Mark 11
Hey all, this is Miranda. This week we're in Mark 11. What I was most struck by in this chapter is the overarching theme of Jesus' authority. It begins with the Triumphal Entry. Imagine being one of the disciples and being instructed to go to the next town to get a colt that's going to be tied up and then be given the words to say to the person you'll be taking it from. And, THEN actually going to that town and everything happening just as Jesus said. I thought to myself, "Their hearts must have been pounding from awe and excitement." I wonder what it must have been like for them to be walking beside Jesus as people everywhere cried out "Hosana!" And, did they even understand what was happening?
As the chapter continues, Jesus clears the temple and rebukes the people for desecrating it. He commands a fig tree to never bear fruit again. And, the Pharisees fail again to trap him when they ask him by what authority he's done these things. What I walked away with from this chapter is that Jesus can exercise His authority in any situation. We have four different situations here where He did this. It's a reminder to me of His power and how every area of my life is much better off under that authority.
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33So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."
ReplyDeleteGrowing up in church I have always heard the expression "you have to know that you know" and I never really thought about what that meant alot until I read this passage. If you have any doubt that Jesus has all authority then why would he show you any differently. Jesus doesnt have time for doubt. He cant wait on luke warm people to get off the fence and decide what they believe and choose to follow. He needs people that "know that they know". That the word is true, Jesus is alive, and he has all authority in our lives.
Verses 24-26 where Jesus is teaching his disciples about believing in their prayers, is a struggle for me, though I have absolutely no doubt in the power of prayer. In fact, I am a "prayer child", as my parents were told they cuold not have children, and adopted my two older brothers. Finally realized how much having one of their onw meant to both of them, they prayed together and I was born about 9 months later. But i also hear stories like a friend of mine from college who just had a close friend lose a 3 year old to an accident. They fought to keep him alive for days, and thousands of prayers for healing went up on their behalf, yet he still passed.
ReplyDeleteWhat I realize, is that sometimes I set unreal expectations on my prayers, but I think more often than not, my specific prayers are just not in God's will, but mine instead. I know and believe wholly in prayer, and will continue to, I just have to remind myself that God is in control, and his will always takes precedence. Tough lesson sometimes.
I like v.13-14 where he spoke of the fig tree. And in reality he is comparing it to the Israelite's how they were fruitful in appearance only but they were spiritually barren. I had always read over that passage and never really got it till now... I was always like what did that fig tree do to Jesus haha...but now i realize he was using it as an example.
ReplyDeleteI believe Jesus was very upset when he entered the temple. It was to be a place of prayer and open to all nations. Reminds me of many things I see today. I know it takes money to buy TV air time, but I don't need to pay for a prayer cloth someone else has prayed over. I believe I can get one of those for free. How many ministries in our time advance profits as they claim to advance the kingdom. I believe pastor Eric sort of hit on this recently.
ReplyDeleteThis scripture brings really good questions. Are we really about truth. Are we a place and people of prayer. Have we sold out our Savior for some kind of worldly gain. So many ways to look at this. And, we must pray that Jesus will reveal to us the things that are not of him.
I totally agree with Miranda. Jesus did not mess around. His authority was unquestionable and even though to some He may have seemed out of control or not "Mr. Nice Guy" as many people think Christians should be, He was definitely revering the temple as holy and called attention to what was wrong.
ReplyDeleteAnother part of this chapter that I love is when Jesus is questioned, He answers a question with a question. I love how He redirects it and puts the answer upon the hearts of His questioners.
Verses 13 and 15 are two that after reading I remember from when I was young. Regarding verse 13 I remember thinking “Why was Jesus mean to that tree?” obviously now I can put 2 and 2 together and come up with some reasons Jesus would curse the tree. The leaves are like promises and good words but words and promises mean nothing unless they help bear fruit. There are many places in the Bible where it states that faith without actions is meaningless. Just like having leaves in the fall but no fruit is meaningless.
ReplyDeleteI remember verse 15 because of a guy that made the argument that Jesus did sin because of his anger in this verse. I thought to myself “Come on, give me a break” because I understood that righteous anger is not a sin. Of course Jesus was angry, the religious “higher-ups” were using sacrifices for self gain, basically stealing from God. It would be a sin not to get angry.
When I read about the fig tree, I was a bit confused about what the lesson was. But reading your comments helped me, and that's mostly what I got from this--Other Christians are here to help us on our road. What we don't see, others might; and what we see, others might not. We are all in this together, this ministry, so we should help each other out.
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