Mark 11:1-10

The Triumphal Entry. This incident Wellhausen and HNT regard as opening a new section of the gospel, which they end with Mark 13:37. Jesus is now close to Jerusalem, Bethphage (house of young figs) being apparently between Jerusalem and Bethany (? house of dates, so Swete, or house of unripe fruit, EBi, col. 548) and forming one of the limits of the Sabbatic zone round Jerusalem. In the neighbourhood of this village, Jesus adopts a plan which possessed and seems to have been intended to possess Messianic significance. As if all had been arranged beforehand, two disciples are sent to bring an unused colt from the neighbouring village. Jesus knows that all will be ready for Him, and that the assurance of the speedy return of the colt will persuade the owners to release it. The procession formed by the disciples and casual wayfarers, Galilean pilgrims perhaps, follows the road along the Mount of Olives, where, according to Zechariah 14:4, Yahweh would appear, and where popular Jewish belief expected the Messiah to appear (Wellhausen, p. 94). Though to the evangelist the incident is Messianic, it is possible that the crowd did not hail Jesus as Messiah. The agreement of the evangelists as to the cry of the multitude does not extend beyond Mark 11:9, which may constitute the original utterance. It is based on Psalms 118:26 a welcome often addressed to those who came up for the Passover. Hosanna (= Save now) is derived from the same psalm. Is Mark 11:10 Mk.'s expansion? The term Hosanna seems to be misunderstood in this verse. Matthew 22:11 also suggests that the crowd did not regard Jesus as the Messiah. Swete attributes Mark 11:10 to some few members of the crowd. All hailed the prophet, some recognised the Christ.