Mark 11:1-11 (Palm Sunday) – March 24, 2024

The Familiarities and the Differences

It’s Palm Sunday! So of course, there are familiarities within some of the Gospel accounts. In all three of the Synoptics, we hear about the two disciples going on ahead and get the colt or donkey (or colt and donkey – Matthew) that have never been ridden. And we hear that the disciples are given instructions on what to say when confronted about why they are taking it. Then we hear that cloaks and coats are thrown onto the colt and then some cloaks and leafy branches are thrown onto the road while some group of people begin to chant a variation of “Hosanna! Blessed is the one that comes in the name of the Lord!”

But there are a few differences that are very interesting. And maybe there’s something there for our preaching this week.

The Gathered Group

First, there is a group of people that are preparing this day and chanting.

In Matthew, there is an interesting turn of phrase used, “The crowds (ὄχλοι – ochloi) that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting… (27:9).”

In Luke, it says, “As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude (πλῆθος – plethos) of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen saying… (19:37).”

And Mark says, “Those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting… (11:9).”

These are all so beautifully indicative of their gospel patterns. In Matthew the crowd indicates that there are both disciples, other followers, and others that are a part of this group. Not all are necessarily Jesus followers. And so that some are drifting ahead of him makes sense as they wouldn’t know Jesus’ teaching otherwise.

In Luke we have a multitude (a very Lukan word) of disciples. So, these should all be people that have heard Jesus’ teaching, seen his miracles, and know him. Their chanting is joyful and talks of his deeds of power. There is no mention of anyone’s position or placement. The conflict happens with the religious leaders who are angry about what the disciples are saying (see 19:39-44).

But Mark is beautifully simple and yet profoundly important. These are all followers. There has a been a crowd growing and growing throughout Mark. This group here has been following him since at least Jericho (10:46). They have seen his miracles. They have heard his teaching. In fact, this crowd in particular may be the same crowd that he called together just a couple of weeks ago in chapter 8. After Jesus rebukes Peter the text reads (Mark Vitalis Hoffman translation), “^8:34 And he called the crowd together, along with his disciples, and he said to them, “If anyone wants to come behind me, they’re going to have to deny themselves and take [up] their cross and start following me.”

And this is the critical verse to understand what is happening here in this Palm Sunday scene. The Greek is very direct in instructing the placement of discipleship. It is behind, following Christ. And yet here Mark already begins to show how the followers are breaking down (one of the Markan themes in his Passion narrative). “Those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting… (11:9).” This is a very direct criticism from Mark. Those who are out ahead are not in the position of discipleship.

The Next Step

What happens next in each of the Gospels is interesting too. In Luke, Jesus starts conversing with the Pharisees maybe even before he is off the colt (as they are upset about what his disciples are shouting). But then he immediately goes into the temple to drive off the moneychangers.

In Matthew, he goes straight to the temple and drives out the moneychangers and then he begins healing folks who are brought to him in front of the religious leaders as children continue to shout, “Hosanna to the Son of David.” And then he leaves the city for the night.

Mark is again beautifully simple. It reads, “Then 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.”

First, Mark is very clear to say that Jesus leaves the city of Jerusalem every night while they are in the area. He almost always retreats to Bethany. The first night that he stays in the city is for the Passover meal (Last Supper) when he is betrayed and arrested. Jesus knows that he is most vulnerable at night. He is most vulnerable when the crowd is not around him (public witnesses that are not just the twelve). This is because Mark is making clear that the arrest and trial are unjust (see Mark 14:53-65).

But this leads to the more important point. Jesus has to leave the city this night because his followers are already gone. Not the twelve, but the other followers. Those who went ahead of him. And this is the first abandonment in Mark (a theme in Mark’s Passion).

There’s this περιβλεψάμενος (“looked around”) that seems to only ever be used by Mark (6 times) and only once in Luke. And it always seems to be Jesus (or once the disciples at the transfiguration) looking around at people. It’s different from his “turning and looking (ἰδὼν)” when rebuking Peter in chapter 8. But here it says he “looked around at everything.” While the translation of “everything” is good, it doesn’t necessarily rule out that he wasn’t also looking for people. He maybe looking and seeing the temple for the first time in a while. He may be seeing the moneychanger tables that he will return to first thing in the morning the next day. But maybe he can only look around at things because the people are no longer around him. Because after he looks around realizes that he needs to get out of the city (since it is only when he stays the night in Jerusalem that he’ll be arrested at the Passover meal). He needs to get out of the city because the followers (the crowd) are no longer there as the public witnesses.

And if this is the case, then this is the first abandonment in the Passion story. As this crowd of followers (the Markan understanding of followers) doesn’t really come back in the story. There is a crowd in the temple as Jesus argues and debates with the religious leaders, but they are not described as those following him any longer. And so, this is the first “fleeing” or abandonment of Jesus in the Passion. First the crowd of followers (here), then the twelve (14:50), then Peter (14:72), then the women at the tomb (16:8).

Jesus is looking around for this crowd that has been following for almost the entirety of the Gospel and now they aren’t there. A foreshadowing of the discipleship to come.

Preaching Possibilities

The Two Crowds/The Same Crowd

There’s always a two crowds’ sermon on Palm Sunday. Each of the Synoptics set this up in their own way but Mark and Matthew really hit it strong. There is a crowd of followers that ushers in Jesus but where are they after? Where are they on Good Friday?

I really think this is a powerful trajectory any year. It’s important for us to remember that we are the crowd that shout “Hosanna!” and we are the crowd that shouts, “Crucify Him!” Mark’s Jesus is left by all those who he should be able to count on. Jesus’ only support comes from random folks along the way. Simon of Cyrene who helps carry the cross. The centurion who says, “Truly this man was God’s Son!” And Joseph of Arimathea who advocates for the body and lays him in the tomb. But all those who should stay, flee.

Mark is compelling the audience, us, to do things differently. Something that I will talk more about in my Easter commentary. But first we have to recognize our patterns first. How have we run away? How have we turned into the second crowd? How have we walked away from the trying times of the work of God?

Get out ahead of Jesus

If I can land it, this is the way I hope to go this week. The posture of discipleship is following Jesus, not leading. But that is not at all congruent with the thoughts of the Church or the world right now. We are all looking for leaders. In the world, are looking for elected officials who will lead us on the right path, paving the road ahead of us. In business and jobs, we are looking for leaders to run projects for our company or for the next innovative idea that will change the world as we know it. In the Church we are looking for pastors, deacons, council leaders, committee leaders. The church is also looking for innovative leaders, trying to find the person who has the answer or the magic idea that will fill the pews again. We are looking to get out ahead. Ahead of the competition, ahead of the problems, ahead of Jesus.

And yet, as we keep looking for these leaders to change the world, to change the church, to make it all better, really what we are asking for is a Savior, a Messiah. And not a Savior like Jesus but a conqueror and innovator. Someone who will fix it all for us. We think we know what’s best, and so we are out ahead looking for this person who can do it our way and yet also fix all the problems we don’t know how to address.

But Mark very clearly shows us, the place of leadership in the kingdom of God is following Jesus, never getting out ahead. Because when we are out ahead, we set our minds on human things, not divine (8:33). When we get out ahead, we focus on our needs and our people and not on those around us. When we get out ahead, we draw lines in the sand and build up walls. When we get out ahead, we worship what makes us feel good.

The place of discipleship is following Jesus. Because Jesus will lead us to places that lead us toward God and neighbor. That knocks down walls and erases our lines. That gives equitably to all. That worships our God and calls us to love our neighbors. That calls us to the cross and the places of suffering in this world. That calls us to the empty tomb and places of new life in this world.

Where are we in this procession this Sunday? Are we getting out ahead of Jesus thinking we know what is best? Or are we following the way, knowing that only Jesus can lead us to new life?