July 23, 2023
Evening Service

The Triumphal Entry

Mar 11:1  Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples;

Mar 11:2  and He said to them, "Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it.

Mar 11:3  And if anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The Lord has need of it,' and immediately he will send it here."

Mar 11:4  So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it.

Mar 11:5  But some of those who stood there said to them, "What are you doing, loosing the colt?"

Mar 11:6  And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go.

Mar 11:7  Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it.

 

Jesus was able to control the nature of this animal.

We also have a natural side that we have to yield to the Holy Spirit.

 

 

Mar 11:8  And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

Mar 11:9  Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: "Hosanna! 'BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!'

Mar 11:10  Blessed is the kingdom of our father David That comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"

Mar 11:11  And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.

 

From Luke:

And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples."

40  But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out."

 

 

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

Mar 11:12  Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry.

Mar 11:13  And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.

Mar 11:14  In response Jesus said to it, "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again." And His disciples heard it.

 

Jesus knew there was no fruit on this tree. He wanted to use this tree for a lesson.

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

Mar 11:15  So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.

Mar 11:16  And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple.

Mar 11:17  Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL NATIONS' ? But you have made it a 'DEN OF THIEVES.'"

 

 

Mar 11:18  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 teaching.

Mar 11:19  When evening had come, He went out of the city.

 

 

The Lesson from the Withered Fig Tree

Mar 11:20  Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.

Mar 11:21  And Peter, remembering, said to Him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away."

Mar 11:22  So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God.

Mar 11:23  For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

Mar 11:24  Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Mar 11:25  "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.

Mar 11:26  But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."

 

 

The Authority of Jesus Challenged

Mar 11:27  Then they came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him.

Mar 11:28  And they said to Him, "By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?"

Mar 11:29  But Jesus answered and said to them, "I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things:

Mar 11:30  The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me."

Mar 11:31  And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'

Mar 11:32  But if we say, 'From men' "—they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed.

Mar 11:33  So they answered and said to Jesus, "We do not know." And Jesus answered and said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."