Mark 11

Jesus is the One all will answer to

1 And when they came near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sent out two of his disciples, 2 and said to them, Go into the village opposite you: and as soon as you have entered into it, you will find a colt tied, on which no man has sat; untie him and bring him. 3 And if any man says to you, Why are you doing this? You say that the Lord needs him; and immediately he will send him here. 4 And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside in a place where two ways met; and they untied him. 5 And one of them that stood there said to them, What are you doing, untying the colt? 6 And they answered as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go. 7 And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat on him. 8 And many spread their garments in the road: and others cut down branches off the trees, and spread them in the road. 9 And those that went in front and those that followed, cried out saying, Hosanna/save now; Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord: 10 Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that comes in the person of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest. 11 And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about on all things, and now the evening came, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

• The people were quoting Psalm 118.
• For 4,000 years the world waited for the One God would send to save us from all our troubles.
• These people want deliverance from the rule of Rome over their nation.
• Jesus came to save first from the rule of evil over our hearts.
• After that He will come to deliver the world from the rule of Satan’s evil and evil leaders.

• Zechariah  9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, your King comes to you: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding on an ass, on a colt the foal of an ass.

• Matthew24:29-31 Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give her light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken: 30 And then the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven: and all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

12 And the next day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry: 13 And seeing a fig tree far away, having leaves, he came, to find something on it: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for it was not yet the time of figs. 14 And Jesus answered and said to it, No man eat fruit of you from now on forever. And his disciples heard it.15 And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out those that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of those that sold doves; 16 And would not allow any man to carry any vessel through the temple. 17 And he taught, saying to them, Is it not written, My house will be called of all nations the house of prayer? But you have made it a den of thieves. 18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people were astonished at his doctrine.

• The fig tree is a symbol of Israel being fruitless toward God.
• The Lord is the only One we are ever told to fear.

• Luke 12:5 But I will forewarn you whom you are to fear: Fear him, who, after he has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, Fear him.

The Lord promises to give us what we ask

19 And when evening came he went out of the city. 20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter calling to remembrance said to him, Master, look, the fig tree you cursed is withered away. 22 And Jesus answering said to them, Have faith in God/have the faith of God. 23 For truthfully I say to you, That whoever says to this mountain, Move, and be thrown into the sea and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things that he says will come to pass; he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, What ever things you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

• James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 Do not let that man think that he will receive anything from the Lord.

• Mark 5:36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he said to the ruler of the synagogue, Do not fear, only believe.

25 And when you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. 27 And they came again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there came to him the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders, 28 And said to him, By what authority do you do these things? And who gave you this authority to do these things?

• When Jesus was walking in the temple He was walking in the house that was built for Him, he was walking in His own house.
• It took the power of God to heal, raise the dead, calm the storms, and walk on water.
• That was the authority the Jesus had.

29 And Jesus answered and said to them, I will also ask you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? Answer me. 31 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did you not believe him? 32 But if we say, From men; they feared the people: for all men considered John to be a prophet indeed. 33 And they answered and said to Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering said to them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

• Revelation 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, says the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

• Romans 14:12 So then every one of us will give account of himself to God.

                                                Mark 12

The Lord does marvelous things to behold

1 And he began to speak to them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, set a hedge about it, dug a place for the wine press, built a tower, rented it out to vinedressers, and went into a far country. 2 And at the season he sent a servant to the vinedressers to receive from the vinedressers from the fruit of the vineyard. 3 And they caught him, beat him, and sent him away empty. 4 And he sent to them another servant; they cast stones at him, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled. 5 And he sent another; they killed him. He sent many others; they beat some, and killed some. 6 Still, having one son, his well-beloved, he sent him to them at the last, saying, They will revere my son. 7 But those vinedressers said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours. 8 So they took him, killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. 9 What will the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers, and will give the vineyard to others. 10 Have you not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner: 11 This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?

• The world is God’s vineyard.
• The fruit is love toward God for making all things, for giving us life.
• God is longsuffering, not willing that any perish (2 Peter 3:9).
• Forty years after Israel demanded the Romans crucify the Son of God, Titus and the Roman legions destroyed Jerusalem.
• Not one stone of the temple was left on another.

• Song of Solomon 1:2 … your love is better than wine.

• John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him not perish, but have everlasting life

12 And they sought to arrest on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way. 13 And they sent to him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words. 14 And when they came they said to him, Master, we know that you are true, and care for no man: for you do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? 15 Are we to give, or not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, Why do you tempt me? Bring me a denarius, that I may see it. 16 And they brought it. And he said to them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said to him, Caesar's. 17 And Jesus answering said to them, Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marveled at him.

• The Pharisees sent people to try to trap Jesus into saying something against Rome so they could arrest and execute Him.

• Psalm 94:10 He that chastises the heathen, will not he correct? He that teaches man knowledge, does he not know?

18 Then the Sadducees came to him, who say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying, 19 Master, Moses wrote to us, If a man's brother dies, and leaves his wife behind him, and leaves no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed to his brother. 20 Now there were seven brothers: and the first took a wife, and died leaving no seed. 21 And the second took her, and died, he left no seed either: and the third likewise. 22 And the seven had her, and left no seed: lastly the woman died also. 23 So in the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be? For the seven had her to wife.

• The Sadducees thought that their question proved there is no resurrection because the God’s law specifies one mate.
• When all are resurrected this woman would have seven husbands.

• Exodus 20:14 You are not to commit adultery.

He is the God of the living

24 And answering, Jesus said to them, Do you not err because of this, not knowing the scriptures or the power of God? 25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are like the angels in heaven. 26 And concerning the dead, that they rise: have you not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spoke to him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? 27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: you therefore greatly err.

• Psalm 33:6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. 9 For he spoke, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

• Luke 20:38 … for all live unto him.

• Romans 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

He alone is God; He is worthy of our all love

28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? 29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30 And you are to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like it, namely this: You are to love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these. 32 And the scribe said to him, Well, Master, you have said the truth: for there is one God; and there is no other but he.

• We are not to love our neighbors as we love God, with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We are to love them as ourselves.

• Psalm 96:5-6 For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens. 6 Honor and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

33 And to love him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said to him, You are not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that dared ask him any more questions.

• 1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, Do not look on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.

• Luke 17:21 Neither will they say, Look here! Or, look there! For, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

35 And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How do the scribes say that Christ is the Son of David? 36 For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool. 37 David therefore himself calls him Lord; so then, how is he his son? And the common people heard him gladly.

• The answer to this question is that God became a man, born of a woman, dwelt in human flesh.
• If they answered this question rightly it would lead them to Him, standing before them.
• They were expecting the Shekinah glory that dwelt in the tabernacle. Not God veiled in human flesh.

38 And he said to them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, who love to go about in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, 39 and the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: 40 Who devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these will receive greater damnation. 41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and watched how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. 42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. 43 And he called to him his disciples, and said to them, Truthfully I say to you, That this poor widow has cast more in than all those who have cast into the treasury: 44 For they all cast in of their abundance; but she of her lack did cast in all that she had, all her living.

• Devouring widow’s houses means they swindle them out of their money and property.
• This woman showed her understanding that all things come from God, and her faith that God would provide for her daily needs.
• Only God would know how much the rich and the poor had.
• Jesus watched the people give their offerings, their gifts to God, to Him.
• The offerings people give to God are a sacred trust.
• So they must be handled with impeccable integrity and with prayerful discretion.
• They must be invested in the most fruitful endeavors for the most abundant return for God’s kingdom.

• Philippians 4:17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. 19 But my God will supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

                                               Mark 13

Jesus foretold us all things

1 And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, Master, see what stones and what buildings are here! 2 And answering Jesus said to him, See these great buildings? Not one stone will be left on another that will not be thrown down.

• These words of Jesus were fulfilled in 70 AD.
• The temple sanctuary was inlaid with gold on the walls.
• In 70 A.D. the Roman legions of Titus took apart each stone to get at the gold that had melted between the stones during the fires as Jerusalem was destroyed.
• During the tribulation, on a much greater scale, a great earthquake will destroy the cities of the nations. The buildings will become rubble.
• Jesus cares about the hearts not the buildings.

• Revelation 16:19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give to her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

3 And as he sat on the mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled? 5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Beware, let no man deceive you: 6 For many will come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and will deceive many. 7 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled: for such things must be; but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of pains of childbirth.

• We are deceived in this life if we do not know His word because His word is truth.
• Jesus told us specifically not to let these things upset us.
• God is still in charge. He is still giving everyone to reap what they sow.
  
• He is still a shield around His people.
• Once birth pains begin they become more frequent and more intense until the birth is accomplished.
• In this instance it is not the birth of a child but of God’s physical kingdom on earth.

• John 17:17 Sanctify them through your truth: your word is truth.

• Psalm 91:1 He that dwells in the secret place of the most High will abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 7 A thousand will fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you. 8 Only with your eyes you will behold and see the reward of the wicked.

• John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me.

9 Be on your guard: for they will deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues you will be beaten: and you will be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. 10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations. 11 But when they lead you away, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what you will speak, neither premeditate: but whatever is given you in that hour, that speak: for it is not you that speaks, but the Holy Spirit. 12 Now the brother will betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children will rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. 13 You will be hated by all men for my name's sake: but he that endures to the end, the same will be saved.

• Those who endure will begin the new civilization. They will enjoy a thousand years of blessings beyond our imagining.

The Lord has shortened the days of affliction

14 But when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that reads understand,) then let them that are in Judea flee to the mountains: 15 And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter into it to take anything out of his house: 16 And let him that is in the field not turn back again to take up his garment. 17 But cries of grief to them that are with child, and to them that are breast-feeding in those days! 18 And pray that your flight is not in the winter. 19 For in those days will be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation that God created until this time, neither will be. 20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he has chosen, he has shortened the days.

• The abomination of desolation is a statue of the antichrist. It is placed in the temple in Jerusalem.
• By placing it in the temple the antichrist claims to be God, the Savior.
• But the statue alerts the Jews to who this really is, Satan indwelling a human.
• They know this because throughout all the centuries God forbid them to have any idols or statues or representations of Himself.
• He does not do what He forbids.

21 And then if any man says to you, Look! Here is Christ; or, look! He is there; do not believe him: 22 For false Christ’s and false prophets will rise, and show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. 23 But beware: behold, I have foretold you all things. 24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give her light, 25 And the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers that are in heaven will be shaken. 26 And then they will see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

• Matthew 24:27 For as the lightning comes out of the east, and shines even to the west; so also will the coming of the Son of man be.

• 2Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

27 And then he will send his angels, and will gather together his elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of the earth to the farthest part of heaven. 28 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is still tender, and puts out leaves, you know that summer is near: 29 So you, in this way, when you see these things come to pass, know that it is near, even at the doors. 30 Truthfully I say to you, that this generation will not pass until all these things are done. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away: but my words will not pass away. 32 But of that day and that hour no man knows, no, not the angels that are in heaven, neither the Son, except the Father.

• God is specific. Notice Jesus didn’t say that no man knows the year.
• The year isn’t mentioned.
• Hosea 6:2 gives a 2,000 year approximate figure from the 70 AD destruction of Jerusalem.
• The Jewish year is 5 days shorter than our year. A smart scholar could predict fairly accurately the year only. 
• But Jesus has just told us that God shortens the time so our best calculations would be off.

33 Beware, watch and pray: for you do not know when the time is. 34 For the Son of man is like a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. 35 Watch therefore: for you do not know when the master of the house comes, at evening, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning: 36 Lest coming suddenly he finds you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you I say to all, Watch.

• This is not a command to never rest our bodies by sleeping.
• This is a command not to get caught up in the affairs of this life and the distractions of this world.
• We do not know when He’s coming so we are always to be ready for that moment by keeping our eyes and hearts on Him.

• Psalm 127:2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he gives his beloved sleep.

• Matthew 25:31-32 When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him will be gathered all nations: and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats

• Daniel 7:13-14 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which will not pass away, and his kingdom that which will not be destroyed.

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SUMMARY: Mark 11-13

• Jesus is the One all will answer to
• The Lord promises to give us what we ask
• The Lord does marvelous things to behold
• He is the God of the living
• He alone is God; He is worthy of our all love
• Jesus foretold us all things
• The Lord has shortened the days of affliction