Jesus enters Jerusalem as *Messiah
Jesus and his *disciples went into
Jerusalem. He rode on a donkey.
It made the words of Zechariah the *prophet came true.
Marion Cooper
This study is one of a series of Studies in Mark’s Gospel in EasyEnglish.
A word list at the end explains words with a *star by them.
Mark 11:1-11 (see Mark's Gospel in EasyEnglish)
All Jews had to try to go to Jerusalem for Passover every year. It was nearly that time. The Jews were expecting a special king Messiah to come and free them from the rule of the *Romans. Zechariah had prophesied that the Messiah would come in peace. He would be riding a donkey. The people were very happy to see Jesus and they shouted 'Hosanna'. It means 'please save us now'. But the people did not understand what was happening and Jesus' disciples did not understand. Jesus went into the *Temple and looked at everything. He had friends in *Bethany. He went there with his disciples for the night.
V1 Jesus knew that the Jewish leaders would soon take him to the Romans. Then the Romans would kill him. So why did he go into Jerusalem? What did he feel? Was he afraid?
V2 What was special about the young donkey?
V3 Why did Jesus tell the disciples what they should say?
V6 Why did the people let the disciples take the donkey?
V7 Jesus was the first person to sit on the donkey. Why did it stay quiet?
V8 Many people spread their coats on the road. Some people cut branches to spread. Why did they do that?
V9,10 Why were the people so happy? Why did they shout *scripture? The people did not understand what was happening. Why? What did the people think would happen next?
V11 Jesus knew that the Jewish leaders wanted to kill him. He was not afraid to go into the Temple. So why did he go to Bethany that night?
The people were very happy that day. They thought that Jesus would soon free them from the Romans. A few days later they wanted the soldiers to kill Jesus. Will you love God when he does not do what you expect? Will you love God if other people turn against him?
Bethany ~ a small village that is near Jerusalem.
Disciple ~ a person who wants to do the same things as another person and learn from them; a person who does what Jesus taught.
Messiah ~ the special servant of God; the name that God chose for Jesus. It means the person whom God sent to save people from their sin and be their king; the only person who can put us right with God; God promised the Jews that the Messiah would save them and be their king; they did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah when he came; Jews are still waiting for a Messiah; the person who will come again to rule in God's kingdom for ever; God's anointed person; Christ is the Greek word for Messiah.
Prophet ~ a person who told to other people what God wanted; someone who spoke for God a long time ago; someone who told about things before they happen.
Roman ~ a person from Rome. Rome was a powerful city; it had a strong army.
Scripture ~ another name for God's book, the book of God's holy words, the Bible; the Old Testament.
Temple ~ Jews went to this special building in Jerusalem to meet and talk to God.