Bible Verse Synopsis 7-10-25

Mark 11:

Mark 11: Jesus and the Disciples were headed to Jerusalem for the final time. He sent forth two of the Twelve to fetch Him a colt. He gave them clear instructions about where the colt would be. His instructions continued in Verse 3: “And if any man say unto you, Why do you do this? Say you that the Lord has need of him; and straightaway he will send him hither.” The Two followed the instructions of Jesus including the questioning of their intentions with the colt. Verse 7 says: “And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him and He sat upon him.” The colt had never been ridden, yet Jesus rode him with no fight. Only the Lord could calm a wild animal to be ridden. Do we follow the instructions of Christ and allow Him to direct our lives - or are we wild like the colt, not ready for His directive?

The crowd began to line the path with their garments and broke off branches off trees and waved them as Jesus passed. His party was large, for they believed! Verse 9 & 10 tell us the joy of Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem: “ And they who went before, and they who followed, cried, saying, Hosanna, Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord.” “Blessed be the Kingdom of our Father David, that comes in the Name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!” Jesus entered the temple directly when entering the city. He saw it all and left for it was night. Jesus and the Twelve went out to Bethany to rest. Do we give God the glory He deserves? Are we ready to sing His praises?

In the morning, Jesus approached a fig tree that should have had fruit. The tree however did not carry any fruit and was barren. Verse 14 says: “And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of you hereafter forever, And His Disciples heard it.” This tree became symbolic of the Jewish nation. The tree was not just barren, but because it gave the appearance of bearing fruit and did not. The Jewish nation was also like this. It should have borne fruit, but did not. It was a false tree and a false faith the Jews held. Is your faith false as well?

Then they went into the temple in Jerusalem. Jesus began to cast out the salespeople and the shoppers. He overthrew the tables of the moneychangers. Verse 16 says: “And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the Temple.” Jesus was feeling anger and sadness because the Temple was being abused from its intention. It was to be sacred and was not being treated as such. Jesus began to teach the crowd in Verse 17: “Is it not written, My House shall be called of all nations the House of Prayer? But you have made it a den of thieves.” The thieves, the Scribes and the Pharisees, heard it and were afraid. All the people were astonished at His Doctrine. Jesus obviously separated Himself from the thieves that spoke in the Temple. Are you likewise astonished by the Word? Do you hold His house sacred? Are you afraid of Christ or do you respect Him?

The next day, Peter points out the tree that Jesus had cursed. It had withered away to nothing in only a day. So was His power over all of creation, yet He only used it in ways that God wanted. What gifts do we misuse instead of asking God how to use them?

Jesus gives a few lessons after this small interaction. He ends Verse 22 saying: “Have faith in God.” Whatever difficulties we face, if it be God’s will, can be removed from our lives through Him. Verse 24 says: “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them.” If we place our trust in the Lord, He will tell us what things we need. This is the desire of submission. If we give in to the Lord in full and trust that He will show us the way, the things of our desire will come true. Our relationship with Him must be stout and unbreakable. How is your relationship with God?

The second lesson in that we should forgive as the Lord forgives. Verse 26 says: “But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in Heaven forgive your trespasses.” Could this get any more clear? Do you forgive those who sin, or who have sinned, against you? Without this forgiveness, the Kingdom will not be yours.

The leaders of the Temple all confronted Jesus. Verse 28 says: “And say unto Him, By what authority do You do these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?” These men knew nothing. Chief Priests, Pharisees, and Scribes all corrupted by greed and self-aggrandizement. Jesus answered them with the same question they gave Him. The authority He had was the same authority they were supposed to have, but because of their corruption they worked for themselves and not for God. Jesus then asked these fools another question in Verse 30: “The baptism of John, was it from Heaven or of men? Answer me.” They consulted each other and weighed their options. They were cornered with no good answer. The people believed John was a prophet so they would be risking their lives by calling the baptism of men. On the other hand, if it was from Heaven then they would have had to believe John and his foretelling of Jesus. So they took the coward’s way out and claimed they could not tell for certain. They hid from the truth in fear. Do we confront the truth of Christ - or hide behind ignorance like the Pharisees?