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Apr 10, 2023 18:30pm

Hosanna, He is Worthy!

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If you haven’t had the privilege of meeting my mother in-law, you are missing out. Some women cringe at the thought of being around their MILs but mine is far different. She is one of the kindest, most caring, and generous people you’ll ever meet. Just recently, she went into town and stopped at a store and found two nice sweaters. When she returned home, she was showing them to me, and I commented how much I liked one of them. She returned with it and said, “it’s yours”. While she bought this for herself, she wanted me to have it. And, of course, that’s not the first time that’s happened. Her giving spirit never wants to see someone go without. She wants to give the very best of what she has.

As we dive into our study of Mark this morning, we see the significance of Jesus riding in on a donkey. We’ve studied this before, realizing that He fulfilled the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9 which states, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon a donkey, and upon a colt the foal of a donkey.” What did it mean? For a king to ride a horse would have meant he was coming to wage war on the enemy. But a donkey, this represented that the king was coming in peace.

“And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him. And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way. And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.” (Mark 11:7-10)

The Jews were willing to accept Jesus as their King. In this passage they even shout, “Hosanna” which means save us. They were ready for a king to rescue them from their oppressors, the Romans. But Jesus was more than what they were asking for. He was coming to give peace.

So today, I want us to focus on another tiny portion of this scripture that stood out to me. That happens to you, too, I’m sure. You’re reading and all of a sudden you seem to notice something you hadn’t before. You think on it just a little bit and try to understand it on a deeper level. And then, the realization hits you and almost takes your breath away.

I love those moments.

Let’s go to verse 7 again. “And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him.”

The disciples bring the colt to Jesus, but before he mounts the donkey, the disciples stop, take off their cloak and put it on the donkey. This provided a saddle of sorts for Jesus to ride on. And they were attempting to keep His own garment clean from the filth of the animal. So, what’s so significant about that?

Let’s talk about their garment – their cloak. This was very important to them. Especially since they were traveling and sleeping outside. The cloak would protect them from the cold, the winds, the sun. It also was used for bedding as they slept. A cloak was of great value to them. These men, who had given up everything to follow Jesus, simply had the clothes on their backs, and here, they offer even that to Him.

I’m going to stop there and say, whew! Man! What are we willing to give up to follow the Lord? Will we give everything? Even the things that we hold of high importance and value?

Just a week later, Jesus was led to Calvary. He hung on that cross, taking the sins of the world with Him. They hung on Him like filthy rags of a well-worn and tattered cloak. He took that old garment stained with sin to give us a robe of white.

And in the end, as Christians stand before God, bowing to His authority and power in Heaven, what will we have to offer Him then? We will have no garment to cast. Instead, all of our service to Him that has been done on this earth will be formed into a crown. And this is what we will cast at His feet. This is what we will pay before the King of Kings! The garment is no longer needed to cover the sins of man. Jesus is Victorious over sin, death and hell. The King deserves the crown.

He is worthy!