Mark 11:15-18

Mark 11:15-18 And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine. So, in our verses for today, was Jesus out of control? I don’t think so! When God is offended, it is time for us to be offended. Jesus always had kindness and patience for sinners, but on the other hand, Jesus confronted the religious people who should have known better. These moneychangers and animal vendors knew exactly what they were doing there in the Temple and they knew that they shouldn’t have been there. So Jesus ran them out. So why were the religious leaders mad at Jesus? They should have been on the same side as Jesus. I think that these religious leaders must have been making money off of the thieves who were selling stuff in the Temple. And that’s why they were mad at Jesus. But was Jesus worried about them? No way! He did that which was right and didn’t worry about anything else. And that’s how we should be. Do right - all the time – and you will never be sorry that you did!

Mark 11:12-14

Mark 11:12-14 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it. Jesus was staying in Bethany at the home of Lazarus and his two sisters while commuting to Jerusalem during Passover week. It took Christ and His disciples almost two hours to walk the seven miles, and they would have gotten pretty hungry on the way. When Jesus saw a fig tree up ahead, his mouth began to water as he thought of the prospects of fresh fruit. But the tree had no fruit on it. Jesus was still hungry and disappointed and mad. The fig tree looked promising, but was useless to Jesus because it had nothing but leaves on it – no fruit. So Jesus cursed the tree. Now Jesus didn’t use bad language – that wouldn’t be His style. But Jesus commanded that nothing should grow on that tree from that day forward. So the next day, the disciples were surprised to see the tree dead – from the roots up. The tree had obeyed Jesus and was dead. So what do we take away from this unusual story? What do you think? I think that we should be careful and not be useless to our Creator like the fig tree was. We should produce results for Jesus and not just take up space on the earth. Hey, let’s be useful for Jesus!

Mark 11:8-10

Mark 11:8-10 And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way. And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest. The Feast of the Passover was an exciting time for the Jews. And when Jesus, their respected teacher showed up, they really got excited! The people broke off palm branches and excitedly waved them. They threw down their coats so that Jesus would not have to walk on the dusty streets. As Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a little donkey, the people cheered and shouted their approval. But just a few days later, the people would be shouting their disgust at Jesus. They would be yelling, “Away with this man! Crucify him! We have no king but Caesar!” How quickly people can turn on you! One minute Jesus was their favorite preacher and the next He was despised! What recklessness! How changeable and indecisiveness! But Jesus knew their hearts and Jesus loved them. And Jesus knows our hearts too! And never forget, Jesus loves us too!