In our study of Mark chapter eleven, we look at how Jesus' authority was questioned even in the last days. Jesus' authority had been demonstrated through all kinds of signs and wonders. Now we will see that even in the final days before the cross, the people were still questioning Him about His authority over the things of this earth.
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As they were approaching Yerushalayim, near Beit-Pagei and Beit-Anyah, by the Mount of Olives, Yeshua sent two of his talmidim with these instructions: "Go into the village ahead of you; and as soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there that has never been ridden. Untie it, and bring it here. If anyone asks you, `Why are you doing this?' tell him, `The Lord needs it,' and he will send it here right away."
The group was approaching Jerusalem and Jesus sent two of the disciples to get a donkey colt for Him to ride into Jerusalem. The prophet Zechariah had said that Israel's king would come riding on the foal of a donkey (see Zechariah 9:9). This was a direct statement to the Jewish leadership in Jerusalem that He was their King. Jesus told the disciples what to say if their authority to take the donkey was questioned.
They went off and found a colt in the street tied in a doorway, and they untied it. The bystanders said to them, "What are you doing, untying that colt?" They gave the answer Yeshua had told them to give, and they let them continue.
We notice that the disciples did not question Jesus but simply believed and went to find the colt. They had been with Him and seen the demonstrations of His authority over everything. This had strengthened them in their faith to the point where they could act without doubt or questions. They had their doubts earlier in the ministry but, once His authority was demonstrated, it was settled in their hearts and minds. This reminds us that there is a time for questions and a time for submission. We all come to Christ with some questions but, once He is our Lord, we are to do like these two disciples and simply obey. We also see that it went down just as Jesus had prepared them for. This is a good lesson for us as followers of Jesus. If we simply listen and trust in Him, we will be prepared for everything that is to come. He knows all things and so can lead us to the desired outcome.
They brought the colt to Yeshua and threw their robes on it, and he sat on it. Many people carpeted the road with their clothing, while others spread out green branches which they had cut in the fields.
As Jesus rode the donkey people put their coats down in front and others put down branches. This was a sign of submission to a king as most people did not ride donkeys. In times of peace, a king would ride a donkey while in war he would ride a horse.
Those who were ahead and those behind shouted, "Please! Deliver us!"m "Blessed is he who comes in the name of ADONAI!" "Blessed is the coming Kingdom of our father David!" and, "You in the highest heaven! Please! Deliver us!"
Hosanna originally meant something like "save we pray" but it became a term of praise. The people were shouting this and also a quote from Psalm 118. The people acknowledge that there is praise on earth and in heaven as Jesus rides in as King.
Yeshua entered Yerushalayim, went into the Temple courts and took a good look at everything; but since it was now late, he went out with the Twelve to Beit-Anyah.
We see that this first trip into Jerusalem was simply to make a declaration that the King had come. It was late when they arrived so they turned around and went back out to Bethany.
The next day, as they came back from Beit-Anyah, he felt hungry. Spotting in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came up to it, he found nothing but leaves; for it wasn't fig season. He said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again!" And his talmidim heard what he said.
As they were heading back to Jerusalem, Jesus saw a fig tree that was full of leaves. This would have been unusual because, at this time of year, they just begin putting on leaves. As Jesus went to taker a closer look, He saw that this tree that was full of leaves did not have any fruit on it. He would not have been expecting to see ripe figs on the tree as it was not the proper season but there were not even the beginning of fruit on the tree. Jesus "cursed" the tree by proclaiming that nobody would ever eat fruit from it again.
On reaching Yerushalayim, he entered the Temple courts and began driving out those who were carrying on business there, both the merchants and their customers. He also knocked over the desks of the money-changers, upset the benches of the pigeon-dealers, and refused to let anyone carry merchandise through the Temple courts. Then, as he taught them, he said, "Isn't it written in the Tanakh, My house will be called a house of prayer for all the Goyimp But you have made it into a den of robbers!"
On this second entrance to Jerusalem, Jesus went to the temple courts which was the place of the Gentiles. He found that it was more of a business than a place for people to meet to pray. He drove the businessmen out and quoted from the prophet Isaiah. We notice that He did not condemn the businessmen but simply let them know that there was a time and a place for business and it was not at the temple. One might wonder what Jesus would think if He entered some of the "churches" of today where all kinds of things are sold. What would He think of the bookstores, coffee shops, etc.?
The head cohanim and the Torah-teachers heard what he said and tried to find a way to do away with him; they were afraid of him, because the crowds were utterly taken by his teaching. When evening came, they left the city.
The religious leaders knew that they had to get rid of Jesus. They saw that the people accepted His teaching and so they feared losing their positions. This was how they survived and kept their families. There was no way they were going to let Jesus establish His kingdom at their expense. Once again, they left the city to spend the night at Bethany.
In the morning, as the talmidim passed by, they saw the fig tree withered all the way to its roots. Kefa remembered and said to Yeshua, "Rabbi! Look! The fig tree that you cursed has dried up!"
The next morning, they began their third and final trip into Jerusalem. On the way, Peter noticed that the fig tree was dead and he excitedly pointed it out to Jesus. We notice that the disciples wondered at the fact that the words that Jesus spoke were fulfilled but they didn't even bother to ask why He had said them. Even at this late stage in Jesus' ministry on earth, they were still more focused on the physical than the spiritual things. So, why did Jesus curse the tree? Even though it was not the season for ripe figs, the tree was all decked out like it was time and this is a picture of what was going on in the temple. There were all kinds of religious leaders putting on a show of serving God but, in reality, it was only a show. This is similar to what Jesus said to the church in Laodicea about being neither hot nor cold (see Revelation 3:15 & 16).
He responded, "Have the kind of trust that comes from God! Yes! I tell you that whoever does not doubt in his heart but trusts that what he says will happen can say to this mountain, `Go and throw yourself into the sea!' and it will be done for him. Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, trust that you are receiving it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive your offenses." Some manuscripts include verse 26: But if you do not forgive, your Father in heaven will not forgive your offenses."
Jesus met Peter's wonder with a simple lesson on prayer and authority. He was amazed at the tree so imagine what he must have thought when Jesus said that he could make a mountain move. The lesson gets a little harder when Jesus spoke of forgiveness. We remember that during their trip to Jerusalem there was some bad feelings between the disciples over James and John's request. Was Jesus saying that they need to let that go? For us, even as Christians, true forgiveness is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. That is why Jesus said that it was necessary for God to forgive us of our sins. The Holy Spirit is a sort of identification card that says we are a child of God.
They went back into Yerushalayim; and as he was walking in the Temple courts, there came to him the head cohanim, the Torah-teachers and the elders; and they said to him, "What s'mikhah do you have that authorizes you to do these things? Who gave you this s'mikhah authorizing you to do them?"
On this third trip into the city of Jerusalem, Jesus was met by the religious leaders. They intended to stop any further display of Jesus' authority. As those who were used to being in charge, they asked Jesus who gave Him the permission to do what He had been doing.
Yeshua said to them, "I will ask you just one question: answer me, and I will tell you by what s'mikhah I do these things. The immersion of Yochanan -- was it from Heaven or from a human source? Answer me." They discussed it among themselves: "If we say, `From Heaven,' he will say, `Then why didn't you believe him?' But if we say, `From a human source, . . . '" -- they were afraid of the people, for they all regarded Yochanan as a genuine prophet. So they answered Yeshua, "We don't know." "Then," he replied, "I won't tell you by what s'mikhah I do these things."
Jesus met their questions with a question that they could not answer. We see that it was not a matter of not knowing but it was a matter of politics. If they had acknowledged that John was a prophet, they would have had to accept his testimony about the identity and authority of Jesus. If they denied that John was a prophet, they feared that the people would revolt against their authority.
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