1 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples 2 and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” 4 And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. 5 And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go.

~Mark 11:1-6

 

Jesus Drew Near

In today’s Scripture, we begin Jesus’ final leg to the cross. We read that Jesus “drew near to Jerusalem.” Do you hear the resolve? Do you hear the commitment to his purpose for which he was sent to earth? Jesus came for one ultimate goal: to be crucified on the cross as a substitutionary atonement for the sins of humanity to move God’s plan of redemption one critical step forward.

As Jesus drew near to Jerusalem, there were a few important matters to take care of first.

The first order of business was to enter Jerusalem as King. This entrance was more than symbolic. This entrance was a declarative statement of truth. This entrance would be a fulfillment of prophecy (Zechariah 9:9, 14:4). Jesus’ entrance as King on a donkey into Jerusalem would foreshadow his pathway to kingship: humility and lowliness through the cross as a substitute for the sins of man.

What’s more, there could be only one city where Jesus could fulfill God’s plan of redemption, to enter as King: Jerusalem. Why? Jerusalem was Zion. Jerusalem, Zion, was the city of cities in God’s plan of redemption. Jerusalem, Zion, was the Camelot-like home of God’s people, Israel—the home of God’s kings. God fulfilled his plan for Jesus as substitutionary atonement intentionally in the city of Jerusalem to declare his Son as the true King whose path to glorious, victorious coronation first involved the darkest suffering on the cross with a crown of thorns.

Do you see it? Jesus intentionally and resolutely drew near to Jerusalem in the last days before his crucifixion. Jesus came to obey and fulfill his Father’s cross-heavy plan of redemption.

 

What Does This Mean for You and Me? See Jesus’ Covenantal Love

What does this mean for you and me? We’re to see nothing short of Jesus’ covenantal love.

We’re to recognize Jesus’ covenantal love for his Father, the Holy Spirit, and the Scriptures. Jesus proved absolute fidelity and commitment to his Father and the Father’s will. Jesus kept in perfect step with the Holy Spirit who empowered him and guided him into faithfulness to the Father and the Father’s will. Jesus lived true to the Scriptures that revealed the Father’s will.

We’re to, therefore, receive Jesus’ amazing love and be transformed through and through by his commitment to those who place faith in him.

Have you observed in life that one of the most powerful forces to change someone is love? It’s no different in our relationship with God. We’re to be overwhelmed, humbled, moved, undone, smitten, washed, cleansed, forgiven, nurtured, encouraged, challenged, and moved to worship the Father, Son and Spirit as we gaze on the person and work of Christ Jesus.

At the centre of the person and work of Christ Jesus is his covenantal, steadfast love for the Father overflowing onto his people. Jesus is committed to defending you on the merit of his perfect person, work and righteousness before the judgment seat of God. Jesus is committed forever to mediating between you and the Father so you might be reconciled in perfect love to the Father forever.

So rest in Christ Jesus. Learn to be still and rest your body and soul in Christ Jesus’ covenantal, steadfast love for you. Rest, therefore, in the Father’s love for you. Find forgiveness, restoration, strength, confidence and purpose as you continually receive Christ Jesus’ intentional, resolute, steadfast, covenantal love for you.

Rest under the good, loving reign of your King who came to Jerusalem humbly on a donkey as an intentional step toward the cross.

 

Prayer

“Father in heaven, let me be forever changed inside and out by your covenantal love to me as proven through your Son, my Christ Jesus. I want to treasure and be encouraged from deep within by Jesus’ commitment to you, your will, to his Church and, therefore, to me as one who places faith in Jesus. Help me to overflow your steadfast love from inside to out, from my heart to my conduct and speech, for your glory. Amen.”

 

Questions for Reflection (try journaling your answers):

  • Reflect on Jesus’ steadfast, covenantal love for the Father, the Spirit, the Scriptures and the Father’s will. How does Jesus’ absolute commitment encourage you and your faith?
  • Reflect on what Jesus was declaring about the kind of King he is as he prepared to enter Jerusalem on a donkey.
  • Are you living and resting in Christ Jesus’ covenantal and mediating love for you? Or are you striving in your own strength and striving to establish your own merit in life in general and before God?