1. Mark 11:11 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

How is the King Jesus received in Jerusalem?

Mark 11:11 (ESV)

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.

We do not read about a reception in Mark. When we read Matthew there seems to be a difference between the crowd who escorts Jesus and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Matthew 21:10–11 reads: And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, Who is this? And the crowds said, This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.

Luke tells that Jesus wept over Jerusalem, knowing what would happen to the city (Luke 19:41–44).

The crowd shouts Hosanna in the highest! and in Psalm 118:27 the call is: With boughs [= branches] in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar. But there is neither a respectful reception of the King, nor a festal procession.