Mark 11:1-11
11 When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples 2 and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’” 4 They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, 5 some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. 9 Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,
“Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
11 Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was alread11y late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
A Cheering, Chanting, Dizzy Crowd
A cheering, chanting, dizzy crowd had stripped the green trees bare,
and hailing Christ as king alone, waved branches in the air
They laid their garments in the road and spread his path with palms
and vows of lasting love bestowed with royal hymns and psalms.
When day dimmed down to deepening dark the crowd began to fade
till only trampled leaves and bark were left from the parade
Lest we be fooled because our hearts have surged with passing praise,
remind us God, as this week starts where Christ has fixed his gaze
Instead of palms, a winding sheet will have to be unrolled,
a carpet much for fit to greet the king a cross will hold.
Thomas H. Troeger, 1985