In a series of excerpts from his work Hunches About Jesus: Mark's Gospel for those who Read the Bible to Children, BRUCE C. WEARNE discusses separate events from Mark's account...

Easter Sunday, 8th April, 2007

WITNESSES TO DEATH AND NEW LIFE (MARK 15:47 - 16:8)

Mary Magdalene and Mary, mother of Joses, saw where he was laid. When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?" But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. "Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell His disciples and Peter, `He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you'." Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

PICTURE: Chris Chown (www.sxc.hu) "God commissioned these women to be witnesses. They had only minor status as witnesses in a Jewish court and no status at all in the Roman legal system. But in God's jurisdiction they are called to be witnesses to the resurrection of the Son of God. That is what they are called to be: witnesses. And as such they helped change the world."

In a Nutshell
How do you summarise a resurrection? The truth that God had raised Jesus from the tomb is discovered.

Question
So what did they do with the anointing burial oil?

Have a good close look at your Bible. Here is Mark's statement of Jesus' resurrection. Just like the statement of how they crucified him, it is very brief. Matthew's account is brief also (Matthew 28), as is the statement of Luke who adds some other later appearances of Jesus. John's Gospel is the longest and includes a few stories as well. It is as if Mark is saying: "Well, here it is! This is what happened. I have said enough for you to work out what has taken place here." By writing this, young Mark was actively giving his own view of events.

Look again at how Mark refers to Mary. At one point it is Mary mother of Joses, at another it is Mary, mother of James. And it seems this is Jesus' mother who is being referred to. What's going on? We don't know for sure, but it seems like Mark is telling us that James and Joses were also young witnesses to what took place. Was Joses with Mary when they saw where Jesus' body was laid? Was James there when they discovered the body was gone? That's what I think Mark means by referring to Mary in this way.

The angel's comments are interesting. Why did he identify Jesus as a Nazarene? Why use that word? The women were being reminded of Jesus' special birth. Salome and Mary Magdalene would have had to wonder what that meant and they would have asked Jesus' mother what the angel was talking about. This is extremely interesting. Was it Jesus' resurrection which encouraged Mary to tell her part of Jesus' story, accepting the role God had called her to play in Jesus' life, from His birth? Was this the moment of Mary's "coming out"? Not that she had anything to be ashamed of in God's eyes but remember how the people of Nazareth hated Jesus. Remember the miracle Jesus experienced about their lack of faith? Remember the man shouting in the synagogue at Capernaum? Mary had to live with that, too.

Read this passage again. The angel pointed to the place where Jesus' body had been. This messenger, whoever he or she was, told them that they should have no doubts about it - Jesus had risen from the dead. They are witnesses of this and so their task is to tell the other disciples, and Peter.

To tell Peter - the disciple who had said he would never forsake His Master; who had confessed that Jesus was indeed the Christ; who had rebuked Jesus for saying He would be killed; who drew his sword in Gethsemane; who denied knowing him in the Chief Priest's courtyard. Peter seems to have suffered a nervous breakdown. Peter would later become the leader of Jesus' disciples.

The angel gave tasks to these women - they were to proclaim the resurrection. They were sent - women apostles to the apostles. But they could not carry out their mission. Not as yet. They were afraid. They were set in their ways and had no confidence that anyone would ever believe them. But from the time the angel instructed them their lives began to be transformed. They, and women disciples of Jesus ever since, and the rest of us, are directed by the same word - "He has risen. He is not here!" That angel added: "You are not to be alarmed!"

Something so important was at work. The women were given a task no-one else could do. We can say that if God hadn't given them the strength and faith to do it we would not be reading Mark's Gospel. That's how important it was. They are just like everyone else - they are not capable of doing it out of the resources and abilities of their own lives. Yet, they are called to be witnesses to the resurrection. Before Peter and any of the other disciples had confronted the evidence, God commissioned these women to be witnesses. They had only minor status as witnesses in a Jewish court and no status at all in the Roman legal system. But in God's jurisdiction they are called to be witnesses to the resurrection of the Son of God. That is what they are called to be: witnesses. And as such they helped change the world.

These women who had followed Him from Galilee were the first to be told that they would see Him again in Galilee. And so, their witness was important for how Mark later collected data for the writing of this Gospel.

7th April, 2007

SATURDAY - REALLY DEAD AND BURIED (MARK 15: 42-46)

It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.

PICTURE: M Nota (www.sxc.hu) "Here was Jesus - the Son of Man who had nowhere to lay his head - being laid to rest in a rich man's tomb."

In a nutshell:

The funeral is prepared.

Question:
Think about and answer this question: who crucified Jesus?

If the soldiers left the crucified victims alone, it could take days for them to die. It could sometimes be a long drawn out process. You can imagine that the soldiers at the site might often receive orders to hurry things along if those executed weren't dying quickly enough. It is a barbaric form of execution.

It's easy to be cynical about governments, churches and councils, especially when they contribute to injustice, making innocent victims into punching bags for frustrated soldiers. And yet that was also happening here. This was a Friday execution. Why the need to hurry things up? Let's discuss that briefly.

The Romans conducted crucifixions. If they took place on a Sunday or Monday then, presumably, the dying convicted criminal had four or five days to die. But not so if they were crucified on Thursday or Friday. Why? From what Mark tells us it was not "the done thing" to leave bodies hanging around on crosses just outside Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. Better clean this place up we're worshipping God. Get those bodies off the crosses. Get it over with quick. The Roman soldiers would have been used to speeding up the execution process toward the end of the week. It was apparently out of respect for the locals. The Roman Governor obviously ordered the speed up. And so on this Friday afternoon a barbaric form of execution became even more so. Those dying were finished off quickly.

Joseph of Arimathea was a member of the highest Jewish council which made decisions for the Jewish people. He was not happy about what had taken place, and he had enough respect from other Council members to take action. As a Rabbi, he respected Jesus and was concerned for His family. He was sensitive to their celebration of the Passover and what was to follow. So he ensured that Jesus' body was given an appropriate funeral. He knew God's Law requires respect for the dead. In this way Jesus' body was saved from a mass burial late on Friday before sunset, before the Sabbath began.

That was also how Mark was able to tell us that Pilate had verified the death of Jesus. Joseph took responsibility for the burial. We are told of this man assisting the grieving women with a very difficult task, helping them take down the body of Mary's son from the cross. Salome, Zebedee's wife, seems to have gone off on other business. Joseph's kindness relieved Jesus' family and friends of a big burden. They would then wait. Wait, for the Sabbath day to pass before going ahead with a proper funeral.

So I wonder. Who could this Joseph of Arimathea be? Was he the rich young ruler that Jesus loved? Remember Mark 10:17-31? I don't think it was that person, but he was wealthy and Jesus' teaching had challenged him. We can say that much. And the story is also ironic not so much for his kind offer but because in time it was shown that Jesus didn't need the grave.

Here was Jesus - the Son of Man who had nowhere to lay his head - being laid to rest in a rich man's tomb.

Good Friday, 6th April, 2007

THE ULTIMATE CRIME (MARK 14:60-64)

Then the High Priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?" But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the High Priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" "I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." The High Priest tore his clothes. "Why do we need any more witnesses?" he asked. "You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?" They all condemned him as worthy of death.

PICTURE: Zapa Csitul (www.sxc.hu) "My hunch is that many there did not understood what was going on, but, like the High Priest, they were scared, deeply afraid of Jesus."

In a nutshell:
The trial moves to it's climax. The High Priest asks the most important question anyone could ask Jesus. Jesus answered and the High Priest was satisfied. The case was decided. Jesus was guilty, guilty of blasphemy.

Questions:
Think about the High Priest's question. Could asked this question have been asked in a different way? Was he interested in really listening to Jesus' answer?

What was going on? For background you might read Daniel 7 again. Jesus was referring to a passage about the Son of Man being given judgment over all the nations of the world. Jesus tells the High Priest that those claiming to serve God must give full respect to God's Messiah. That was the Old Testament promise. The High Priest is not God's Special Ruler. Mark tells us that that was too much for the High Priest. He showed the others there his opinion of Jesus. This man had to die for what he said. My hunch is that many there did not understood what was going on, but, like the High Priest, they were scared, deeply afraid of Jesus.

I don't know if Mark was there - wouldn't he have been traumatised? Clearly those who were present told him about it later. That's how he got his story.

The High Priest went one way, and then went the other. He was furious. Jesus answered simply and humbly. This made the High Priest look foolish. At last, he found the question of questions to ask this Galilean teacher, the One of whom John the Baptiser had said was the lamb of God sent to take away the world's sin; the One in whose presence His disciples had heard, clear as a bell, the voice of the Heavenly Father saying "You are my own first-born belovéd Son, and I am mightily delighted in You".

The High Priest's question was this: "So Jesus, are you the Son of God?"

Matthew's Gospel at this point has Jesus replying to Caiaphas: "You've said it!" That is similar to what Mark says. Luke reports Jesus saying: "If I say so and tell you, you won't believe, and if I ask you (what you think) you won't answer".

Mark's report (like Matthew's) indicates that Jesus answered by referring to what the book of Daniel teaches about the Son of Man coming on the clouds of glory. We discussed earlier how Jesus answered when asked about the destruction of the temple. From now on, He taught, His disciples must tell the time not by looking forward, not simply relying on the sun, moon and stars to do their work. They are to wait boldly and full of hope for Jesus' to come to deliver God's full justice.

It's not a detailed report of the trial. You can imagine words being passed from one person to another, and someone coming up to Peter's fire and saying something like, "Well, when I left, Caiaphas was asking Jesus whether He is the Christ." And someone else coming up after that saying "I left just after that and Jesus had said 'Yes, that's right!'" So my hunch would be that when it says Jesus said "I am", this was the report that came through to the crowd who were waiting below. A buzz went around. "He's admitted it! He's finally told them!" In John's Gospel we seem to get a fuller eyewitness, court-side view of the trial. It's the gist we have here, a summary.

Mark seems to be reporting the information that came to the crowd through the servants and other people who were able to look on. It was a shameful trial and I suppose at some point the doors may have been closed and unimportant people told to leave. But in Mark's account there is the quote from Daniel

"(A)nd you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of heaven..." (Daniel 7:13)

This was what provoked Caiaphas. The exchange between Jesus and the High Priest was full of an amazing tension - the world has never seen another like it. The Messiah came to welcome all who believed into the Kingdom of God. The Messiah, the Son of Man, came to give His life, as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. But having come, the reception He was given was that of threats, jealousy, spite and torture. And He did it for you and me.

5th April, 2007

ARREST, FIGHT AND FLIGHT AND A YOUNG MAN STREAKS AWAY (MARK 14:43-52)

Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, appeared and with him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard." Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Rabbi!" and kissed him. The men seized Jesus and arrested him. Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. "Am I leading a rebellion," said Jesus, "that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled." Then everyone deserted him and fled. A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.

PICTURE: Jonathan Ruchti (www.sxc.hu) "This young man was there. In the midst of the violence he was there with Jesus. The militia tried to grab him and Mark gives us a picture of a young lad in his pyjamas, wriggling free of their grasp and making off, stark naked. They were left holding his night-shirt."

In a nutshell:
The 12 had fled but a young disciple stayed with Him until he was forced to run for his life, naked.

Questions:
Do you think this was Mark? Could it have been anyone else? Why?

Jesus spoke to the terrorist militia and let them understand the injustice into which they had been conscripted.

Why this secrecy? Why act under cover of night? Is this a legal arrest? Day by day I have been in the temple. You are arresting me now because of your own cowardice.

And as He said this, His disciples took the opportunity to get out of there.

"...they all forsook him and fled" (verse 50).

All of his disciples, the inner members of his school, fled, but not all.

One Bible book I have says that there seems no purpose in these verses unless they refer to Mark himself. But even if this is not Mark we could say that this report would still be relevant to the people for whom it was originally written. They would know who it was referring to, or they would have had a good idea who it could have been. Among the group in Gethsemane were those who were not aware of the great danger. Some seem to have come expecting to camp out for the night. And it was not just the group of - now 11 - disciples. The militia tried to seize this young man as well, and this indicates that the militia might have been trying to round up Jesus' associates - young and old - as well.

This young man was there. In the midst of the violence he was there with Jesus. The militia tried to grab him and Mark gives us a picture of a young lad in his pyjamas, wriggling free of their grasp and making off, stark naked. They were left holding his night-shirt.

By including this, Mark indicated that there was at least one eye-witness to what was taking place. The boy in his pyjamas could tell what happened when Jesus was arrested on that night, then and later. My hunch is that this is not only to identify the writer of the Gospel; it is also to remind some of the leading Christians at the time that he was a genuine follower of Jesus. Though only a lad, he was a genuine disciple with great courage.

Later on, Paul and Barnabas fought and argued bitterly over Mark. Barnabas maintained his concern for his nephew - would not a young lad who had been with Jesus at Gethsemane during that Passover night trauma have the event imprinted upon his personality. Might it not make him very nervous when other events like it occurred later in his life?

Paul said to Barnabas, "Let's go back to visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing." Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, along, but Paul did not think it wise to do so because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. (Acts 15:36-41).

So when we read of the naked lad running away we have a hint about where Mark may have been when the events took place. My hunch is that Mark's Gospel was part of his attempt to persuade Paul of important matters related to the proclamation of God's Kingdom, including the place of children in Jesus' scheme of things. Mark was an eye-witness, and he was also a part of the fellowship of the gospel. You might like to do some research about this fellow Mark. These links may help you. Here is Stubby Fingers Story and Mark's Tale.

Paul later found Mark to be very useful. From prison where Paul wrote about the greatness of Christ over the entire creation, Paul commended young Mark, reminding his readers to take him seriously. I suspect Paul had by then read Mark's Gospel. I suspect it made a big impact on the former Pharisee.

"My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. You have received instructions about him. If he comes to you welcome him." (Colossians 4:10).

And it is worth remembering something Paul says to his youthful co-worker, Timothy: "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example." (1 Timothy 4:12)

Later he writes: "Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you because he is helpful to me in my ministry" (2 Timothy 4:11).

Mark's story is the story of a young man who came to be known as Stumpy Fingers. He seems to have been close to Jesus from his time in Galilee until his trial, execution and resurrection. His story is also very useful for us.

4th April, 2007

THE ANOINTING (MARK 14:3-9)

"He was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper when a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly. "Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."

PICTURE: Ibon San Martin (www.sxc.hu) "My hunch is that what Jesus said about her pouring oil on his body for his burial did not hit home with her until the morning of His resurrection. At that time this woman was with others, who were distraught because they were not able to find the body to perform their funerary rites. But then Jesus appeared to them and so that's how they came to realise that an anointing had been done back when this woman broke the vase of perfume."

In a nutshell:
At a party in Bethany, Jesus defended a woman who had poured expensive oil on Him.

Questions:
Think about how this story came about. Who would have told the story to Mark?

Remember when Jesus healed Jairus' daughter? We didn't get all the intimate family details. There are reasons why we were not told all the facts. Jesus commanded Jairus and his wife and His disciples to keep it secret. Jesus judged that it was more important for the crowds to hear that the little girl had been healed, than to know all the family details.

But on this occasion we do hear about what happened in Bethany. It is told in Matthew 26: 6-16, John 12:1-8 and Luke 7:36-50. These accounts differ; that shouldn't worry us.

Mark tells us that something important took place. We don't know all that happened, but it is clear Jesus had a special relationship with this woman. My hunch is that what Jesus said about her pouring oil on his body for his burial did not hit home with her until the morning of His resurrection. At that time this woman was with others, who were distraught because they were not able to find the body to perform their funerary rites. But then Jesus appeared to them and so that's how they came to realise that an anointing had been done back when this woman broke the vase of perfume. That was a week or so earlier.

It's a wonderful and tender story. Many ask whether this was the woman brought before Jesus caught in adultery. It's possible that this woman was also Lazarus' sister. She seems to have had a special place in this house. Jesus' love and forgiveness were on display. Mark tells us this man, a Pharisee called Simon, had once been a leper. Seated at Simon's table, were Lazarus - whom Jesus had raised, and there was Jesus waited on by various servants, one of whom was this Mary, the one named Magdalene.

Jesus did a lot of important things in the lives of many. We only know a few of these, not all of them. But what we are told is sufficient. On this occasion in the house of Simon the Pharisee, this Mary broke the perfume. This challenged Jesus' disciples, especially Judas, the treasurer for the group (John 13:29), who pointed out the great expense (John 12:5). Couldn't it have been sold and the money put in the temple box? Remember what Jesus had said about the widow who put in her last two cents? We don't know if Judas knew this woman but we do know she was a disciple and that Jesus accepted her devotion. The perfume expressed this. Had Jesus asked her to do this? Maybe, maybe not. However she had obtained it, whatever her background, however virtuous or sinful she had been, Jesus was not worried. He was glad of her devotion. And Mark leaves it at that. He doesn't tell us all the scandal that the disciples discussed among themselves. Once opened the perfume had to be used and Jesus wore it.

Judas saw one thing. Expense and he was in charge of the money. Hadn't Jesus said that His disciples should display poverty? Remember what He said when He sent them to proclaim the Kingdom?

"Take nothing for the journey except a staff - no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra tunic. Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town..." (Mark 6:8).

So, why was He allowing this woman to anoint him at such expense? Mark indicates it was not just Judas but presumably a group of Jesus' disciples who were made uneasy by this act. "Why this waste?"

Jesus' reply indicated that those questions were impatient and driven by envy. Much more was happening at that point but Jesus stayed in control. And this was the moment Judas was prodded into betrayal. Mark does not write to condemn Judas - he tells us it was a group of them who complained about the "waste". We should not forget that! But Jesus supported the woman. He defended her against the criticism. Luke later discovered what Simon was thinking.

"(T)he Pharisee who invited Him saw it, and said to himself, 'If this man were a prophet, he would know what sort of woman this is who touches him, for she is a sinner'" (Luke 7:39).

Really? How did he know she was a sinner? How did he know she had at one time sold herself with her perfume to men? And what was she doing in his house to begin with? (Read what Jesus said to Simon in Luke 7:36-50). My hunch about Luke's story is that it tells us how and when that Pharisee became Jesus' disciple. At the moment the woman broke open the flask of perfume, Jesus broke open the hypocrisy of that Pharisee's use of women. His blatant disobedience to the Law of the God of Israel stood exposed. For Luke this was the story of how Simon the Pharisee came to repent and believe the gospel of forgiveness.

But for Mark it is story that tells us how Mary came, in time, to be a witness of Jesus' resurrection. My hunch is that from this time her friendship with Jesus' aunt Salomé, the wife of Zebedee and mother of James and John, was cemented. As Lazarus recuperated after his ordeal with death, he also was deeply encouraged by what Jesus did on that day. It helped him get better. Maybe this Mary was also Martha's sister. And something pretty big had gone down that day. Not all knew about it, but Mark includes it as part of the story of Judas' betrayal, as part of the story about who were the first witnesses of Jesus' resurrection.

Mark tells us that when Jesus was waited on so tenderly by a woman in a Pharisee's house, Judas' loyalty snapped. His record is one of great sadness. It tells us that Judas turned against his Master at the moment this woman professed her faith and became a firm disciple.

3rd April, 2007

JESUS ARRANGES HIS OWN TRANSPORT (MARK 11:1-10)

"As they approached Jerusalem in the vicinity of Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus asked two of his disciples to go on ahead. "Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, there you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, `Why are you doing this?' tell him, `The Lord needs it and will send it back here directly.'" They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some who were standing there asked, "What are you doing, untying that colt?" They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!" "Hosanna in the highest!" Entering Jerusalem Jesus headed for the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve."

PICTURE: Oltin Dogaru (www.sxc.hu) "The King would come on a donkey - this is a wonderful picture because the King, the One designated King of Kings and Lord of Lords would come humbly bringing mercy. His triumph was to gather a forgiven people."

In a nutshell:

This is the story of the final preparation for the final leg of Jesus' journey to Jerusalem.

Questions:

Why should Jesus ride on a donkey?

On a hot and humid day you just know when it is about to thunder and pour down. You wait. You just know it's going to rain. But have you ever waited like this and the rain doesn't come? Has that ever happened to you? The humidity gets worse. Your body tells you it's going to rain and...it doesn't rain?

Perhaps that was something like the suspense of the disciples when they arrived at the outskirts of Jerusalem. They expected things to get clearer. They were Jesus' disciples and they were committed to following their Rabbi. He had been teaching them many things. They had benefited but they also knew there was opposition. They sensed a storm was coming. And now it seemed closer than ever. This was the final stage. We can imagine the disciples wondering: what is Jesus going to do to stamp His authority on God's rebellious nation?

Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey!

Some thought that Jesus would lead a political uprising. When such followers heard His teaching, they didn't stay around for too long. But now crowds of ordinary people gathered to meet Him at the road junction of the twin cities of Bethphage and Bethany, on the outskirts of Jerusalem. The good and righteous Rabbi sent by God had arrived. The people were glad to see Him. They joined in His procession. Some sensed it was an important historical moment in God's dealings with His people.

But there's something else to take from this passage. Jesus did many things which weren't written down. He had friends all over the place. In this passage we read He had contacts in Bethphage and Bethany. And it also seems that this was the time that His disciples first came into contact with this network. This colt was there ready for Jesus for the final leg.

The way Mark tells it, Jesus was acting with great care. Mark was also careful, avoiding the names of the people involved. It seems that at the time he initially composed this that it was still necessary for him to protect those in the 'Christian network' in those regions.

But at that time, the plans of the religious authorities to kill Jesus were well advanced. Later, after having Him killed, they continued to hunt down His followers. Mark recorded these things with care. A little later on, we also read that other un-named contacts helped Jesus prepare for the Passover celebration. But first He stayed with His friends in Bethany.

Jesus taught by parables and during this part of His trip to Jerusalem He taught by an active living picture by responding to the Old Testament's teaching of the Messiah. The King would come on a donkey - this is a wonderful picture because the King, the One designated King of Kings and Lord of Lords would come humbly bringing mercy. His triumph was to gather a forgiven people.

And so they were all singing as they went. One of the songs was from Isaiah (62:11):

Look what the Lord has proclaimed
The ends of the earth will hear;
Tell the daughters of Zion:
Your salvation is coming near.
He comes to be rewarded
His full payment now is due.

and also to another from Zechariah 9:9
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout aloud, Jerusalem maid.
Look out and see your King is on His way to you;
He is certainly triumphant
He great victory shall receive,
But humble and riding on an ass,
A mere colt, the ass's foal.

Jesus' inner circle of disciples saw how He had planned this Messianic actions. And they with the crowds now saw the teaching 'live'. Jesus was continuing to teach about the Son of Man and God's mercy. Arriving on a hired donkey's foal this was an important moment. He had been teaching them about the Messianic prophesies since Galilee and Caesarea-Philippi. They had found it difficult to understand. And now His disciples were part of a procession singing about the arrival of God's Prince. God keeps His promises, but what had He come to do? How would he conquer? How would he receive His reward?

These are edited portions of Hunches About Jesus: Mark's Gospel for those who Read the Bible to Children which was initially written with assistance from the Australian Research Theology Foundation.