CHAPTER 11

1 And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,
2 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.
3 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.
4 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.
5 And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt?
6 And they said unto them even 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 upon him.
8 And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.
9 And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:
10 Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.

The "TRIUMPHANT ENTRY" to Jerusalem is here told by Mark.

Jesus led the group in a southeasterly direction from Jericho to Jerusalem. In that line, they would pass Bethany and Bethphage, then come to the eastern side of "the mount of olives."

From the 700 feet high cleft of the mount of olives, they would be able to see ALL of Jerusalem. Before Jesus arrived at the mount of olives, He wanted the disciples to go into Bethphage (See verse 2, "the village over against you") and find "a colt tied..."

They were to "loose him" and bring him to Jesus. Jesus knew that someone would ask them why they were taking the animal. He told the disciples exactly what to say: "the Lord hath need of him." The Greek word used here for "Lord" is kurios, which means supreme in authority (it can also be used to denote "master, Sir"). Jesus knew that the person who asked why they were taking the animals would have complete knowledge of WHO wanted them!

Why "an ass?" Why not a big white horse? Horses were not in abundance in that country, and were used for war. At His first advent, Jesus came not to "judge and make war." He came to "judge," yes; but He came to bring PEACE! He brought the peace of God which brings salvation to men though men war against God by sin. Donkeys were beasts of burden and quite commonly used in the country. There was significant history that exemplified one coming publicly into a town on an ass was one sent for judgment (see Judges 12:14).

Further, Mark (see Mark 11:7)and Luke (see Luke 19:35) both tell us that Jesus rode upon the "colt." This particular "colt" was significant, for he was a colt "wheron never a man sat" (Mark 11:2). This was an UNBROKEN colt, not yet tamed for man's riding. Certainly GOD could ride him!!

The disciples went into Bethphage and brought the ass and the colt back to Jesus. Then they placed their cloaks upon the colt, and placed some of their cloaks upon the ground in front of Jesus as He rode.

Other members of the crowded area (due to Passover) followed the disciples example. So many of them that Matthew says "a very great multitude spread their garments in the way." And others of the crowd "cut down branches from the trees" and placed them in front of Jesus as He rode.

This majestic procession reminds one of Solomon when he rode upon David's mule to his proclamation of being the new king (See 1Kings 1:33-46)

Jesus, the Son of God, came into Jerusalem at what has been named His "Triumphant Entry." He came riding an untamed colt that God had prepared for Him. He came as King of kings, and Lord of lords. He did not come in the WRATH of judgment. He came to bring a reign of "peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:14). He came bringing the price for salvation - His own blood.

And the crowds, going to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, RECOGNIZED what was happening. They realized that MESSIAH had come!!

They not only spread garments and palm branches before Him, they also began to cry out in loud voices: "HOSANNA in the Highest!! HOSANNA to the Son of David! BLESSED is He that cometh in the Name of the LORD!" This was a quote of the song of ascension in Psalm 118:25).

Philosophers, scientists, and others can say all they want about Jesus only being recognized as a "teacher." THESE huge crowds recognized Him as MESSIAH! They saw it BEFORE He was crucified, and they saw it even MORE after He arose from the grave!!

11 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. 12 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: 13 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. 14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, He went to the temple.

That evening (vs 11), he went to Bethany.
Then, the next morning (Monday) returned to Jerusalem.

On the way, that Monday, Jesus noticed a fig tree that had leaves and stopped to pick some of the figs. In Judaea, fig trees often put on leaves as early as March, and by April the figs are ripe. Mark says, "the time of the figs was not yet." In other words they were probably ripe, but not yet ready for harvesting. Therefore, this fig tree SHOWED it should have figs upon it for eating. But there were none. In other words, one might say, the tree was a hypocrite!.

Jesus left the tree with a statement: "No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever." Should the tree, made by God, NOT bear fruit at the time God wanted it? Should the created not serve the Master of all creation? (See John 15:2).

We'll see more on this subject in a moment.

15 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;
16 And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.
17 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.
18 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.

When Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, He went straight to "the temple of God." He did not go to the palace and claim the earthly kingdom, instead He went to the temple and claimed the eternal spiritual kingdom!

The temple courts were to be used by the multitudes to pray and praise the Lord. Instead, they were dominated by those who bought and sold the animals for sacrifice. They were also dominated by those who were money changers, and made a profit from God's business.
In His earlier cleansing of the temple Jesus stated they had made God's house a house of merchandise (John 2:16). Now He says they have "made it a den of thieves!"

As a result of Jesus' actions, the "scribes and chief priests" heard about it.
They "feared" Jesus because, in the people's eyes, He was becoming more prominent than them.
And they were jealous of their esteem and authority! Therefore, they "sought how they might destroy Him...."

19 And when even was come, 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 saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
23 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.
24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Monday evening (vs 19) Jesus left Jerusalem.
The next day (Tuesday), he returned (vs 20).

On the way back to Jerusalem, the disciples saw the fig tree which Jesus had visited the day before. That tree was "dried up fromt he roots!"

The disciples pointed this out to Jesus, and He responded with a lesson.

Let us remember, in this example, that faith belongs to those who have surrendered to God. (See Ephesians 2:8-9). Faith is a gift of God given to those who surrender to Christ. Faith is the action of God's Holy Spirit working in the believer.

Jesus was saying, "If you HAVE faith, and act upon it without wavering, then.." you can do these other things. Now someone might say, "I, in true faith, have said to the mountain 'be thou removed,' and it has not budged!" Perhaps they don't realize that faith provides a SHOVEL!

A false and hypocritical confession of faith in Jesus will WITHER, because the person "hath no root in themselves." (Mark 4:17) However, true faith will expose a path through which to overcome obstacles to that faith.

And the object of the lesson is not that we might have power to move mountains into the sea. The object of the lesson is to PRAY BELIEVING! In such prayer, God will show a way!

27 And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders,
28 And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things?
29 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of 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 shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
32 But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.
33 And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

The "chief priests and elders" were the leaders of the Jewish people. They came to Jesus with a question, and confronted Him before the people. They were only seeking to pubilicly impune His integrity.

Their question was "WHO" gave Jesus the authority to run the money changers and other frauds out of the temple.

Jesus was not taken by surprise. God is never taken by surprise. He knew exactly how to embarrass these men before the people.

Jesus posed a question to them: "The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men?"

If they answered from "heaven," then Jesus would ask why didn't they believe John.
If they answered "of men," then Jesus would ask why they put up with John.

In all the history of their nation, they had LISTENED to the prophets. Even if they were self-proclaimed, they listened. Then, if they were proven wrong, they labeled them as heretics or killed them according to the law.
But with John the Baptist, they had LISTENED to him, and not proclaimed him an heretic. But they had not BELIEVED John's statement that he was the "forerunner" of the Messiah!

Jesus had them caught between the proverbial "rock and a hard place." They would not answer for fear of their own embarrassment.

Therefore Jesus said, "Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things."

But Jesus wasn't through with them yet.

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.