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!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
With Bartimaeus healed, Jesus and his followers begin their final approach to Jerusalem. They arrive at Bethany where Jesus will be anointed with perfume at the house of Simon the Leper prior to the Lord's Supper. Mark also places them at the Mount of Olives which is where Jesus will be arrested.
But with these events still to come, Jesus stops now to make preparations for his entry in Jerusalem. He sends two disciples (oddly unnamed) into a village to find him an animal to ride as he enters the city.
He asks them to find an unridden colt which is a reference to a Hebrew Bible prophesy from Zechariah that the Messiah will come in on the foal of a donkey. The disciples are to take it and tell those who ask that the Lord needs it and will return it.
The disciples go off and find the colt as promised. And as one might imagine those around wonder why these unknown men seem to be stealing the animal. The explanation that Jesus has offered the two disciples is enough to mollify them.
In an action that reminds us of Bartimaeus, the disciples throw their cloaks on the back of the animal for a saddle. Others cast their cloaks on the road as Jesus passes. It is almost as if they, like Bartimaeus, have decided that they should give everything to Jesus. They also spread branches from the field as they cover the road to pave the way for the Christ.
It is not surprising that Jesus' first destination is the temple. It has the dual function of being the center of Jewish devotion but also of corrupt religious practice. Mark tells us that Jesus looks around at everything. And the implication may well be that he sees with the same spiritual sight that he has been trying to impart to the disciples. He not only sees, he sees and in so doing understands the reality of the temple. In the book of Maccabes, found in the Appocrypha (a collection of books written concerning the time between the final prophet and the coming of Jesus included in some translations of the Bible), a procession is held with branches being laid when Simon enters Jerusalem triumphantly to restore the temple. A person with familiarity with this tradition would not at all be surprised that Jesus heads to the temple.
But, Mark tells us it was already late so Jesus returns to Bethany. This seems like a particularly odd detail for Mark to include. Why doesn't Jesus delay his trip so that he can arrive early in the morning? If it is so pressing that he begins his journey when he does, why does he not stay and do his work regardless of the hour? Were those who proclaimed his entry disappointed at his lack of action? Could this relate to the delay the church experienced regarding Jesus triumphant return at the end of time? All that can be done is speculate.
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