It was an extraordinary climb hiking up from Jericho to the ridge line east of Jerusalem. It easily took the whole day, and the foot traffic would have been pretty dense even without Jesus and His entourage. Near a high spot on that ridge nestled the village of Bethphage, which stood close to Bethany. Jesus pointed out the cluster of buildings, directing two of His disciples to fetch an onager colt. The only reasonable explanation is this was prearranged, for Jesus had many supporters all over this area. It's not important at this point to name who it was, only that the story makes the most sense if we realize Jesus set out intentionally to fulfill prophecy.
Reminding ourselves Mark writes for a mixed Jewish and Gentile congregation in Rome, it is important to realize the emphasis on the pagan background. The basic concept Jesus was teaching a spiritual kingdom, not political at all, was by now clearly established, even in Gentile minds unfamiliar with Jewish history. The symbol of setting aside something which has seen no other use for a religious ritual purpose was in those days fairly universal. Furthermore, it would not be lost on the audience Jesus chose an onager instead of a chariot with white horses. It reinforces the point Mark makes Jesus had no political ambitions, but His mission was entirely spiritual in nature.
Thus, the people tending the colt were holding it for this very purpose. What the disciples said as they untied the colt was pretty much a password, a prearranged signal. Spreading cloaks for Him to sit or ride over, as well as leafy branches, was always seen in ancient times as welcoming a new ruler. This context was undeniably the grand welcome of a spiritual king, over a spiritual kingdom. Oddly, it would have been a large number of Jews there who would have missed the point, including Jesus' disciples. To the very last moment they were still expecting some miraculous overthrow of at least the Jewish leadership, if not the Roman.
Perhaps it would be taken as a tour of inspection, for Jesus didn't say or do anything noteworthy once inside the Temple grounds. This was rather late in the day, and the Jewish leaders would not have had time to react to the news of His symbolic entrance and all the "Lord, save us!" -- which was the literal meaning of Hosanna. Again, it would seem obvious the crowd were only superficially celebrating, because the majority of them completely missed the significance of this symbolic entrance. He didn't inspect the palaces and fortifications of the city, but only the Temple. His interests were clearly on spiritual matters, but the majority were still looking for a political Messiah.
A subtle clue comes in the episode of the fig tree. In this part of the world, fig trees bear fruit year round, even without leaves. All the more so since this one probably grew down in the Kidron Valley where the water table would be higher than most other areas. The fruit would appear in cycles, and this being five days before Passover, the fruit would have been green at best. Still, it was a powerful symbol of the Jewish nation, covered with leaves, but bearing no fruit -- a simulation of life, but actually useless. We see no unreasonable anger here, merely a symbolic denunciation of Judaism itself. While educated readers in Rome probably caught on, the disciples standing there did not. The Jewish people were all flash, but completely barren. Their time on earth as God's fig tree was ended.
Pagans had surely experienced, either directly or by observation, religious shrines where priestly hawkers charged a premium for "worthy" offerings. When you brought your own from home, they never seemed to pass inspection. This sort of cynical corruption could be found all over the Roman Empire. For Jesus to drive out this corrupt market had an obvious significance to anyone outside Judaism. The Temple was meant as a place to meet God, not be plundered by the Temple staff. The portion of Jesus' teaching Mark quotes makes this obvious. This would easily make Him popular with the country folk coming into Jerusalem, for they would be treated worse than the savvy locals in these Temple Bazaars. The officials didn't have enough manpower to take any action against Jesus for such a popular act.
In the minds of His disciples, things were shaping up for a fine showdown with the Jewish leadership. They followed Him with this sense of awe, wonder and expectation. How would He deliver the coup de grace to these corrupt fat-cats? On the way, they passed the same fig tree, and remarked it had withered and died. Whom their rabbi cursed was in deep trouble, so the priests had better watch their steps! As they stood facing the Temple Mount, Jesus was surely thinking about faith, that full commitment to His Father, and how lacking it was in His People. The irony must have made Him laugh even as it made Him sad. The disciples, as did most other Jews, saw the mere externals, missing the deeper spiritual meaning of things.
One day in the near future, that fig tree withering would become obvious to their new spiritual minds. For now, it was enough they would hear teaching which passed completely over their heads. The Holy Spirit would bring it all back in the proper light. The nation of Israel had remained unfruitful because they had been unfaithful. The Lord had come to visit, and they weren't ready. Too late; they were accursed, about to wither and die. Their purpose on earth was ended. The Temple and all its trappings were about to fade into history, a dim memory of symbols badly abused by a people whose hearts were hardened against the truth. Pointing to the Temple Mount in front of them, Jesus said full commitment to Jehovah's revelation would easily displace not only the Jewish leadership, but could toss the whole Mount Zion in the sea. That would have been the Dead Sea, where Sodom and Gomorrah had been tossed for their sins -- whose ruins were still visible in Jesus' day. Faith in the Lord of Heaven would empower removing sin all the way down to the foundations.
It was for this sort of miracle they were to pray, that the Lord should remove anything which stood in the way of His truth: Jewish leaders, Roman soldiers, the empty rituals, the whole racist nationalism of the Jewish rabbis. That includes impediments inside our souls, too. There was no room in the Kingdom of Heaven for grudges. Those who carried bitterness, such as the disciples surely felt for the Jewish and Roman powers, would not find a place in the Kingdom. Let the Father handle sin on the earth, just as He did with Sodom and Gomorrah. Come out of it because love and grace will not let you stay, but leave your anger behind with such a place.
The priests hardly carried such noble motives in their hearts. Seeing the raucous entry one day, the bazaar shut down the next, they were determined Jesus should declare Himself as the Messiah He obviously pretended to be. Just who did He think He was shaking things up this way? It was not yet time to give them that lever, so He answered them with a question of His own. It was obvious He implied the two questions had the same answer. Did they reject John's message? They surely had in their hearts, but would not do so publicly. For now, it was enough they knew Jesus tied His message to John's. Their own dishonesty and hypocrisy would frustrate them a little longer.
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By Ed Hurst
19 April 2008
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