Mark 11:3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He journeyed to the Mount of Olives to cultivate new olive trees atop the virtues, whose mother is the heavenly Jerusalem (Gal. 4:26). Here, the Creator and all who are rooted in God's house (Psalm 91:14) are able to proclaim, "I am like a green olive tree in the house of God" (Psalm 52:10). This mountain may represent Christ Himself, for He alone has the power to grow such olive trees—not simple trees laden with fruit, but nations that produce fruit in the Spirit. Through Him and toward Him, we rise. He is both the door and the path (Jn. 10:7-9; Jn. 14:6). He opens the way and reveals truth; in Him, those who seek entry find acceptance, and He is worshipped by the perfect.

In a village, a young donkey was tethered to its mother, unable to break free without the Lord's command. The apostolic touch liberated it—an immense miracle, a profound act of grace! Strive to emulate this, and you too will have the ability to release the captive.

Let us recall who, after being banished from paradise due to sin, was confined to the village (Gen. 3:23). Witness how those conquered by death were restored by Life. In Matthew's account, a donkey and a colt are mentioned (Matt. 21:2). Just as both sexes were expelled through the action of two individuals, both are redeemed through the portrayal of these two animals. The donkey signifies Eve, the mother of all error, while the colt represents the entirety of the Gentile nations.

The Lord rides upon a young donkey, aptly noted as one on which no man had ever sat (Luke 19:30), for Christ was the first to draw the Gentiles into the Church. This is reiterated in Mark: on which no one had ever been seated (Mark 11:2). However, the donkey was entangled by the chains of disbelief, subjugated to an unjust master, and forced into servitude by sin—though he could not claim true mastery, as it was acquired through sin rather than nature. Thus, the Lord is proclaimed, with Christ acknowledged as the sole Master. While there are many deities and lords (1 Cor. 8:5), there is one God and one Lord (1 Cor. 8:6; Eph. 4:5). The Lord may not identify Himself by name here, yet He is defined not by individual traits but by the perfection of His essence.

Mark notes that the donkey was secured at the entrance (Mk. 11:4) because those outside of Christ remain on the streets, lacking belonging, sustenance, or shelter. This represents a miserable bondage without clear obligations, where one is owned by multiple lords rather than devoted to a single Master. Many bind to control, yet He liberates, aiming to embrace, for the gift of freedom surpasses all chains.

It is significant that two disciples were dispatched—Peter to Cornelius and Paul to others (Acts 10:1-16, 24-48; Acts 13:2). While the number of disciples is mentioned, their names remain unspecified. For those curious about their identities, one might consider Philip, who, guided by the Holy Spirit to Gaza, baptized the eunuch of Candace and spread the Word throughout the cities from Azotus to Caesarea (Acts 8:26-40). Furthermore, we should not overlook the mention of the disciples’ swift return (Mark 11:3).

However, Jesus could have easily opted for a more discreet entry into Jerusalem, either alone or with His disciples, or could have chosen to avoid the city altogether due to the precarious situation. Yet He deemed this public display essential, and it cannot simply be dismissed as a matter of circumstance. Rather, it emerged naturally from His prior actions. We see echoes of this in Jericho. His intention was further highlighted when, despite the close proximity of Bethany to Jerusalem, He instructed two disciples to go ahead to the village of Bethphage, located on the slope of the Mount of Olives, to retrieve a donkey and a colt for Him. The disciples placed their garments upon them, and Jesus rode a young donkey that had never been put to work. This act was clearly in fulfillment of prophecy, signifying the arrival of the Messiah to Jerusalem and depicting Him as a gentle and peaceful King, deliberately choosing this animal as a symbol of peace rather than conflict (Zechariah 9:9-10). In this manner, He became visible to all, further intensifying the people's excitement.

Jesus did not make His entry into the Jewish capital in a royal carriage pulled by horses, but rather on a humble young donkey, adorned with the tattered garments of His impoverished disciples instead of lavish attire. In this act, the prophecies of the prophets were realized, as Matthew and John recount, fulfilling the words, "Say to the daughter of Zion, ’Behold, your King comes to you humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden."

As a prophet and esteemed teacher, Christ felt compelled to make a prominent entrance, seizing the occasion to reveal His glory one last time. Previously, He had typically entered Jerusalem on foot; now, He chose to ride in, following the example of His ancestor David, who had made similar entries on a donkey. This humble and practical animal held great value in the East, and the Jews cherished various historical associations with it that rendered it more revered in their eyes than the majestic horses imported from Egypt. Additionally, the significance of the donkey was heightened by the prophet's notable proclamation that the Messiah-King would enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9). Thus, the Savior’s entrance into the holy city served as the most effective and clear declaration of His Messiahship.

On the morning of the ninth of Nisan, the Savior departed from His peaceful and welcoming stay in Bethany and, adhering to custom, traveled on foot with His disciples to Jerusalem. After descending into a small valley adorned with fig trees and olive trees, they approached Bethphage, a village so near Jerusalem that it was also deemed part of it according to rabbinical law. At that time, secret disciples and followers of Christ resided in various locations, and He sent two of His disciples to one of them, presumably living in Bethphage, to procure a donkey for His grand entrance. The disciples faithfully executed His command and brought back a donkey and her foal.