Mark 11:15

Mark 11:15 says, 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;  When Jesus got to Jerusalem He went to the temple, and found it had been turned into a place of commerce.   As Christians, when we gather together in God's name, He is there with us, so what will He find?  Have we allowed worldly things to invade our worship service?  Jesus began to cast our those who bought and sold in the temple and overthrew the tables of the money changers and those who sold doves, which were used in the worship service.  They did these things to make a profit themselves and not for God.  We need to make sure that the things that we do in the church today are for God's glory and not for our benefit.   Verse sixteen adds, And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.  Jesus would not allow them to carry any vessel that was used for profit through the temple.  This doctrine has not changed today.  If we are somehow attempting to use the church for our benefit materially, we may be able to do so, but one day Jesus will cast out all that we have profited by it.  Anything that we do for profit, especially when we are gathered together in God's name, will never last.  Not only that, but I believe it will often stand between God and us.  Verse seventeen declares, 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. Jesus said it was written that His house would be a house of prayer and said instead they had turned it into a den of thieves.  I believe that whenever anyone begins to emphasize giving to profit themselves, even if they profess it to be for God's glory, that they are not following God's word.  Prayer and sincere worship of God and fellowship with our fellow believers should be at the center of our worship service and not materialism.  Verse eighteen adds, 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.  The scribes and chief priests then began to plot about how to destroy Jesus, because He was hurting their authority and profit.  These were the religious leaders of God's chosen people, and we need to pray that the leaders of the church do not become the same way today.   The scribes and priests feared taking action against Jesus, because the people were astounded by His doctrine.  Are we still astounded by God's doctrine today, and are people afraid to act against us because of our relationship with Jesus Christ?  Verse nineteen says, And when even was come, he went out of the city. Verse twenty adds, And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots When Jesus and the disciples left Jerusalem to return to Bethany where they were staying it was dark, so they evidently didn't see the fig tree that Jesus had cursed, but returning the next morning, they did.  Matthew Henry says the fig tree represented Israel which had been the productive people of God, but whose faith was now dried up and worthless.  We should never stop being productive in God's kingdom because our faith has dried up.  Verse twenty-one continues, And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.  Peter noticed the fig tree had dried up and was startled by the fact.  He did not have faith to believe that Jesus had power to really cause this to happen.   As Christians, we should never doubt the power of God.   Verse twenty-two states, And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. Jesus told Peter and the disciples to have faith in God.  Once we put our faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we should never live in doubt again.  Verse twenty-three adds, For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Jesus then said if they had faith, they could command a mountain to move, and it would move if that person had enough faith.  Matthew Henry says the mountains were figurative for any seemingly impossible obstacle that stood between the disciples and God.  He said this applies to all disciples, which includes us as Christians.  Verse twenty-four adds, Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.  Jesus then said that whatever they desired when they prayed if they had faith, they would receive it.  Some people believe that anything that they want and ask God for by faith as Christians that they will receive it.  I believe that the key is that we are to pray by faith, and if we do, instead of asking God to give us what we want in faith, that sincere pray will align our wants with God's determination of what we need.  I also believe that moving a mountain by faith means that it would need to be moved in order for us to do what God asks us to do.  It would never be simply to bring attention to our power but would be done in order for us to do God's will in our life and for His glory.  We may spend all our time trying to move a mountain by faith when God only wants us to climb over it by faith in Him.  Jesus said what we desire when we pray that we are to believe, and we will receive it.  This is different than seeing and desiring something then praying that God will give it to us, even if we have faith.  By prayer, we should determine what God wants for us and then have faith to believe that is the best thing for us, even if it may not be what we desire.   One thing God will always want for people is to restore them to a relationship with Himself through putting their faith in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. 

Mark 11:11

Mark 11:11 says, And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.  When Jesus got to Jerusalem, He went into the temple and looked around on all the things going on there.  He could have decided that He liked being adored and have wanted to change His mission, but He didn't.  We might get caught up in the praise and adoration of people as Christians and decide that we like that better than being a simple servant of Christ, but we had better pray that we never do.  That evening, Jesus went to Bethany with the twelve disciples, leaving the adoring crowds behind.  If we start to get too caught up in the praise of man, we need to get alone with Jesus once more and seek His guidance.  He did not immediately pass judgment on what was happening there, but in the evening, returned to Bethany, where He had a place to stay.  Jesus is still observing what is going on in the church today, and He may not immediately pass judgment on things that are being done that are not in accordance with His will, but one day He will.  For now, He has returned to His heavenly home and not a borrowed place to spend the night as He did then.  Verse twelve adds, And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:  The next morning, Jesus and the disciples left Bethany and returned to Jerusalem, and Jesus was hungry, which gives proof of the fact that He was human.  We cannot make Jesus any less human than we are, or He would have only been going through the motions of defeating sin and death without really being able to give in to temptation.  Verse thirteen states, 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;   Jesus saw a fig tree that had leaves, and thought He might find some figs to eat, but He found nothing but leaves.  By appearance, the fig tree should have had fruit, but it did not.  By appearances, people who profess to be Christians should be bearing fruit, but sometimes their profession of faith is only for show so they never bear fruit, and we are told that by our fruit we will be known as being His.  It is then stated that the time of the fruit was not yet come.   It could be that this meant that this tree alone had yet to produce fruit, or that it was too early for all fig trees, and I believe that it applied to this fig tree alone.  Still, it was not time for anyone to bear fruit for Christ, because His time was not yet come.  Verse fourteen adds, And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.  Jesus then said that no one would ever eat of this tree again, which is why I believe He wasn't referring to all fig trees.  We are individually judged by our own relationship with Jesus Christ and the fruit we bear, and not by the relationship of anyone else.  The disciples heard what Jesus said, and so must we today. 

Mark 11:1

Mark 11:1 says, And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,  Jesus was about to make His entry into Jerusalem.  He was not going to sneak in hoping not to be seen but was going openly in the sight of everyone.  Even though He knew what awaited Him there, He was not going in downcast.  We as Christians need to openly worship God today, and no matter what the world may threaten us with, we must never be downcast in our faith. Verse two adds, And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.  Jesus told two of His disciples to go into the village where they would find a colt that no one had ever ridden tied up.  Jesus said they were to loosen the colt and bring it to Him.  Jesus was not going to enter Jerusalem on a mighty steed, but on a lowly donkey.  We today do not need to be looking for worldly acclaim as we serve God but need to serve Him humbly.  Verse three continues, And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.  The disciples had to have faith to do what Jesus was asking, since they could have been accused of stealing the colt.  If we know beyond a doubt that God has called on us to do something, we should never be afraid to do it.  Jesus told these two disciples if anyone asked what they were doing to tell them that the Lord had need of the colt, and the one asking would send them back to Jesus.  I believe that anytime God tells us to do something that involves others that He will always go ahead of us to prepare the way.  When we have done what God asks us to do, we need to return to Him in obedience.  Verse four states, And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him.  The disciples went, and everything happened as Jesus said it would.  If God is behind what we are doing, we need to simply do it, and then return to Him to see what He has for us to do next.  The first step to doing what God would have us do is always putting our faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.  Verse five adds, And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt?  Verse six continues, And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.  The disciples did get asked what they were doing, and they obediently told those asking what Jesus had told them to say.  We need to be obedient in doing what God tells us to do and rely on Him to take care of the details.  Verse seven says, And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him  After the two disciples returned with donkey colt, the disciples put their garments on it, and Jesus sat on him.  They might have thought that a majestic steed would have been more appropriate for a coming King, but we need to realize that Jesus did not come to meet our expectations.  Yet sometimes we treat Him that way.  Still, no matter what they thought, they were willing to help Him as He prepared to go continue on His journey.  This should be our attitude as well.  Even if we may think that God should do things differently, we need to simply bow to His leadership.  Verse eight adds, And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.  Some of the people around the disciples and Jesus began to lay their garments on the ground in front of Him, while others cut branches from trees and placed them in front of Jesus as He traveled on.  They were acknowledging that Jesus was someone important by their actions, but they still had not acknowledged Him as the Messiah in their heart.  We may take actions that show we believe in Jesus Christ, but if we have not accepted Him as our personal Savior and Lord, they are empty deeds.  Verse nine states, And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: The people also cried out acknowledging Jesus as the fulfillment of the promise to David that the Messiah would come as from his lineage.  Verse ten adds, Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.  They sang Hosanna to the highest as they accompanied Him, but they still didn't understand Who He really was nor what He really came to do.  We may sing praises to God all day long, but if we have not accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, it does us no good.