What I Noticed Today (Mark 11; John 12)
Mark 11
Mark 11 begins the fifth and final section of the Gospel of Mark: Jesus’ ministry in and around Jerusalem during this final week.
Note: Mark arranged the order of events in Mark 11-13 topically more than chronologically.
In verses 1-11, (See also Matthew 21:1-11), Mark describes Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. As they approached Bethphage and Bethany, Jesus sent two disciples into the village (probably Bethphage) to borrow a young donkey. They brought the donkey to Jesus, threw their robes over it, and He sat on it. As Jesus rode, many people laid their robes and palm branches in the road. The people cried out chanting Psalm 118:25-26.
Note: Bethany is where Mary, Martha, and Lazarus lived and is where Jesus often stayed when He was in Judea.
Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple complex. After looking around, he went to Bethany with the disciples.
In verses 12-14, (See also Matthew 21:18-19), the next morning (Monday of Holy Week) on the way to Jerusalem, Jesus was hungry and spotting a fig tree he went to it to see if it had any fruit. Finding no fruit, Jesus cursed the tree.
Note: Mark tells us it was not the season for figs, but there should have been edible buds on the tree. Instead, it had only leaves.
Note: The fig tree is a picture of Israel who had produced no spiritual fruit.
In verses 15-19, (See Matthew 21:12-17), Jesus and the disciples came to Jerusalem the next morning and made their way to the temple area. Jesus threw out the money changers and those carrying goods through the temple complex. Jesus quoted Isaiah 56:7b. The chief priests and scribes heard about this and began to plot how they would kill Him.
Note: There were three kinds of money in circulation at this time: Roman, Greek, and Jewish. Only Jewish money could be used to pay the temple tax, so the money changers were there to exchange Roman and Greek money for Jewish money. Their rates of exchange took advantage of people.
In verses 20-26, (See also Matthew 21:20-22), early the next morning, as Jesus and the disciples were passing by the fig tree again, Peter noted that it was withered. Jesus explained that the absence of doubt and the presence of faith released the power of prayer. Jesus concluded the teaching saying, while we pray, we should forgive others so that our Father in Heaven will also forgive us.
In verses 27-33, as Jesus came into the temple complex on another day (Tuesday), the chief priests, scribes, and elders asked Jesus two questions: 1) By what authority do you do these things, and 2) Who gave you this authority. Jesus said he would answer their questions if they would answer His question: was John’s baptism from heaven or from men. They didn’t answer Him because they knew if they said from heaven he would say then why didn’t you believe him. If they said from men, they would arouse the people who believed in John as God’s prophet.
Because they refused to answer Jesus, He refused to answer them.
Some points for additional consideration:
- Can we let go of the idea that we deserve an earthly reward because we served in some way? Rewards in heaven come from our sacrificial service to our fellow man.
- The fig tree did not bear fruit, and it was cursed. Do we bear fruit in season?
John 12
In verses 1-8, (See also Matthew 26:6-13, and Mark 14:3-9), six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus, Mary, and Martha lived. Martha was serving while Lazarus was reclining at the table with Jesus. Mary took a pound (a liter) of perfumes and anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair.
Note: Nard was imported from northern India and was used by Romans to anoint someone’s head. The washing of feet was typically done by servants in a Jewish household.
Judas Iscariot objected to the use of the oil saying, it could have been sold for 300 denarii (a year’s wages) and given to the poor. But Judas didn’t care about the poor; he was a thief who helped himself to the disciples’ money bag.
Jesus rebuked him saying, she was anointing Him for burial. The poor you will always have, but you do not always have me.
In verses 9-11, word spread about Lazarus being raised from the dead. The chief priests decided to have Lazarus also killed. People were believing in Jesus because Lazarus had been raised from the dead.
Note: Some of the Sanhedrin were Sadducees who do not believe in the resurrection. Some scholars suggest that another reason they wanted to kill Lazarus was to eliminate any example of resurrection.
In verses 12-19, (See also Matthew 21:1-22, Mark 11:1-11, and Luke 19:28-42), the next day (5 days before Passover) Jesus began His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. People met him and shouted, “Hosanna, He who comes in the name of the Lord is the blessed one, the king of Israel” (Psalm 118:25-26).
Jesus got a young donkey (a colt) and rode it into town (fulfilling Zechariah 9:9).
The disciples didn’t understand what had happened had been a fulfillment of prophecy until after Jesus had been glorified and returned to heaven.
A large crowd gathered as word spread that Jesus, the man who had raised Lazarus, was coming.
Note: A large crowd was curious about Jesus and the miracle He had performed, but only a few were willing to believe in Him as Messiah.
In verses 20-36, some Greeks (who had converted to Judaism) had come to celebrate the Passover and wanted to see Jesus. Phillip and Andrew brought the request to Jesus, who said the hour for the Son of Man to be glorified had come.
A grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies in order to produce a crop. The one who loves his life will lose it. Anyone who hates his life and follows me will have eternal life. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor Him.
Jesus spoke to the Father about His troubled soul. He prayed that the Father be glorified. A voice from heaven declared that He had glorified His name and would glorify it again.
Note: This is one of three times recorded in Scripture when God testified to Jesus and His ministry (See also Matthew 3:13-17, and Matthew 17:1-13).
Some of the crowd standing there thought they heard thunder, but others said they heard an angel speaking.
Note: Some may hear God’s Word brought to them over and over, but to them, it is just noise (thunder). Others will hear the voice of God speaking to them.
Jesus explained that He did not need to hear God’s voice audibly, but this was done so they would hear it. It was time for Him to be taken from this world; to be lifted up.
The people were confused thinking, the Messiah would be with them always, so they asked how the Son of Man could be lifted up. Jesus told them to walk in the light while they have the light because the light would not be with them much longer. Jesus then left and hid from them.
In verses 37-43, despite seeing signs, many of the Jews rejected Jesus (fulfilling Isaiah 53:1) because of Isaiah 6:9-10.
Even so, many did believe in Jesus, including some of the rulers. But none of the Pharisees believed because they were afraid of being banned from the synagogue, and they enjoyed the praise of men more than the praise of God.
In verses 44-50, John summarizes Jesus’ mission on earth and issues His final appeal. Jesus said the person who believes in Him, believes not Him, but the person who sent Him (God the Father). Jesus came to be a light to the world so that anyone who believes in Him would not remain in darkness.
Jesus said He did not come to judge the world but to save it. When He returns in the last days, then He will judge those who rejected Him. Jesus said the things He speaks are only the things the Father told Him to speak.
Some thoughts for further consideration:
- Jesus could have easily ordered the stone covering Lazarus’ grave to move or for his grave linens to fall away. Jesus does what only He can do, allowing us to do what we can do.
- Even in the face of the miracle of the raising of Lazarus, the religious leaders were so hard-hearted they plotted to kill Jesus. Hard hearts can blind men to God’s miracles in their lives.
- Mary’s anointing of Jesus is a reminder that opportunities to do spiritual work come in many forms, and there will be those who object and protest.
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.
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