Mark 11:1-5
Mark 11:1 (KJB)
And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount
of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,
Jesus and His disciples had now come near to Jerusalem. Bethany was about 2-3
miles east of Jerusalem. Bethphage was about 1 mile from Jerusalem and the Mount
of Olives was a little closer about 5/8 of a mile which was a Sabbath Day’s
journey. Bethphage was on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives. The name “Bethphage”
means “House of Unripe Figs” and the name “Bethany” means “house of unripe dates
or the house of affliction.” Jesus had arrived six days before the Passover on
Friday. (John 12:1 KJV) Then Jesus six days before the passover came to
Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
Once they were on the Mount of Olives, Jesus then dispatched two of His
disciples.
Mark 11:2 (KJB)
And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon
as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat;
loose him, and bring him.
Jesus sent them into the village of Bethphage and when they enter into the city,
they will immediately find an ass and her colt. They were not to separate the
two but were to untie them and bring them to Jesus. (Mat 21:2 KJV) Saying
unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find
an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. This
also shows us of the omniscience of Jesus because He knew where the colt was and
the fact that there were two of them together, one being the mother and the
other the colt. The colt was to be one which man never rode upon. (Num 19:2
KJV) This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD hath commanded, saying,
Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without
spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke: Whenever an
animal was put to sacred use, it was one which was not used in ordinary life
such as plowing or riding. Jesus was born in a womb never used before and buried
in a tomb which was never used before. When they saw the colt, they were to
untie it and then bring it to Jesus who was about to ride on a colt never ridden
on.
Mark 11:3 (KJB)
And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of
him; and straightway he will send him hither.
It would have been normal for the owner of the animals to object and Jesus knew
there would be an objection because the owner would not know if they were being
stolen. Jesus told them exactly what to say, that the Lord had need of them and
then he would allow them to be taken. This man must have been a disciple of
Jesus because he allowed them to immediately go with the other disciples.
Mark 11:4 (KJB)
And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place
where two ways met; and they loose him.
The disciples had ventured into the city and they found the colt tied by the
door. The place was “where two ways met” was a road which was like a curving or
winding street. It is possible that Bethphage was so small that it had only one
winding street. As soon as they saw the colt they untied it. This was done in a
public setting so no one could claim that the donkey and colt were being stolen.
The disciples had obeyed the word of the Lord, the exact way that He told them
to respond to the man who owned them. They did not fully understand at that
moment what was happening but they obeyed Him because by now they knew that He
did not do anything on a random basis.
Mark 11:5 (KJB)
And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the
colt?
Since this was a public place, the disciples had untied the colt and those that
were standing there had asked them why they were loosing the colt. It seemed
there may have been a little protest on behalf of the ones who were asking the
questions.