Mark 11 Studies

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each chapter is divided into a number of studies and each study or passage has a simple four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Mark 11:1-11

1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, ‘Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, “Why are you doing this?” say, “The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.”’

4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, ‘What are you doing, untying that colt?’ 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,

‘Hosanna!’

‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’

10 ‘Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!’

‘Hosanna in the highest heaven!’

11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

A. Find Out:

1. Who did Jesus send ahead? v.1
2. What were they to bring back? v.2
3. What did the people do as Jesus came? v.8
4. How did they further welcome him? v.9,10
5. Where did Jesus first go in Jerusalem ? v.11a
6. Where did they stay overnight? v.11b

B. Think:

1. Read Zechariah 9:9 How was Jesus specifically seeking to fulfil Old Testament prophecy?
2. Read Psalm 118:25-27 What did the way the people acted indicate?
3. What does the incident with the colt indicate?

C. Comment:

Jesus sets the stage to promote the final confrontation on Good Friday. He ensures there is no quiet approach to Jerusalem . First of all he obtains a young colt on which to ride. It would appear that the owner probably knew Jesus would want it; he probably prepared for this on his last trip through these villages.

The arrival on a colt would clearly be seen by those “in the know” as a fulfilment of Zechariah’s prophecy of the coming king for Zion ( Jerusalem ). The religious leaders would see this as stage managed and would realise Jesus is provoking the people.

The people turn out in large crowds, they know Jesus is coming (has someone told them?). Jesus is given a royal welcome that will not make the leaders of Jerusalem happy! Once in Jerusalem he quietly visits the temple and then leaves again to stay overnight in Bethany . He sees the state of the temple and tomorrow will take action against it. Every act of Jesus is carefully considered and planned to provoke his crucifixion at the end of the week. As we read these chapter, let’s be under no illusions: Jesus is Lord and He is in control, and he still is!

D. Application?

1. Thank the Lord that He was completely in control of His destiny.
2. Thank Him that He died for you.

Passage: Mark 11:12-14,20-25

12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing 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. 14 Then he said to the tree, ‘May no one ever eat fruit from you again.’ And his disciples heard him say it.

20 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig-tree withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, look! The fig-tree you cursed has withered!’

22 ‘Have faith in God,’ Jesus answered. 23 ‘Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, “Go, throw yourself into the sea,” and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.’

A. Find Out:    

1. What was Jesus feeling? v.12
2. Why did he go to the fig tree? v.13a
3. Why was there no fruit on it? v.13b
4. What did Jesus say about the tree? v.14
5. What teaching did Jesus apply to the withered tree? v.22,23
6. What also did he say was necessary? v.25

B. Think:

1. What caused the fig tree to wither?
2. What did Jesus say we can do?
3. What are prerequisites to be able to do that?

C. Comment:

People who get upset about Jesus destroying a plant, apparently without ‘just cause’ should read Jonah 4:5-11. Jesus is more concerned to impart spiritual teaching here than have people be upset about abuse to the planet (it’s his to use wisely!).

Jesus is about to go into Jerusalem where, as we said yesterday, he was going to provoke the authorities into action against him. At the end of the week the disciples would see him taken and crucified. They would then look back on this incident and wonder why Jesus, who had such power, didn’t use it to defend himself. That will cause them to think! But this incident has other aspects. In the Old Testament a fig tree represented the nation of Israel . Will Israel be destroyed? Is this a warning? It must surely have set some thinking.

Jesus’ action is also, he says, an example to them. If they BELIEVE, they can do just the same sort of thing, but this sort of belief has its origins in heaven, therefore such things will only be done for the extension of the kingdom of heaven by those who are fully submitted to the rule of heaven. Faith is essential, belief is essential, a right relationship with men and God is essential.

D. Application?

1. Ask the Lord to teach you to be someone who understands His teaching.
2. Ask Him to give you a “hearing heart”.

Passage: Mark 11:15-19

15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts 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, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, ‘Is it not written: “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations”? But you have made it “a den of robbers”.’

18 The 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.

19 When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.

A. Find Out:

1. Who did Jesus drive out? v.15a
2. Whose tables did he overturn? v.15b
3. Who did he stop passing through? v.16
4. What did he say the temple should be? v.17b
5. What did he say they had made it? v.17c
6. What was the response of the religious leaders? v.18

B. Think:

1. How would you describe how the temple had become?
2. Why was Jesus upset about this?
3. Bearing in mind what we said yesterday, how did this incident exactly fulfil Jesus’ intentions?

C. Comment:

We said yesterday that Jesus was provoking his death in a week’s time. On arriving in Jerusalem yesterday, he came in and looked around the temple. Perhaps, after he had gone out of Jerusalem last night, he consulted His Father in heaven and obtained approval for this action. It looked like a market, this Temple , because the Law spoke about animal sacrifices, and the leaders were allowing selling of creatures for sacrifice within the temple precincts.

This was supposed to be a holy place, a place of prayer, the dwelling place of Almighty God. Jesus acting calmly and deliberately and with forethought clears out all those involved in trade.

His actions provoked fear in the religious leaders. This man showed them up for what they were. This man showed the crowd what should be. This man was a threat. This man should be removed. This man must be destroyed! Yes, the crucifixion moves one step nearer. In challenging the religious leaders he does nothing that is unrighteous. They may act against him but in the days to come he will still be acclaimed as “without sin” (see Hebrews 4:15 )

D. Application?

1. Do we understand that Jesus did this deliberately for us, to fulfil His Father’s will (see Mark 8:31 and Acts 2:23 and Hebrews 9:28 )
2. Thank Him for the wonder of that.

Passage: Mark 11:27-33

27 They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. 28 ‘By what authority are you doing these things?’ they asked. ‘And who gave you authority to do this?’

29 Jesus replied, ‘I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 30 John’s baptism – was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!’

31 They discussed it among themselves and said, ‘If we say, “From heaven,” he will ask, “Then why didn’t you believe him?” 32 But if we say, “Of human origin” . . .’ (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)

33 So they answered Jesus, ‘We don’t know.’

Jesus said, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.’

A. Find Out:

1. Who came to Jesus? v.27
2. What about Jesus did they question? v.28
3. On what condition did he say he would answer? v.29,30
4. What did they fear Jesus would answer? v.31
5. Why did they fear the alternative answer? v.32
6. How eventually did they respond? v.33

B. Think:

1. What actually were the religious leaders upset about?
2. How, perhaps, did they view the temple?
3. How would the end product of this discussion have further worked towards the goal Jesus was working towards?

C. Comment:

Having disturbed the temple Jesus goes away but returns later (perhaps to see what’s happening?). The religious leaders see him and come to challenge him. This is their domain, so who is this country upstart preacher to go taking over their temple!

Rather than proclaim himself outright (for Jesus often preferred people to arrive at their own conclusions), Jesus side-stepped the question by putting a question to them in return. Instead of ignoring it and demanding an answer, which they could have done, these leaders with no authority are themselves put on the spot and try to cope with the dilemma he presents to them.

Their problem is that if they disagree with popular opinion, that John was from God, they will have the crowd against them. If they say he was from God they will be challenged as to why they hadn’t accepted him. They accept they cannot answer and are left even more angry and frustrated than before! More and more are they being pushed to act against Jesus.

D. Application?

1. Thank the Lord for Jesus’ wisdom that confronts the truth without being unrighteous, that encourages others to make their own conclusions.
2. Ask for Jesus’ grace & wisdom to be yours.