As soon as Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, He intentionally targeted the religious community. Followers of Jesus must continually evaluate if we are fulfilling the call He has placed upon us.
Mark 11:1-25
11Â Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples 2Â and said to them, âGo into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. 3Â If anyone says to you, âWhy are you doing this?â say, âThe Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.ââ 4Â And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. 5Â And some of those standing there said to them, âWhat are you doing, untying the colt?â 6Â And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. 7Â And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. 8Â And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. 9Â And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, âHosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10Â Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!â
11Â And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
12Â On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. 13Â And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14Â And he said to it, âMay no one ever eat fruit from you again.â And his disciples heard it.
15Â And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 16Â And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17Â And he was teaching them and saying to them, âIs it not written, âMy house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nationsâ? But you have made it a den of robbers.â 18Â And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching. 19Â And when evening came they went out of the city.
20Â As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21Â And Peter remembered and said to him, âRabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.â 22Â And Jesus answered them, âHave faith in God.23Â Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, âBe taken up and thrown into the sea,â and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24Â Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25Â And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.â
Peace in the City [Mark 11:1-11]
- Jesus originally didnât come in authority with a command to submit, but rather He came in humility with a call to follow.
- Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of biblical prophecies and foreshadowings.
- The reformation of the culture is contingent upon the revival of Godâs people.
Chaos in the Temple [Mark 11:12-19]
- If the message is to be released, then the messengers must first be refined.
- Jesusâ severest rebukes are often reserved for those who ought to know better.
- When Godâs people become a hindrance rather than a help for the nations to see Jesus, itâs time to clean house.
Change in the Heart [Mark 11:20-25]
- Hypocritical believers have a way of displaying the leaves of activity rather than the fruit of transformation.
- Jesus cursed the type of religion that rejected the presence and power of God.
- Where religious leaders and institutions have failed, Jesus remains faithful in the temples of the hearts who belong to Him.
Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.