A SIMPLE SABBATH WALK!

 

 ¹ As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, ² saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. ³ If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’” 

 ^{4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,}

   ^{“Hosanna![a]”}

   ^{“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[b]}

 ^{10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”}

   ^{“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”}

 ^{11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.}

^{Mark 11: 1-11}

 

 

Yes, it's Saturday - but walk with me on this.  You have just read what we consider the Palm Sunday scriptures, but if you go back to the passage we read yesterday from John 12.  It says "six days before the passover (the following Thursday, so then on Friday, the eve of the Sabbath) they arrived at Bethany (12:1  ) and then the next day (12:1  ) they went into Jerusalem.

We are going to chat just a bit about being Jewish and in town for the Holy Days.  Imagine all the obedient pilgrims making the journey.  If you were going today, where would you stay?  You would book a hotel.  There is no way that were would be enough room at the inn!  (oh wait - that's another chapter of Jesus' life on earth.)

While Christ and the disciples had a place to stay with Martha, Mary and Lazarus in Bethany, which is just outside of Jerusalem; many others literally could camp outside the gates of Jerusalem, they would set up booths (tents) and sleep with their family and then proceed to the Temple to purchase and have the priests prepare (butcher)  their passover lamb.

Now on the Sabbath you were to rest, so even the Temple was quiet, but the folks were resting in their booths and perhaps others were taking a "sabbath day's walk".  Remember Judaism had strict rules about what you could and could not do on the Sabbath and traveling was one of the restrictions but look to this traditional definition from Bible Gateway.com.

Sabbath day's journey definition :  supposed to be a distance of 2,000 cubits, or less than half-a-mile, the distance to which, according to Jewish tradition, it was allowable to travel on the Sabbath day without violating the law (Acts 1:12; comp. Ex. 16:29; Num. 35:5; Josh. 3:4).

Now, that definition being explained, while in the swelled city during Holy Days, they increased the allowed distance so you could journey from your lodging to the Temple.  Jesus and the Disciples were staying just in Bethany and would have to walk through the camping grounds to get to town and as verse 11 says, they walked to Jerusalem so He could enter the Temple's outer courts. 


As he and the disciples took their Sabbath Day walk the crowd gathered and swelled as they gathered palm branches to wave and even put their coats down.  The fame of this teacher and the buzz of all the miracles and thoughtful teacher let the crowd to cry out.  Hosanna! 


Hosanna has a very simple translation.


What do you think it means?


Hallelujah?


Messiah?


NOPE,

 actually

it is a cry for help,


A cry for salvation,


literally.


What they crowds chanted on that Saturday/Sabbath day long ago was from Psalm 118: 25-26


LORD, save us!  


we read - Hosanna!


What the crowd didn't realized is they were choosing their perfect PASSOVER LAMB. 

They were recognizing Him as Lord. 

They recited the rest of this Hallel (literally hallelujah) that was part of their hymns for Holy Days


    
LORD, save us!
   LORD, grant us success!
  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
   From the house of the LORD we bless you!  (Psalm 118:25-26)


Thank You Lord, for coming and we cry out!  Lord Save US!


And all this happened

on a simple Sabbath day walk

 on their hike to the resurrection!


PRAYING AND OBEYING AS WE PRAY FOR _______________________.