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INTRODUCTION

A. Previously:

      In the previous studies in Mark's Gospel we have observed Jesus' ministry and the opposition he encountered. We have seen the healings, the miracles and the teaching.

  

      We also saw Jesus purposefully starting out towards Jerusalem and explaining to his disciples that he must die and rise from the dead.

 

B. These Studies:

      In many ways these horrific chapters are not pleasant reading, but they are nevertheless necessary reading if we are to understand the Gospel. God's plan was that Jesus, as His Son, should die in the place of sinful men to pay the full penalty of sin. There was nothing accidental about these last days of Jesus in Jerusalem . Jesus purposefully stands out against the man-centred religion of the day, knowing that as he does this it will provoke those who ran it into putting him to death. In one sense Jesus brought about his own death, but on the other hand he never over-ruled the free will of men. What they did to him they did wilfully and with full understanding. In doing this they represented the whole of mankind.

      If we can be honest we will find ourselves pictured somewhere in these chapters. Perhaps as the one who declares he will never forsake Jesus, perhaps the one who denied Jesus, perhaps the ones who ran away and left him, perhaps the ones who didn't stand up for what was right, perhaps the ones who stood at a distance, perhaps the ones who found it hard to believe what he had said. Yes, these chapters are about the wonderful love of God that took Jesus to the Cross because of people like you and me. Let's never forget that!

 

PART 1 : "Confrontation"

      We start these studies with Jesus' final entry into Jerusalem at the beginning of that last fateful week before his death. We will see that Jesus is very much in control of the situation and indeed, sets up the circumstances to provoke the religious leaders who will be the ones to bring about his death.

Study No.1 : Entry to Jerusalem  : Mark 11:1-11

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.

 

Study No.2 : The Fig Tree : Mark 11:12-14, 20-26

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".

 

   

Study No.3 : In the Temple : Mark 11:15-19

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.

Study No.4 : A Question of Authority : Mark 11:27-33

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.

 

Study No.5 : Parable of the Vineyard : Mark 12:1-12

A. Find Out:

          

1. What did the owner do with his vineyard? v.1

2. Why did he send a servant back? v.2

3. What did the tenants do with the servants? v.3-5

4. Who did he eventually send? v.6

5. What did they do with him? v.8

6. What will the owner do with the tenants? v.9

7. What was the religious leaders' response? v.12

 

B. Think :

1. Read Isaiah 5:1-7 What is the vineyard? Who do you think were the

     servants?

2. What actually is the point of Jesus' parable?

3. What "fruit" do you think Jesus wanted from the people?

 

C. Comment :

      Still talking to the religious leaders, Jesus goes on to tell a very pointed story, one that would already be familiar from the Old Testament, but which he updated for the present situation.

      The vineyard was clearly Israel . God had formed them and placed them in Canaan . He had sent His prophets but they had all been rejected (see also Acts 7:52 ). Now the Son himself has come and they reject and will kill him as well. The result of this, says Jesus, will be their destruction and the kingdom given over to others (the Gentiles). The Lord had already done this at the Exile (see studies on Jeremiah) and would do it again in AD70 when Jerusalem would be sacked. As with the Exile, this is not to say that it is to be the end of Israel .

      The clear challenge is understood by these religious leaders for they know that Jesus is applying it to them. Instead of repenting they plan to arrest him and it is only because the crowd will side with Jesus against them, that they delay actually arresting him. The purpose of God moves on yet another stage!

 

D. Application?

1. Ask the Lord to help your life bear fruit (see Galatians 5:22 ).

2. Thank Him that He IS in sovereign control and IS working His purposes

     out in the world.

 

Study No.6 : A Catch Question in Return : Mark 12:13-17

A. Find Out:

          

1. Who came to see Jesus next? v.13

2. Why did they come? v.13

3. What 3 things did they say about Jesus? v.14

4. What question did they ask? v.14c,15a

5. What did Jesus say they should do? v.17

6. What did they feel about his answer? v.17

 

B. Think :

1. Just why did these two groups come to Jesus in the first place?

2. How did they "appear" to feel about Jesus?

3. What two abilities does Jesus reveal here?

 

C. Comment :

      Pharisees were supposedly very religious; Herodians were very non-religious, being more concerned with leisure and pleasure than anything else. They have now both been sent by the religious leaders to try to trap Jesus. Isn't it amazing how opposites come together in the face of a common enemy!

      Yesterday they challenged Jesus; today they praise him, but it's still with the same aim, to pull him down! Yesterday Jesus put them in a difficult position before the people; today they try to do the same with him, but you shouldn't try to beat the wisdom of the Son of God!

     Jesus shows first, DISCERNMENT, understanding perfectly what they were up to. Next he shows WISDOM in giving them a perfect answer to a difficult question. If he had opted for one or the other, he would have been in the wrong with either the authorities or the people (who objected to the tax).

      The enemy often seeks to push us into "either/or" arguments where we are forced into extreme positions. We should learn to resist such arguments for ours is more often the "middle ground" rather than the extreme, and we shouldn't let ourselves be pushed off it!

 

D. Application?

1. Remember, don't get pushed into extremes. Ask the Lord for wisdom to

     handle difficult discussions.

2. Thank the Lord that He promises to give us wisdom (see Jas 1:5)

 

Study No.7 : Yet Another Try : Mark 12:18-27

A. Find Out:

          

1. Who next came to Jesus? v.18

2. What didn't they believe? v.18

3. What had Moses taught? v.19

4. How many men had married the woman? v.22

5. Why did Jesus say they were in error? v.24

6. What did Jesus say would happen in heaven? v.25

7. Who did he cite to prove resurrection? v.26,27

 

B. Think :

1. The Sadducees taught that once you died that was the end. What was

     Jesus careful to teach?

2. How does v.26 confirm Jesus statement of v.24?

3. How many different groups has Jesus responded to now?

 

C. Comment :

     After the religious leaders, the Pharisees and the Herodians, the next ones on the scene are the Sadducees who had yet more different beliefs. All these religious groups with different ideas must challenge us today. They all claimed they were right and the others wrong, and tragically all of them were actually against Jesus because he didn't take their side. Do we claim special ideas for our little group that perhaps isn't in line with Jesus' own thinking?

    As this group also tried to trip up Jesus, they too were confronted with their own foolishness. As a result, they also would be glad to see the back of this man who showed them up for what they really were! The religious leaders lacked authority, the Pharisees lacked integrity and the Sadducees lacked knowledge and when they each tried to pull Jesus down, they were shown up themselves. The thing they valued most was shown to be lacking!

     Jesus clarifies that in heaven all will be so great that we won't be worrying about individual relationships. He also points out that if they listened to Moses they would realise there HAD to be resurrection.

 

D. Application?

           Let's not try to fence with God. Let's just submit to Him as Lord!

Study No.8 : The Greatest Command : Mark 12:28-34

A. Find Out:

          

1. Who now came to speak? v.28

2. What did he ask? v.28

3. What was Jesus twofold reply? v.29-31

4. What did the man say was less important? v.33

5. How did Jesus consider this answer? v.34

6. What was the result of this? v.34c

 

B. Think :

1. How do these verses challenge our commitment to God?

2. How do they challenge our human relationships?

3. Why was this other man wise?

 

C. Comment :

     When the teachers of the law had come with the chief priests, one of them appears rather different from the rest. In his integrity this man acknowledges that Jesus is giving good answers to his attackers. Good answers here, doesn't just mean he is countering them well, but that he is giving very correct answers. His question, unlike the others, isn't a trick question. It appears a genuine, "What do you think" type of question, and as such it gets a straight answer from Jesus.

     Jesus states two laws, one from Deuteronomy 6:4,5 and one from Leviticus 19:18 as a summary of all the other laws put together. His clarifying the law like this brings joy to the listening scribe.

     This teacher of the law understands that total love for God and for men is far more important that mere religious ritual. His response pleases Jesus, for here is a rare man in those times who sees that outward ritual is NOT what is all important. This man is near God's heart and God's rule as he sees the importance of love as the heart of the issue. Here is an unusual man who refuses to get caught up in religious politics and is more concerned with truth and integrity.

 

D. Application?

1. Do we understand that whole hearted love for God is more important

     than "religious performance"?

2. Thank the Lord that He has given us His love so that we can love others

     in return.

  

Study No.9 : Christ is Lord : Mark 12:35-37

A. Find Out:

          

1. Where is Jesus teaching? v.35a

2. What had the teachers of the law said? v.35b

3. How had David spoken? v.36a

4. To whom had the Lord spoken? v.36b

5. What had He said to Him? v.36c

6. What point was Jesus making? v.37a

7. What did the crowd think about all this? v.37b

 

B. Think :

1. What status had the teachers of the law given the Christ or Messiah?

2. What status is Jesus giving him?

3. Read Psalm 110 that Jesus is quoting from.

 

C. Comment :

      We take time to consider just these three verses because they come in all the Gospels and in the Acts of the Apostles. At first sight they appear not to "fit" in what has gone just before but that is not so.

      Jesus has just previously been speaking with an "open" teacher of the law and there would perhaps be others who were similarly open who might be listening. As this is Jesus' last public teaching he conveys something very significant for those who have ears to hear. The Jews were awaiting their Messiah. The teachers had rather relegated him to a human level saying he was merely a son of David.

      Jesus takes a prophetic psalm and shows that David referred to two persons above him. The Lord (1) who is God, spoke to David's Lord (2) who must be the Messiah and who is clearly more than just David's son.

  Jesus is leaving in their minds the thought that he who has been called "the son of David" is perhaps far more than just a son; he is also Lord. Acts 2:34 -36 & Hebrews 7:17 clearly indicate Psalm 110 refers to Jesus - as Lord!

 

D. Application?

1. Do we give Jesus the full honour, that of Christ AND Lord?

2. Acclaim Him today as God's anointed one who rules in the midst of His

     enemies.

 

Study No.10 : Pride & Humility : Mark 12:38-44

A. Find Out:

          

1. Against whom was Jesus speaking? v.38a

2. List the things he said they did? v.38-40

3. Where did Jesus sit down? v.41a

4. Who were coming? v.41c

5. How much did the widow put in? v.42

6. What did Jesus say about this? v.43,44

 

B. Think :

1. What characterised the teachers of the law?

2. What were they doing though?

3. How was the widow in the temple the opposite to these men?

 

C. Comment :

      Jesus, again in this his last public teaching, picks out another significant issue, that of religion that is mostly concerned with personal prestige. These "guardians of the truth" liked to show how important they were by the way they dressed, where they sat and their religious eloquence. Jesus quietly pointed out that they also robbed widows! So much for organised religion! That wasn't what he came to propagate!

     And then as if to contrast these men he sat down where he could see who was coming to offer gifts in the temple treasury and waited for a poor widow (who he knew would come in?). Again there are the rich showing off by the way they threw in large amounts with flamboyant gestures.

      Then comes the widow who has virtually nothing and she very quietly and humbly puts in the little she had, very different from all the exhibitionists! It is as if Jesus wanted his disciples to remember these contrasts after he has gone. He isn't concerned with exhibitionist religion but with the poor in spirit and humble (see Matthew 5:3) who give sacrificially to God out of their love for Him. The temptation for all of us, is to be proud of our doing good, and then to parade it. This is NOT Jesus' way!

 

D. Application?

1. Do we show off our religion, covering up our bankruptcy of spirit with

    ritual?

2. Do we give all we are to God?

 

RECAP No.1  "Confrontation"  Mark 11 & 12

SUMMARY :  

       

In these 10 studies we have seen Jesus:

  - making a triumphant entry to Jerusalem

  - cursing the fig tree as a picture of Israel

  - clearing the temple of money changers

  - being challenged by the religious authorities

  - teaching on the parable of the tenants

  - countering opposition with much wise teaching

  - making observations about giving

 

COMMENT :

     CONFRONTATION is the name of the game that Jesus is playing. He confronts the religious authorities head on as he arrives in Jerusalem . He knows that if they are challenged over their godless, man-centred, external religion, they will eventually boil over and crucify him.

      COUNTER ATTACK is their response as again and again they challenge Jesus and try to trick him. They are angered and threatened by his presence and his actions, and they will not allow him to go on indefinitely provoking them.

 

LESSONS :

1. Jesus is Lord of his own destiny

2. Jesus confronts untruth as a major enemy

3. We need God's wisdom to handle opposition

4. Whole hearted love is more important than religious performance and religion is

     about humbly loving God

 

PRAY :

1. Worship the one who is Lord of all, who plans and purposes and brings about his will.

2. Submit your will to His today in prayer.

 

PART 2 : The Last Days and Hours

      As we move into these next two chapters see how Jesus uses these closing hours of his ministry to speak about the last days. Then watch and observe the preparations that are made for his coming death.