Had I been Jesus’ public relations guy, I would have insisted on two changes. One, can the donkey. Two, take over the town.
Read how Jesus ran it and see what you think . . .
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 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. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.'” They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “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!” Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve (Mark 11:1-11).
This starts the climax of Mark’s Gospel. He’s covered almost three years in 10 chapters. Now he’ll use 6 chapters to cover one week. Obviously this week is the core of his report. It starts with Jesus doing something completely out of character. Up to now he’s tried to stay “under the radar.” He’s warned recipients of his miracles to say nothing. But this Sunday he directs an entrance into Jerusalem sure to make headlines.
At Bethany, about two miles outside Jerusalem, he sends two disciples to get a donkey. Frankly, the details Mark writes are a bit tedious, especially since he records Jesus instructing the disciples in the donkey-getting details, then records the details of them actually getting the donkey. Not nail-biting drama. Mark, why not just write, “Jesus sent two disciples to get a donkey and shortly after they returned with one”?
Of course, if I’d been Jesus’ PR man—no donkey! I mean, is this animal appropriate for a king? Jesus sat on this poor little thing and his feet almost dragged on the ground!
Now this, this white stallion, this would have been the way to go! Impressive. Stately. Kingly. From nose to tail this one says, “Conqueror”!
I wondered why Jesus insisted on a donkey “which no one has ever ridden”. Later I found out a never-ridden donkey was considered to be “set apart for a special purpose.” Even obtuse me knew then that Jesus was making a statement using that donkey! What, I wonder, was it?
Now the parade, that went well. Of course, it was Passover season. Jerusalem’s population swelled as faithful Jews from all over the country—all over the Empire—made the pilgrimage. Gossip about Jesus’ powerful works and words spread. So when he started the two-mile trip into Jerusalem, he rode a road packed with pilgrims. The nearer to the city, the bigger the crowds.
And what they shouted was genius—“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!” Messianic words from Psalm 118:25,26! They were cheering Jesus as Messiah! Man, I bet that grabbed the attention of some of the self-centered, stuffy old Jewish priests! And that must have stirred reporters with dreams of high ratings! This was BIG NEWS!
But then—I couldn’t believe it—just when he enters the city and the cheering crowds are biggest and loudest and even the priests are chewing fingernails about what he’ll do next, he just goes to the temple, looks around, glances at his watch, sees it’s getting late, and he turns around and leaves town. Doesn’t confront the priests. Doesn’t threaten the Romans. Doesn’t give an “I’m-taking-over” spellbinder of a speech. He lets the critical moment fizzle. He just walks out of Dodge. Not even an, “I’ll be back!” A PR man’s nightmare. Make’s you doubt he’s Messiah. All show, no action.
Of course, Jesus directed the whole event. So why the fizzle-ending when it looked like the whole world had gone after him?
I’m just a PR guy and, like I said, I would have done the entry-thing differently. Even so, I’ve got two guesses why Jesus did it the way he did. One, the donkey. If a white stallion stood for pride and power, that little donkey stood for humility and weakness. For some reason Jesus, his feet dragging at the side of that little animal, was saying, “I’m humbling myself and coming to Jerusalem in weakness.”
Two, the fizzled-ending. If Jesus had dragged King Herod by the ears and thrown him into the gutter, his aim to throw out the corrupt politician and take over would have been unmistakable. But by just sliding off the donkey, dismissing the crowd, looking around and then leaving town, he must have left everybody—friend and foe alike—with a nagging mystery: What will this Jesus do next?
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