Mark
11
– 12
Verse 11:11 has Jesus riding into Jerusalem:
To the sound of
this chanting, Jesus rode through the gates of Jerusalem and up to the
temple. He looked around and saw that evening was coming, so He and the twelve
went back to Bethany to spend the night.
This
is a prophecy that Zechariah 9:9 predicted and was fulfilled. Now the “nay
sayers” will always point to this and say Jesus knew of this prophecy and was
forcing the situation. This may be true, but at the same time God made the
prophecy and Jesus had to fulfill it. Also, most ignore the fact that Jesus
knew where the colt would be showing supernatural abilities.
Verses
11:15 – 17 Jesus clears the temple of money changers (will not print all the
verses) and I wanted to make a quick note of this. One of my favorite plays is
Jesus Christ Superstar and this scene is depicted in the play. In the play the
temple looks more like a brothel than a house of God, where in all the scriptures
the people are just selling sacrifices. Granted both are wrong, but I think the
JC Superstar depiction was over the top to deceive people, or maybe it was just
“artistic license” to make the point of the corruption.
Verse
11:21 is Jesus’ only time he used his supernatural powers in wrath:
Peter (remembering):
21 That’s the fig tree, Teacher, the one You cursed just
yesterday morning. It’s withered away to nothing!
Jesus’
response was simply “trust in God” and you can do anything. How many of us have
tried to move a mountain in faith or uproot a tree or heal someone and failed?
I know I have and this honestly bothers me since it implies my faith is not
strong. At the same time is moving a mountain literal, or is there a hidden
meaning lost in translation? Don’t know?
Either
way this was the first time wrath of God rained from heaven and killed a fig
tree. Interesting how Jesus could have done this more for “effect” but did not.
Heck He could have saved himself, but followed God as he should. I wonder if
this was done to show everyone the power He could call on not only for healing,
but destruction also.
Verse
12:6 is part of the story of the vineyard owner:
He had a son whom
he loved above all things, and he said to himself, “When these thugs see my
son, they’ll know he carries my authority. They’ll have to respect him.”
This was pointed right at the religious leaders who were
plotting against Jesus. Jesus is the son and God is the owner, just in case you
missed the analogy. The salves beforehand I assume were the prophets who told
Israel what they did not want to hear.
Verses 12:30 & 31 are in response to a question on the
“greatest” commandment:
30 You
should love the Eternal, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul,
with all your mind, and with all your strength.” 31 The second great
commandment is this: “Love others in the same way you love yourself.” There
are no commandments more important than these.
Why did Jesus not say one, but rather two
commandments? Simple, you follow 1 and 2, the rest come simple. You love God
and the commandments are not some legalistic mumbo jumbo, but something you
know pleases God. If you love your neighbor, murder, coveting and other laws
against others would not be a problem. I like the way the law is love others as
you love yourself. Again this is one of those translational things, I have
heard some equate it to masturbation, but in reality it’s the care for others
as you would yourself.
This is a problem with the “Emo” crowd, who
seems to hate themselves but is an opportunity to show God’s love also.