Mark 11

Mark 11:1

Having seen Jesus as the Servant living His life in service in chapters 1-10, chapter 11 marks the beginning of the second section of Mark’s Gospel, wherein we see the Servant giving His life in sacrifice. In so doing, Jesus will make a presentation of Himself as King in verses Mar_11:1-11, followed by provocation as He drives the moneychangers from the temple in verses Mar_11:15-18, and finally by examination as the political and religious leaders question Him in verses Mar_11:27 to Mar_12:37. The population of the city of Jerusalem would have been three times its normal number due to the influx of people who had come to celebrate Passover. In addition, Josephus tells us there were ten times the normal amount of Roman soldiers in the city, guarding against any potential uprising from the zealotsthe group of radicals determined to overthrow Roman rule in Israel. Consequently, it was with soldiers watching, people bustling, and the city almost bursting at the seams that Jesus made His way toward Jerusalem. “Bethphage” means “House of Figs.” “Bethany” means “House of Dates.” Bethany is located two and a half miles outside of Jerusalem; Jesus passed through these two small towns on His way there. Two thousand six hundred feet in elevation, the Mount of Olives offered a commanding view of the city of Jerusalem below.

Mark 11:2

The Lord hath need? Why would the Creator of all things have need of anything? The reason He borrowed a manger, a boat, a donkey, an upper room, and a tomb is because He who was rich for our sakes became poor (2Co_8:9). Why? He chose to place Himself in a position where He would need to partner with us in order to see His will worked out through us. This is incredible to me. God didn’t have to go that route. But He’s chosen to place Himself in a position where He will not do what He desires to do in our families, communities, workplaces, marriages, or schools without our partnering with Him. Why? He’s getting us ready for the next billion years when we will be ruling and reigning with Him. “Why should I bother to pray or to study the Word, to worship or to fellowship with other believers?” you might ask. “It doesn’t really matter.” Oh, but it does. Somehow in God’s economy, His blessing and moving in this world are dependent upon our participation. I wonder if one of the mind-blowing moments in heaven might not be when we see what could have happened in the lives of our relatives, friends, and communities had we taken seriously the possibility of partnering with God instead of acting as if the Lord didn’t need us. As the margin of your Bible may render it, this phrase is more properly translated, “He will send him back.” That’s always the way of the Lord. Anything we give Himbe it our energy or money, our time or abilitiesHe returns it to us with interest.

Mark 11:4

When a Roman general was victorious over an army of five thousand or more, he made a triumphal entry upon his return in which he rode a golden chariot pulled by white stallions. Behind him would be the conquered general or king of the nation, followed by the conquered soldiers in chains. At the end of the procession would be the Roman soldiers marching in pomp and pageantry. Their numbers swollen in order to keep watch on the crowded city, the Roman soldiers in Jerusalem must have chuckled to see Jesus enter the city riding on a donkey, followed by twelve ragtag disciples, the majority of whom smelled like fish. And yet even by Rome’s own standards, He warranted a triumphal entry indeed, for the number of those who would believe in Him after His resurrection would be five thousand (Act_4:4)conquered not by force or shame, but by love.

Mark 11:8

Quoting Psalms 118, the crowd cried, “Hosanna!” or, “Save Now!”

Mark 11:10

When the crowd cried, “Save Now!” they weren’t speaking of their personal salvation. They were looking for a Messiah who would free them politically, who would lead a revolution militarily to overthrow the rule of Rome. But Jesus was coming with an entirely different kingdom in mind.

Mark 11:11

Jesus was not impressed by the crowd because, knowing the fickleness of humanity, He knew that the cry of the crowd would change from “Hosanna” to “Crucify Him” in a few short days. Why, then, did He who usually said, “Tell no man” (Mat_16:20) orchestrate His entry into Jerusalem in a way that was sure to draw attention? In addition to fulfilling prophecy (Zec_9:9), I believe it was because had He not done so, people could have said, “If we had known You had come into our city, we would never have turned against You. We would have responded to You.” So He came into the city in a way in which no one could have the excuse of not knowing He was there. Riding a donkey in accordance with prophecy, He was proclaiming to be the One sent from God, the Son of David, the Messiah. In the temple, Jesus would have observed moneychangers charging exorbitant rates to exchange the currency of those who had traveled great distances to pay their temple tax and to give offerings at Passover. He also would have seen worshipers bullied into buying temple-approved animals to sacrifice at high prices because the priests had declared theirs to be substandard. But what does Jesus do? Does He drive out the moneychangers and chase out the livestock? No. He goes back to Bethany and reflects on what He had seen. Is something bothering you today? I encourage you to follow the example of Jesus. Before you spout off, take some time and go back to Bethanythe place of quietness and communionto get instruction from the Father.

Mark 11:12

As seen in Jeremiah 8, Nahum 3, and Hosea 9, the fig tree is a symbol of Israel. In the account that follows, in speaking of the fig tree, Jesus will be speaking of the fruitlessness of Israeland of our fruitlessness as well. Although it was early in the season, because the leaves of a fig tree appear simultaneously with the fruit, seeing leaves on this fig tree, Jesus assumed it would have figs as well. I wonder if Jesus comes by our lives in the morning hours desiring fruit. Outwardly, because of our abundance of leavesour activities and wordswe might look like we’ve got it together. But upon closer inspection, it is obvious to Him that we lack true fruit the fruit of love (Gal_5:22-23), the fruit of the conversion of souls (Joh_4:36), the fruit of works of righteousness (Php_1:22), the fruit of financial giving (Rom_15:28), the fruit of praise (Heb_13:15). Why didn’t this tree have fruit? Matthew’s original text makes it clear that this particular fig tree was a lone fig tree (Mat_21:19). Because fig trees require cross-pollenization, a lone fig tree cannot produce fruit. And the same is true with believers. “I don’t need to go to church,” some say. “I can worship the Lord on my own.” Not true. “Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves,” says the writer to the Hebrews (Heb_10:25). We need one another in order to bear fruit.

Mark 11:14

All of His life, Jesus went about doing good. He healed the sick. He fed the hungry. He raised the dead. But here He performs a miracle that is seemingly destructivethe only time in all of Scripture we see Him doing so. Was this act out of sync with the rest of His life and teaching? Did Jesus curse this tree in a fit of hungry rage? No. On the contrary, Jesus’ seemingly destructive cursing of the fig tree was an act of great mercyfor in so doing, He speaks of the absolute necessity of redemptive faith. We know from Colossians 1 that all things were not only made by Him, but for Him. Therefore, providing fruit for Jesus would have been the fig tree’s highest calling. But because it was not able to do this, Jesus showed that in reality, it would not be able to provide fruit for anyone else. The same holds true for us. If we don’t satisfy Jesus, other people will not be nourished by us, enriched by us, or blessed by us. Mom and Dad, your kids won’t gain spiritual nutrition and strength from you if you are not pleasing Jesus personally, privately, and devotionally. Bible study teacher, your students won’t grow in their walk with the Lord through you unless you are growing in your walk with Him. There is no shortage of those who say, “I want to serve people. I want to see our country changed, our community cleaned up, people helped.” But they will only be going through the motions if they’re not first pleasing Jesus.

Mark 11:15

Forbidding people from carrying any vessel through the temple meant, essentially, that all sacrifices came to a halt. How could Jesus have done this? Evidently there was something in His eyes, something in His face, something in His countenance that kept all men from challenging Him as He drove out the cattle, overturned the tables, rebuked the men, and kept the entire temple sacrificial system from taking place. The fig tree represents the nation of Israel nationally; the cleansing of the temple speaks of the nation spiritually. Nationally, Israel was fruitless. Spiritually, she was bankrupt. What about us?

Mark 11:17

What is a den of thieves? It’s where the thieves feel protected and safe. The temple was to be a place of prayer, but instead it became a place where thieving priests preyed upon rather than prayed for God’s people.

Mark 11:19

Roots are the secret part of the tree that no one sees. When you feel dry, it’s most likely because there’s a problem with the root system. Morning devotions are skipped. Evening prayer is no longer a priority. Outwardly, the part of your life that people see might be going along just fine. But the root system, the secret part is dried up.

Mark 11:21

How do we satisfy the hunger of our Lord? How do we keep the hidden part of our life from becoming dry? The root of the answer is faith. In this passage, we see four aspects of the faith that will keep us from fruitlessness… The Object of Faith “Have faith in God,” Jesus said. Unlike an unfortunate amount of teaching today that seems to encourage believers to have faith in faith, the object of our faith is God. And because He is good (Psa_73:1), I can bring my requests to Him, share my concerns with Him, and cast my care upon Him, realizing that He is God and I am not; that He is a Father and I am but a child; that He is a Shepherd and I a straying sheep. In this way, my faith is not in my faith, but in my Father.

Mark 11:23

The Outworking of Faith Did Jesus tell us to pray that the problem, obstacle, or mountain that looms menacingly before us might be removed? No. Did He tell us to study the Word that it might be removed? No. He said, “Say to the mountain Be thou removed, and it will be cast into the sea.” We often hear that prayer changes things. But that’s not entirely true. Prayer changes us. Faith changes things. Jesus didn’t say, “If you encounter a mountain, pray that it might be gone.” No, He said, “Have faith in God and then verbally, audibly tell the mountain to be removed. Speak faith.” Why is saying, speaking, verbalizing so important? Why did Jesus tell us to speak aloud to the mountain? Why does Paul tell us to confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord (Rom_10:9-10)? Why does the writer of Hebrews tell us that when a promise is given to us we are to boldly speak it out (Heb_13:5-6)? Because that’s when faith kicks in. It’s easy for me to think quietly or pray inwardly for the mountain to be moved because then if it doesn’t move, no one will know I prayed otherwise. There’s no step of faith, no risk involved if I don’t speak. What mountain intimidates you? Is it fear concerning an unsaved child, or depression over a business about to go under? Jesus tells you and me to go on record in the ears of our kids, our parents, our peers, our co-workers and to say, “Be gone.” After all, it was what Jesus did Himself in the ears of His disciples, which set the stage for them to believe (Mar_11:14). Maybe you’re praying intensely and hoping passionately that a certain problem or a certain situation will somehow be solved. But the fact is, Jesus said it’s not enough to simply hope or even to pray. Rather, you must say in faith verbally, “Be gone. Be removed. Be cast into the sea.”

Mark 11:24

The Obtaining of Faith Maybe you’re in a place where you lack the faith to tell the mountain to be removed. The solution? Ask the Father to give you the faith you need, and He’ll give it to you in order that you might speak to the mountain directly. This is where the “Positive Confession, Name It and Claim It” teachers miss the point. Jesus taught on faith not to obtain a mountain. Rather, it was to curse a fruitless situation and to remove an obstacle. Concerning faith, Jesus didn’t tell His disciples how to get a Cadillac, a bigger house, a boyfriend, or a higher-paying job. He didn’t tell His disciples how to get more of anything. Rather, He told them how to get rid of the carnal tendencies, addictions, habits, or propensities that made them fruitless.

Contrary to what the “Name It and Claim It” mentality propagates, cross-current to what the Positive Confession school maintains, Jesus was not talking about accumulating worldly goods, but about obliterating worldly gods. He wasn’t telling His disciples to claim in faith that they would be given a vacation cabin on a mountain. He was telling them to get rid of the mountain altogether. I want the San Francisco Giants to win the pennant. I really do. But when I’m in my times of prayer, guess what. That doesn’t surface in my conversation with God. It’s in the time of prayer when suddenly the things the Lord wants to do in and through my life are birthed within me. That’s why in the original text, the comma does not appear after the word “desire.” As we pray, our desires will change. That which is not important will fade away. That which God does not desire to do in your life will dissipate. And you will be set free to be more like Jesus. To the mountain looming over you today, go on record and say, “Be gone” so clearly that your voice can be heard in hell, in heaven, and in your own heart.

Mark 11:25

The Obstacle to Faith Because Jesus clearly links faith to forgiveness, if we’re not forgiving, the power of faith is short-circuited. Why? Because a person who does not love or will not forgive cannot be entrusted with that kind of power. He’ll misappropriate it. She’ll hurt herself and others with it. That is why Paul makes it clear that faith works by love (Gal_5:6).

Mark 11:27

As Jesus reenters Jerusalem, He will face a series of questions concerning His authority, integrity, theology, and priorities. Yet unbeknownst to His interrogators, even their questions perfectly fulfill Biblical prophecy and typology. You see, when the Passover was instituted, the lamb that was to be slain for the family was to be set apart and observed, scrutinized, examined for four days before it was slain lest any fault or spot or blemish be found upon it that would disqualify it from being the Passover lamb. So, too, the events before us taking place four days before Passover, it is only fitting that Jesus, the Passover Lamb, would be carefully scrutinized as well. The outer courtyard of the temple was a place where teaching went on continually. The eastern courtyard, known as Solomon’s porch, contained sixty large columns that supported a roof, forming an arcade. The courtyard on the south side of the temple was known as the royal porch and, with one hundred sixty-two columns thirty-five feet high and six feet in diameter, was considerably larger than Solomon’s porch. It was in these covered courtyards that skeptics wanting to find fault with Him would find Jesus. The first group to question Jesus was comprised of chief priests, scribes and elders, questioning His authority. “By what authority do You come in here turning over tables, driving out cattle, and interrupting the sacrificial system?” they asked Jesus. They said this to place Him upon the horns of a dilemma, for if Jesus answered, “By My own authority,” they would have labeled Him a lunatic. But if He said, “By God’s authority,” they would accuse Him of blasphemy.

Mark 11:29

Why did Jesus raise this particular question concerning the baptism of John? Because this was the point where the priests, scribes, and elders first took a wrong turn. They rejected the truth John shared about the One who would follow him. Thus, their rejection of John set the stage for their final rejection of Jesus. It has been rightly said that obedience is the conduit through which fresh understanding flows unhindered. That is, if I am obeying the Lord, I will get more understanding from the Lord. But at the point I stop obeying, oftentimes He will stop revealing. If you’re wondering why you haven’t heard anything from the Lord this week or this month, this year or this decade, it could very well be that there was a point where you knowingly, willingly, stubbornly disobeyed and refused to respond. I’m not talking about morbid introspection. I’m talking about an obvious point you know very readily where the Lord gave instruction to you, but you said, “No.

I will not go there. I will not give that up. I will not do what You say.” The cure is simply to repent, to say, “Lord, forgive me. As You did with Jonah, give me another opportunity.” This was a route those who were questioning Jesus chose not to take. As a result, caught by the very trap they thought they had set for Him, they were rendered speechless.