Read Mark 11:1-11.

In Mark 11, the people heard that Jesus was entering Jerusalem.  The crowd heard about “through the grapevine,” that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.  Behind the literary scene in Mark 11:1-8, the people gathered and waited with anticipation for who was coming!  This is similar to times when families and friends – with others in the neighborhood – prepared for an event like a traditional parade.  Some anticipated seeing someone they heard about; someone they had seen from a distance or someone who had done great deeds.  They wanted to participate with the assembly of people by walking, waving, and cheering.  Afterward, the community and other visiting communities would gather and celebrate mostly in groups, but among one another.  The common thread is the parade and who all came to see in the parade.

Likewise, behind the scene of this periscope, the people are gathering to see the man called, Jesus of Nazareth.  Some heard that Jesus –

•       Drove out an evil spirit on the Sabbath in Capernaum;
•       Healed the paralytic who took up his bed and walked;
•       Healed a man possessed by an evil spirit – Beelzebub;
•       Healed another demon-possessed man in the region of Gerasenes;
•       Raised the daughter of Jairus on the other side of the lake;
•       Healed the woman with the issue of blood by her only pressing her way  and touching the hem of his garment;
•       In the region of Decapolis, Jesus healed the deaf and mute man;
•       Healed a Syrophoenician woman’s daughter who was possessed with an evil spirit;
•       Healed the blind man at Bethsaida;
•       Heard that Jesus – Healed the father’s boy who was possessed with an evil spirit because of the father’s compassion, his plea and faith in Jesus to help his unbelief.

Imagine the curiosity aroused and the anticipation – even now – of the coming of Jesus!

Jesus was revered by some and he was mysterious to others.  They wanted to know and see this man who performed great miracles of healing; this man who showed compassion; this man who taught with wisdom and authority; this man who reprimanded with love.  Who is this man?  What does he look like?  Will I be able to touch him?  Will I be able to hear his words?  Jesus was known not just of healing, but, Jesus fed 5,000 in a remote place with two fishes and five loaves and; at another time and another remote place, fed 4,000 who followed him down to Galilee with seven and a few small fishes.  The crowd was curious also because they wanted to see this man of God, Jesus – this man, Jesus who welcomed and blessed the children; this man, Jesus who did not condemn those who healed in His name; this man, Jesus who revealed to the rich young ruler what was needed to inherit eternal life; this man, Jesus who raised the dead.  Some had seen; some had heard!  Some were converted!  Some were curious!  Some were resistant! Some were furious!

All wanted to see Jesus.  This was an exciting time – and exciting event.  It was a time for celebrating and a time for preparing the way for a person deserving of honor and glory?  They all wanted to see Jesus and celebrate his entry into Jerusalem.

Verse 8 says that, “Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields.”  At parades today, people spread their coats, blankets, paper on the ground and hold their bought or home-made flags and banners.  They want to see!   Those who lived in the city of Jerusalem and others came and were excited; they were curious; they were concerned; they were suspicious!  The people were having great expectations!

But – wait a minute! What do you think was anticipated?

What are your expectations?

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