Final thoughts on Mark 11:9
. . . “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!” NKJV
This phrase is found three times in scripture. The first time is in Psalm 118:26 in which it is used in a Messianic prophecy foretelling the acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Messiah and Savior by the nation of Israel.
The second time is in our present text in Mark 11:9 where the Jews shouted the phrase at Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, foreshadowing His second coming as the triumphant King who will establish His throne in Jerusalem and rule the nations of the world in righteousness. The Jews, who were familiar with Psalm 118:26 and spoke these words, were looking for a Messiah to come and deliver them from the Roman Empire and restore Israel to its former greatness. These words from the mouths of the Jews became meaningless as they eventually rejected the Lord Jesus Christ as their Messiah and Savior.
The third time these words are uttered is by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself in Matthew 23:39. Following the Jews’ rejection of Him as Messiah and Savior, Jesus departed the temple for the last time telling them that their house was left to them desolate and that they would not see Him any more until they said, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!” In these words, Jesus foretold the end-time conversion of the nation of Israel in which the Jewish remnant will accept Him as both their Messiah and Savior (Zech. 12:10, 13:7-9; Rom. 11:25-27). The acceptance of Jesus as their Messiah and Savior by end-time Israel will be immediately followed by Jesus’ visible and glorious return to the Earth in which He will establish His throne in righteousness and rule over the nations of the Earth (Psa. 2:8-9; Isa. 9:7, 16:5; Lk. 1:32-33; Rev. 12:5, 19:13-16).
Bethel Bible Church Hawaii 