Day 27: Misplaced Joy
'Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted: Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!' Mark 11:9-10
Who remembers when Trump came to play golf? It was mental, people lined the streets that led to the golf course while waving and cheering and going wild. There was joy in the air… but really, if we’re honest, it was misplaced. Now imagine that same situation but for someone who is literally out of this world and someone who gives true lasting joy. When I say out of this world, I mean Jesus the Son of God.
Mark 11 doesn’t go into detail with how crazy the atmosphere would have been here but imagine if you were in the city and heard that this big important person was travelling through. You would want to be there in the middle of the crowd waving and cheering him on his way just so you could say “I was there”. While this expectation was building Jesus was just outside the city telling his disciples what he needed. He needed a colt to carry him on his journey. Not a glorious horse, more like a donkey under 4 years old is what he chose. It seems a strange choice doesn’t it? But in it he is telling us something.
Jesus is not the big mighty warrior rushing in to save the day like the Jews expected (He will save, just not in the way they think). The Jews were expecting the fairy tale knight in shining armour, carrying a sword while riding his white stallion fit for the grand national. But No! Instead he was an unexpected king… and yet he would be victorious, not by overthrowing the Roman enemies, but by freeing his people from the consequences of their sin.
Jesus and his wee pals come walking round with him on a scroanie wee horse and people screaming ‘Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ The people are whipped up in a frenzy, but they have no clue what is actually going on. Word spread fast about his arrival and the people started to prepare for Jesus travelling through their city. ‘Is this the King we’ve been expecting’ they are no doubt thinking... you can almost see the joy of the people and how overwhelmed they are as Mark describes the scene to us. Ok they don’t get why he’s really come… but they do get the joy his coming brings, something we often forget even though we may have the why of his coming clearer in our minds.
Here’s a thought… they don’t truly get who Jesus is but they are overjoyed to receive him. Sure soon the crowds’ mood will change, but here they get something right. So what about us? Is it possible we have the reason Jesus came right and yet miss out on the joy? Is it all in our head but not in our hearts and actions? It’s easy to be hard on the crowds here… but if we don’t find joy in our victorious king then surely we have gone too far in the opposite direction.
Jesus, the unlikely king, rode this scabby wee horse to his death on the cross. But his death brought us forgiveness, freedom and hope… so shouldn't that bring us even more joy? Isn’t that something to be excited about? People this is our king, this is our saviour who laid his life down for us and for his church, so let’s rejoice and celebrate him. He is way more impressive than Trump.
Written by Scott Dick
Passage for today: Mark 11:1-11
A thought to remember: Knowing Jesus as our rescuing King should bring us true joy.
A question to ask: Where might I know the truth of Jesus in my head but not feel the joy he brings in my heart?
A song to sing: I stand amazed