Mark 11:7-11: a reflection

7They brought the young donkey to Jesus and threw their garments on it, and Jesus sat on it. 8Many spread their garments on the way, and others were cutting down branches from the trees and spreading them on the road. 9Those who went in front and those who followed cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 11Jesus entered into the temple in Jerusalem. When he had looked around at everything, it being now evening, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

Jesus enters Jerusalem as a king, to the cries of Hosanna and Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; but notice how he comes. Not on a war horse, not in the trappings of worldly might, but on a young donkey, with garments and branches spread on the road. The King of kings enters his city in humility, riding a borrowed colt. His kingship is real, hailed by the crowds; but it is a kingship unlike the world's, marked by humility rather than the pomp and force of earthly kings.

Notice the manner of Christ's kingship: humble. He comes as a king, receiving the hosannas of the people; but he comes on a donkey, not a war horse, in humility rather than earthly pomp. The world's kings enter in displays of might and grandeur; but this King enters lowly, riding a borrowed colt. His is a real kingship, but of a different kind, marked not by the force and splendor of earthly rulers but by humility. The King who comes in the name of the Lord comes humbly, on a donkey.

That humble kingship of Christ is worth pondering, for it shapes how we understand his rule and how we are to follow him. We can imagine kingship, and greatness, in the world's terms, as pomp, force, and grandeur; but Christ, the true King, came in humility, on a donkey. His greatness was not the world's kind, and the greatness he calls us to is not either. Consider that the King you follow came not in worldly pomp but in humility, riding a donkey; and let that reshape your idea of greatness. Do not measure greatness, your own or others', by the world's standard of pomp and force; the true King came humbly, and calls his followers to a humility like his. Follow the King who entered his city on a donkey, not seeking the grandeur and force by which the world measures greatness, but the humility that marked Christ's own kingship, who came, though the true King, lowly and riding on a colt.

Lord Jesus, you entered Jerusalem as a king, to the cries of Hosanna and Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; but notice how you came. Not on a war horse, not in the trappings of worldly might, but on a young donkey, with garments and branches spread on the road. The King of kings entered his city in humility, riding a borrowed colt. Your kingship is real, hailed by the crowds; but it is a kingship unlike the world's, marked by humility rather than the pomp and force of earthly kings. Show me the manner of your kingship: humble. You came as a king, receiving the hosannas; but you came on a donkey, in humility rather than earthly pomp. The world's kings enter in displays of might and grandeur; but you entered lowly. Yours is a real kingship, but of a different kind, marked by humility. That humble kingship is worth pondering, for it shapes how I understand your rule and how I am to follow you. I can imagine kingship, and greatness, in the world's terms, as pomp, force, and grandeur; but you, the true King, came in humility, on a donkey. The greatness you call me to is not the world's kind. Help me consider that the King I follow came not in worldly pomp but in humility; and let that reshape my idea of greatness. Keep me from measuring greatness, my own or others', by the world's standard of pomp and force, Lord. Help me follow the King who entered his city on a donkey, seeking the humility that marked your own kingship.