Mark 11:1-10
New International Version
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King 11 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!”
Friday - October 29
The blind man named Bartimaeus was at the very bottom, literally. He was blind and needed others to help him. He was a beggar and depended on the generosity of others for everything. Geographically he also lived in Jericho, which was located near the Dead Sea, and sits roughly 900 feet below sea level. Even the geography was against him! But then his faith in Jesus saved him and he started to follow Jesus up, literally, to Jerusalem, the city of David and the site of the Temple of God, which sits roughly 2,500 above sea level. He follows Jesus, the Son of David, the true king of Israel, into Jerusalem where he will be crowned with thorns and lifted up onto the glorious cross. We, too, follow Jesus up to the cross where we are saved.