• 马可福音 11:1-11

荣入圣城

1耶稣和门徒快到耶路撒冷，来到伯法其和伯大尼，在橄榄山那里。耶稣打发两个门徒， 2对他们说：“你们往对面村子里去，一进去的时候会看见一匹驴驹拴在那里，是从来没有人骑过的，把它解开，牵来。 3若有人对你们说：‘为什么做这事？’你们就说：‘主要用它，但会立刻把它牵回到这里来。’” 4他们去了，看见一匹驴驹拴在门外街道上，就把它解开。 5在那里站着的人，有几个说：“你们解开驴驹做什么？” 6门徒照着耶稣的话说，那些人就任凭他们牵去了。 7他们把驴驹牵到耶稣那里，把自己的衣服搭在上面，耶稣就骑上。 8有许多人把衣服铺在路上，还有人把田间的树枝砍下来铺上。 9前呼后拥的人都喊着说：

“和散那！

奉主名来的是应当称颂的！

10那将要来的我祖大卫之国是应当称颂的！

至高无上的，和散那！”

11耶稣到了耶路撒冷，进入圣殿，看了周围的一切。天色已晚，他就和十二使徒出城，往伯大尼去。

大约2000年前，在今天所称的“棕枝主日”，耶稣以弥赛亚王之姿（彌賽亞 Masiah 原文是受膏者，意指受上帝指派，來拯救世人的救世主），在凯旋队伍中进入耶路撒冷。这在圣经中早有预言（诗篇118:25-26）。进入耶路撒冷的人群欢欣鼓舞，高声歌唱。

这座城有许多门，离橄榄山最近的是东门，又称金门，耶稣就是通过它进城的。今天，这道门被封闭并锁上了，因为犹太人仍在等待他们弥赛亚的到来（以西结书44:1-3）。他们不相信弥赛亚已经在2000多年前穿过这道门了。

附近村子里有一匹“从来没有人骑过”的驴驹，被征召来参加这场游行。耶稣派了两个门徒去取它（马可福音11:2）。不知两人一路上说了些什么。大多数时候，耶稣出行都靠步行，为什么这次要骑驴呢？原来这在撒迦利亚书9:9曾有预言。这头驴被赋予了独特的荣誉，可以背着耶稣走。有趣的是，有些驴子的背上有十字形的毛，这当然令我们想起这头把耶稣驮进了圣城的卑微驴子。门徒解开驴子要给主耶稣使用时，驴子的主人质问他们为何要这么做（路加福音19:33）。他们说：“主要用它”，村民们就允许他们把驴子牵走，让它去完成神圣的任务（马可福音11:3-6）。

群众欣喜若狂，门徒们也是如此。他们可能认为耶稣是大有作为的政治弥赛亚，要把他的百姓从罗马人的铁轭中解放出来。他们没有意识到，耶稣其实并不是政治弥赛亚，而是真正从天上来寻找和拯救他迷失之民的弥赛亚。如果他们注意到耶稣并没有去皇宫，而是去了城中的圣殿，他们也许就会意识到耶稣的真正身份和使命。

耶稣到了圣殿，“周围看了各样物件”（马可福音11:11），注意到圣殿中滥用和不忠的行为，因此将在第二天做出适当的回应。但现在，他和门徒们一起回到伯大尼。门徒们可能对他们所看到的一切兴奋不已，期待着荣耀和伟大，而没有意识到乌云正聚集在耶稣周围。

思考

记住耶稣是“从天上来寻找和拯救他迷失之民”的弥赛亚，将如何塑造你看待现在世界局势的方式？这能给你什么安慰？

我们是神的殿（哥林多前书3:16；6:19）。如果耶稣现在进入你的内心，他可能看到什么？他会看到恐惧和担忧，还是对他的信任和依靠？让他对你说话，然后在祷告中回应他。

• 花点时间向神献上感恩与祈求

• Mark 11:1-11

The Triumphal Entry

1 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples 2and 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. 3If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” 4And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. 5And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. 7And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. 8And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. 9And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”

11 And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

Some 2,000 years ago, on what is known as Palm Sunday today, Jesus entered Jerusalem in the triumphal procession of the Messiah King. This was prophesied in Scripture (Psalm 118:25–26) and the jubilant crowds entering Jerusalem shouted in song.

The city had many gates, and the gate nearest the Mount of Olives, through which Jesus entered the city, was the East or Golden Gate. Today it is covered up and locked, as the Jews continue to await the coming of their Messiah (Ezekiel 44:1–3), refusing to believe that He already passed through it some 2,000 years ago.

A colt of a donkey in a nearby village, that “no one had ever ridden”, was recruited for the occasion; Jesus sent two of His disciples to get the donkey (Mark 11:2). We wonder what their conversation was along the way. Most of the time, if not always, Jesus walked when travelling. Why a donkey this time? It had been prophesied in Zechariah 9:9. This donkey was given the unique privilege of carrying Jesus on its back. It is interesting to note that some donkey breeds have hair on the back in the shape of a cross. Surely they remind us of this humble donkey which carried Jesus into the holy city. The owners of the donkey questioned the disciples who were untying it for the Master’s use (Luke 19:33). When they said, “The Lord needs it”, the villagers released the donkey for its sacred task (Mark 11: 3–6).

The crowd was elated. So were the disciples. They may have thought of Jesus as the powerful political Messiah who would free His people from the iron yoke of the Romans. They failed to realise that Jesus was not a political Messiah, but truly the Messiah who came from heaven to seek and save His lost people. If they had noticed that Jesus did not go to the palace but to the temple in the city, they might have realised His true identity and mission.

Jesus went to the temple and “looked around at everything” (Mark 11:11). He noted all the abuse and unfaithfulness going on in the temple, and on the next day He would respond appropriately. But for now, He returned to Bethany with His disciples, who were probably excited by all they had seen and anticipating glory and greatness, not realising that the clouds were gathering around Jesus.

Think It Over

How will remembering that Jesus is the “Messiah who came from heaven to seek and save His lost people” shape the way you look at world situations now? What comfort does it give you?

We are the temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19). What might Jesus see as He enters your heart now? Would He see fear and worry, or trust and dependence on Him? Let Him speak to you and respond to Him in prayer.

• Take a moment to give thanks and prayers to God