Mark 11

Bring the Colt

Mark 11:1 And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,

All male Jews were required to go to Jerusalem annually for the Passover service. This would be the final time Jesus would go, his death and resurrection were near.

Mark 11:2 And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.

The traditions of the Jews was that the Messiah would come on a mighty horse as a conqueror or on a colt in peace. A colt was symbolic of peace to them. When he returns from glory he will come on a white horse.

Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Rev 19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
Rev 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

Mark 11:3 And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.

Because of the authority of God's son, the man would do as asked.

Mark 11:4 And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him.

A place where two ways met, like a cross. Those of the world going one way meet the savior at the cross and are saved. They go his way to heaven.

Mark 11:5 And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt?
Mark 11:6 And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.

They let the colt go. The colt had never been sat upon. Normally it would buck the rider and protest, but this was God the Son who had dominion over all creation. The colt would peacefully submit. At the name of Jesus we all should submit, for he is our peace and our rest. Yet, God has given us a free will to respond to him in faith or to turn away. In the final days all will say that Jesus is Lord.

Phil 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Phil 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Hosanna

Mark 11:7 And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him.

This was their sacrifice for him. They gave their best clothing for the master, as a saddle.

Mark 11:8 And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strowed them in the way.

They made a royal path with their garments and palm leaves.

Mark 11:9 And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:

At last Jesus receives praise and adoration, even if for a short time.

Mark 11:10 Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.

They thought Jesus was coming to set up his Father's kingdom in Jerusalem. Hosanna means: save, I pray thee. Soon they would be shouting: crucify him, crucify him. For this was the purpose for which he came. By his shed blood many would be saved from death and hell.

Fruit Inspector

Mark 11:11 And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.

Jesus enters the temple, passing through the courtyard of the Gentiles, where money changers were stealing and animals were being sold for sacrifice. He sees this. He enters the temple, to see a magnificent building, but the keepers had no fruit, they were not speaking God's message and reaching the world. Perhaps he caught a glimpse of the scribes and Pharisees and saw the fear and envy in their hearts. They were plotting to kill Jesus. Satan was in the temple. Religion had replaced the word and Spirit of God. He left with his disciples to Bethany, he had seen enough.

Mark 11:12 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:
Mark 11:13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.

Perhaps the fig tree, was a symbol of the temple, or those who were in authority. These looked magnificent, as the tree in full bloom, but with no fruit. The time of the figs was not yet. Usually the figs start early to grow and when the leaves are grown, so are the figs, but there was no fruit on this tree.

Mark 11:14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.

Jesus pronounced a curse on the tree. He was not usually angry except with those religious leaders, the scribes and Pharisees, who did not do as they were supposed to do. They were as the tree, hypocrites, giving false hope and no fruit.

Mat 15:7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
Mat 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Mat 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Are we doing as God wants? Are we obeying his word and giving others truth?

Thieves and killers in God's House

Mark 11:15 And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;

The money changers exchanged foreign currency to the currency of the temple and they cheated, charging more than what was fair. Each male had to pay a temple tax in the currency of the temple. The sacrificial animals sold at the court of the Gentiles were the only accepted sacrifices. With so much money handling and corruption, this was all the Gentiles could see of the temple, for this was the only place they could come to worship.

I have seen this as well in our country, where those who have felt that they could not openly enter a church would watch a TV preacher, but most of the message was about getting their money. What does Jesus think of this? He casts them out and overturned the tables of the money changers.

Mark 11:16 And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.
Mark 11:17 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.

They had defiled the temple with their shameful practices. The temple was to be a house of prayers, but he said they had made it a den of thieves, a place where robbers hide out.

Mark 11:18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.

They feared Jesus and were jealous of him and his popularity. They plotted to destroy him. This was not the way of godly people of faith, but of the devil who seeks to kill, steal and destroy. Thieves and killers had taken their places in the temple

Mark 11:19 And when even was come, he went out of the city.
Mark 11:20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
Mark 11:21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.

The fig tree that Jesus spoke against had withered away. We must beware who we speak against. We have power to curse or to bless.

James 3:10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

Jesus came to save, not to curse you. He was only upset with those that were appointed to bring God's word to you, who were thieves and killers and destroyers of his holy word.

Release the power of God

Mark 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

The first step in prayer, is to have faith in God.

Mark 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

We need His power to move the daily mountains and obstacles. This is Holy Spirit power, which had not yet come to stay with them. This power comes through Jesus. By prayer, God intercedes for us. We pray according to his will and according to his word. That is the way to pray.

Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Belief is the first step to faith, they are similar words.

Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Mark 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

One thing will block your prayers and maybe keep you from going further in God's Spirit.

Mark 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Mark 11:26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Search your heart and see if there is someone you can't forgive. They may not be worthy, having sinned greatly against you. But, for your eternal life and prayer life, we must forgive them. God will forgive you. Your forgiveness will bring God to the one who is undeserving of forgiveness. They will have a chance to repent and receive Jesus, and if not they will perish in their sins. But? You will not perish with them. As children of God we are to seek to save the lost. Unforgiveness means we still are under bondage to someone's sin.

1 Sam 2:9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
1 Sam 2:10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.

They will mock Jesus and they will mock you. He forgave offenses, so must we.

1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

What authority?

Mark 11:27 And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders,

All the highest authority of the religious system came to him, but not seeing Jesus as their Lord. In the church, Jesus is the head and the Lord of all.

Mark 11:28 And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things?

By the authority of God His Father he did all things.

John 15:23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
John 15:24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

Mark 11:29 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.
Mark 11:30 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me.
Mark 11:31 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
Mark 11:32 But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.
Mark 11:33 And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

They were outwitted and their little trap did not work. They were not of God's Spirit but full of self righteous pride.

Mat 23:28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Luke 11:32 The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

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