
in charge
of the
future
and Jesus
controls
the uncontrollable
his words
are to be
listened to
and they are
to be trusted
and they are
to be obeyed
and he
describes himself
as the
Lord
and so
you and I
have a decision
to make
this morning
what will
we
and our
family
if we
have them
do about
Jesus Christ
and if you
say well he's
just a prophet
you've missed
the point
and if you
say he's a
good man
and a
religious leader
you missed
the point
or will
you say
he is
the Lord
he is
God
and me
and I
and my
family
are only
going to be
safe and
sound
and wise
and well
living under
the lordship
and control
of Jesus
Christ
and that
is the
decision
I read a
book called
The Strange
Death of
Hero
by
Douglas
Murray
he's not
a Christian
and he
says Europe
is dying
because of
two processes
one is that
the whole world
is moving
around
and moving
in everywhere
so that the
views of
everywhere
have arrived
and at the
same time
Europe has
thrown away
its beliefs
and its
values
and he
specifically
mentions
Europe
throwing away
its Christian
heritage
Douglas
Murray
is not
a Christian
by any
stretch of
the
imagination
and it's
not a
really
revolutionary
view of
Europe
but it
is simple
a lot
of views
have moved
in all
over the
place
and the
foundational
issue
has been
removed
and he
says that
is why
Europe
is in
no place
to charter
a course
for the
future
that's why
it doesn't
know what
it's doing
so that
when it
goes to
make a
contribution
to Iraq
or Libya
it's got
no concept
of the
right
way
and so
how can
it
charter
a course
for other
countries
it's trying
to influence
let alone
itself
and what
the book
shows is
a fascinating
book
is the
emptiness
of the
world's
ideas
and we
see that
clearly
don't we
in Mark
11
so clearly
the words
of men
here
in Mark
11
they are
really
empty
they're
slogans
that are
being thrown
out
pious
slogans
but you
see this
contrast
don't you
the words
of men
so empty
so futile
and yet
the words
of Jesus
so powerful
so true
so safe
so foundational
we listen
to thousands
of words
each day
most of
which are
completely
useless
in a
week's
time
just
think
of
all
the
things
that
are
being
said
today
that
would
be a
complete
waste
of
space
this time
next
week
and the
words
of
Jesus
are
utterly
necessary
next
week
and the
week
after
and the
week
after
that
and the
deeds
of men
are so
empty
all these
religious
actions
all these
waving of
branches
throwing of
cloaks
but there's
no clue
as to who
Jesus
really is
but when
you are
lit up
by the
person
of
Jesus
suddenly
everything
begins
to make
sense
you
understand
that your
future is
under
control
that you
have
promises
to stand
on
and his
deeds
make
your
deeds
worthwhile
and so
Jesus
is on a
very lonely
road
but he's
on a lonely
road for a
reason
he is the
only one who
understands
his mission
he is the
only one who
can do
his mission
and within
five days
he is going
to be
completely
alone
and he
will cry
on good
friday
my god
why have
you
forsaken
me
forsaken
why
because he
will experience
the darkness
that our
sin
deserves
in order
to give us
freely
the salvation
that he
deserves
and so I
need to ask
you
whether you
and I
are a little
bit like
the crowds
we come
and we sing
our songs
and we
have a bit
of a listen
but no
change
or whether
you're really
hearing the
words
of God
that Jesus
is their
king
and their
saviour
and Jesus
is the key
to your
future
and lord
of your
life
and you
need to
surrender
to him
and have
him as
your lord
let me
tell you
what Jesus
Christ is
like
he goes
on a
lonely
road
right to
the end
to make
sure that
you have
a certain
future
he is
forsaken
by God
so that
you need
never be
forsaken
and he
gives a
loving word
to you
and he
promises to
make sure
that you
can have
a certain
present
right now
let's
pray