Daily Bread Mark 11
Daily Bread Mark 11
Jesus Clears the Temple
12The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it.
15On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: " 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'[c]? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"
18The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.
19When evening came, they[ went out of the city.
Observation:
Right after a parade, where Jesus comes riding on a colt, a young donkey, we see that Jesus changes gears. After hearing the Messianic cries of, “Hosanna, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” and “Blessed is the coming Kingdom of David”; Jesus curses a fig tree on the way to Jerusalem.
This is an indictment that Israel, which was supposed to be the Fruitful Vine of God, had not become what it was intended to be. Because of this condition, the fig tree had its fruit-making capability taken from it. Later when the disciples passed it by, it had withered (literally disintegrated).
Then, Jesus enters a place where prayer is supposed to be happening, the temple, and instead it became a den of robbers! In both cases, things were not as God had intended them to be. In one case, there should have been fruit, and there was none. And, in one, there was supposed to be prayer and worship, and there was only scheming.
Application:
Although Jesus was always kind and compassionate, especially to those who were down on their luck, there was also this side of him that confronted hypocrisy. We see that judgment began at the house of the Lord.
Jesus was always harder on those that should have known better. As the parable says, “To whom much is given, much is required”. It is not as though Jesus isn’t gracious to all of us, as we all need to be continually bathed in God’s mercy and forgiveness; but with knowledge and gifts come accountability
But these leaders, instead of being open to correction, begin to find a way to kill this one who threatened their authority. At the end of this passage, it says when evening came they went out of the city. As they slip out into the darkness, their hearts move to the dark side and begin to plot to kill this man who has exposed their hardness of heart and hypocrisy.
Prayer:
God, help us to be fruitful, by being connected to the True Vine, Jesus Christ. As we come into Your house of worship, may it be in true worship of you. Jesus remind us that you are our true authority, and any authority we have has been given by you. May we use our authority to serve those you have called and not lord it over others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Jesus Clears the Temple
12The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it.
15On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: " 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'[c]? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"
18The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.
19When evening came, they[ went out of the city.
Observation:
Right after a parade, where Jesus comes riding on a colt, a young donkey, we see that Jesus changes gears. After hearing the Messianic cries of, “Hosanna, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” and “Blessed is the coming Kingdom of David”; Jesus curses a fig tree on the way to Jerusalem.
This is an indictment that Israel, which was supposed to be the Fruitful Vine of God, had not become what it was intended to be. Because of this condition, the fig tree had its fruit-making capability taken from it. Later when the disciples passed it by, it had withered (literally disintegrated).
Then, Jesus enters a place where prayer is supposed to be happening, the temple, and instead it became a den of robbers! In both cases, things were not as God had intended them to be. In one case, there should have been fruit, and there was none. And, in one, there was supposed to be prayer and worship, and there was only scheming.
Application:
Although Jesus was always kind and compassionate, especially to those who were down on their luck, there was also this side of him that confronted hypocrisy. We see that judgment began at the house of the Lord.
Jesus was always harder on those that should have known better. As the parable says, “To whom much is given, much is required”. It is not as though Jesus isn’t gracious to all of us, as we all need to be continually bathed in God’s mercy and forgiveness; but with knowledge and gifts come accountability
But these leaders, instead of being open to correction, begin to find a way to kill this one who threatened their authority. At the end of this passage, it says when evening came they went out of the city. As they slip out into the darkness, their hearts move to the dark side and begin to plot to kill this man who has exposed their hardness of heart and hypocrisy.
Prayer:
God, help us to be fruitful, by being connected to the True Vine, Jesus Christ. As we come into Your house of worship, may it be in true worship of you. Jesus remind us that you are our true authority, and any authority we have has been given by you. May we use our authority to serve those you have called and not lord it over others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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