Prophesy

Mark 11:8-11  And many spread their garments on the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming! Hosanna in the highest!”
And he entered Jerusalem, and went into the temple; and when he had looked round at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.


Most of the prophesies that existed for the Messiah that Israel was waiting for were outside the ability of Jesus to control. His life death and resurrection all fit into the prophesies so neatly and most  required the unsolicited actions of others even those who hated him. Jesus himself however chose to fulfill this prophesy. Scripture said that the messiah would come ride on a donkey the foal of a donkey on which no other rode. It also spoke of branches and cloaks being plced before him like a royal entry, while Hossanna were proclaimed. It is clear that Jesus wanted people to know who he was claiming to be at this point. The one who had frequently asked people to keep secret who he was, now wanted it shouted out boldly on the outskirts of Jerusalem. He knew he was stirring up those who held power in the city, but he knew his time was at hand. He entered the temple and left again for the country almost immediately. Why enter at all if he was just going to turn around and leave you might ask? He knew that this was the day that the passover lambs were entering the city through the sheep gate at the same time the He the Lamb of God was entering through the opposite gate. The drama was now being framed in unmistakeable form. He could not control those who wanted to eliminate him, but he could agitate them. Jesus wanted to give everyone the clearest message he could about his identity. He knew some would understand and accept following him. So many people make decisions about Jesus without giving any effort at all to understand the threads of the story and how they fit into human history. They make life choices saying Christianity is unreasonable but most without looking at any of the facts needed to make a reasonable decision. I guess I'm just unreasonable that I want to make reasonable choices with the facts not without them.