Bible study on Mark 11.1-11

See our Guidelines for a weekly Bible study

Begin with an opening prayer

Lord of all, when Jesus entered into Jerusalem,
the people welcomed him with praise
and gave him the best they could offer.
As we gather here, we ask you to fill our hearts with joy and love.
Help us to understand what it means
to give freely and extravagantly of our time,
our treasure and our talents.
Most of all, inspire us to give you our praise.
Amen.

Read the passage

Consider different ways to read the text. For example, hearing it in more than one version of the Bible.

In an online group, you could share parts between those present, or use/adapt this week’s Share the Word suggestion: Use the Jump to this week's menu on the right to go to Share the Word and scroll down to find the Gospel reading.

Explore and respond to the text

Start by reading the Bible notes below. You may want to read them more than once, or pause after each paragraph to reflect on what you have read.

Bible notes

Riding a horse into Jerusalem and entering its Temple is a very bold prophetic sign, indicating that the promises of Israel’s deliverance are being fulfilled. The two disciples involved in the preparations are told to expect an appropriate response to the Messiah, and this is well expressed in the King James version: ‘ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him. And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.’ The ‘many people’ who greet him also understand the significance of the event. There is a celebratory mood, and the response is generous, as they contribute their cloaks. These were valuable items in themselves, worth suing someone for (Matthew 5.40), and worth repairing properly (Matthew 9.16). But they also express Jesus’ significance, recalling the time that, hearing that Jehu was the Lord’s anointed, people ‘hurriedly all took their cloaks and spread them for him on the bare steps; and they blew the trumpet, and proclaimed, “Jehu is king”.’ (2 Kings 9.13). The anointing of kings is also recalled when we remember that the dying David asked that his son Solomon be allowed to ride to Gihon to be anointed and to Jerusalem to be enthroned as king: ‘and all the people went up following him, playing on pipes and rejoicing with great joy’ (1 Kings 1.32-40). The unbroken horse also recalls the new cart and the previously unyoked cows that brought the ark, after its journey from the wilderness, to its final resting place in the sanctuary in Jerusalem (1 Samuel 6.7; 2 Samuel 6.2).

By Jesus’ time Psalm 118 was used at festivals, sometimes with palm branches, as a prayer for the restoration of the Davidic kingdom. This is made explicit here by the addition to ’Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord’ (Psalm 118.26) of the interpretation, ‘Blessed be the coming kingdom of our ancestor David.’ Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the Temple, and the prophecy that began to be fulfilled by John the Baptist (Mark 1.2) is completed in Christ: ‘See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his Temple’ (Malachi 3.1).

See also:

Hardwired for story Arnold Browne discusses Lent storytelling with Joel Denno.

Reflection

Spend a few moments thinking about what stands out for you from the Bible reading. This idea may help.

A teacher asked students to suggest some modern-day heroes. After a thoughtful silence, one student ventured, ‘It’s difficult, because today we have celebrities rather than heroes.’ As he rode into Jerusalem Jesus seems to be both of those things: well known and acclaimed, like a celebrity; but also recognised as one who is worthy of praise. How do we see Jesus? A good person from history? A celebrity from the past? Where would we have been in that Palm Sunday crowd – on the edge and hanging back? With the crowd that acclaimed him? Or with those who turned on him days later? In today’s world, how do we show that Jesus is someone whose life, death and resurrection have meaning for us now?

Questions for reflection

You may wish to use these questions and the picture to help you think about or discuss issues of sharing.

• What is happening in this picture?
• What is the most extravagant gift you have given or received?
• What do you have to offer as a gift?

A simple worship activity

Offering our ‘treasure’ to God.

• According to what works best in your context, choose an icon, an image of Jesus on the cross or a crucifix, or a verse of Scripture about Jesus giving up his life for all humanity, and make it a visual focus in the worship space.
• Invite people, in silence, to bring their ‘treasured possession cloaks’ (see True value) and place them around the focus. Play (or ask a music group to sing) ‘I surrender all’ or ‘Take my life and let it be’ or a similar song, while this is done.
• Bring the activity to a close by quoting CT Studd, the missionary and cricketer, who said: ‘If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for him.’

Use the Jump to this week's menu on the right to go to more activities in Explore and respond 

Prayer

Adapt to your local context.

A prayer of thanksgiving

We give thanks for all the good things in our lives;
for times of celebration, when we share our best and give of our best.
Praise be to you, Father, for blessing us so bountifully.
We thank you for the one who had nothing,
who rode into Jerusalem on a borrowed donkey.
Praise be to you, Jesus, for giving of yourself so richly.
As we enter the gates of Holy Week,
may we embrace the celebration with all that we have.
Amen.

Use the Jump to this week's menu on the right to find more prayers, including up-to-date intercessions in The week in focus.

A prayer to end the Bible study

Gracious God,
we thank you for bringing us together today.
We bless you for being our hero and the focus of our praise.
Send us out of this place full of love, joy and hope.
Let our enthusiasm be infectious to those we meet,
and may others be drawn to you –
especially in this most holy of weeks.
Amen.

Go with God 24/7

Encourage everyone to put their faith into action.

Using the four words on your cloak as a prompt, think of ways in which all four might be part of your experience of Holy Week – and make them happen.

Encourage everyone to explore their faith this week with the ROOTS at home resource.