Mark 11 - Jesus Enters Jerusalem As A King Riding on A Young Donkey! What does it mean when Jesus says, "if We Faith We Can Move Mountains???

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Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King

The Jewish people would never have expected Jesus to come riding into Jerusalem on a young donkey. But the people now following Jesus understood it and formed a parade in front of and behind him. They shouted phrases from the Old Testament, which were linked to the Messiah. The word "Hosanna" means "God saves or delivers". It was a proclamation of praise.  A donkey was a common animal, which one might call a "beast of burden".  This once again showed Jesus' humility and was symbolic that he would carry our burdens on the cross. This was not Jesus' first trip to Jerusalem, as we learn in John, he was there for many other Jewish feasts. 

On this day, they lavished attention and honor on Jesus. They used their clothes as a saddle for Jesus and as a red carpet for the colt He rode on. Considering the expense and value of clothing in that day, this was generous praise. - Guzik

Jesus Curses a Fig Tree and Clears the Temple Courts

As the opposition to Jesus mounted by the Jewish leaders, so was Jesus' rebuke of the condition of the Jewish people. When he found a fig tree with no fruit, it was analogous to the people of Israel who were bearing no fruit. Jesus did not hold back but cursed the fruit by saying, "May you never bear fruit again!" 

The tree was cursed for its pretense of leaves, not for its lack of fruit. Like Israel in the days of Jesus, it had the outward form but no fruit. In this picture, Jesus warned Israel – and us – of God’s displeasure when we have the appearance of fruit but not the fruit itself. God isn’t pleased when His people are all leaves and no fruit. - Guzik

Jesus was equally angry about what was happening in the temple. The "moneychangers" were capitalizing on a situation where they could profit off the Jewish making their pilgrimmage to the temple. They were using the temple and God's command go their annually to support to in effect profit off of God.

The Jews made an annual pilgrimmage to the temple in Jerusalem to pay the temple tax. Since they had foreign currency, they had to exchange it for the currency of the temple. Jesus quoted Jeremiah when he said they had made the temple, "A den of robbers and thieves". Meanwhile, rather than realizing they had supported and created this situation, the priests were more worried about the crowds who were sympathetic to Jesus.They were probably not to happy with being "scammed"either. 

When the disciples saw the fig tree which was withered was cursed, they knew Jesus had done this supernaturally. Peter spoke up for the group, as he expressed wonder at what Jesus had done. Jesus used the opportunity to teach on the power of prayer, especially when we have faith that God will give us what we need. Notice I said Jesus will give us what we "need", not always what we "want". 

Then Jesus say to them, "If you have faith you can say to this mountain be cast into the sea and if you have faith it will be done for you!" How could this happen realistically?  If you take this passage literally you will struggle with it greatly. This is why it is so important to read the bible in its historical/literary setting and context. Why? 

Mountain was a popular figure of speech for any insurmountable problem; Jesus said that as we believe, God could overcome any obstacle. “The phrase about removing mountains was a quite common Jewish phrase. It was a regular, vivid phrase for removing difficulties.” (Barclay)

Jesus also added an interesting proviso when he said, "When you pray if you have anything against someone else forgive them, as you have been forgiven." 

The point may also be that this is an area where we need great faith. Sometimes a hard and unforgiving heart is bigger than any mountain. - Guzik

The Authority of Jesus Questioned

The Pharisees, chief elders, and priests, (notice all three are starting to take a united front against Jesus since they all stand something to lost) who are losing things to accuse of Jesus ask him, "By what authority was he doing these things." They thought they were the authority figures and their word was final. 

Jesus again answers a question with a question, "By whose authority did John baptize?" Now they were in a bind. If they said from heaven, they would have to take back their comment, because John was one of Jesus' disciples. If they said John was not authorized to do it, they would have a riot on their hands. With this they could only answer, "We don't know!" 

“The whole story is a vivid example of what happens to men who will not face the truth. They have to twist and wriggle and in the end get themselves into a position in which they are so helplessly involved that they have nothing to say.” (Barclay) 

It is more difficult at first to face the truth and admit wrong, but it is the only path with a real future.

 Where do you have a hard time acknowledging the truth when confronted with something you are doing which you know is wrong? Note when we are disobeying God it is hard to defend our actions if we are a true follower of Jesus !