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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Chapter 11 of the Book of Mark, in the King James Version of the Holy Bible, is a significant chapter that unfolds several notable events in the life of Jesus Christ. The chapter begins with Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, followed by the cursing of the fig tree, and ends with a profound teaching on prayer and faith. This chapter is rich in symbolism, metaphor, and spiritual lessons that hold relevance for contemporary Christianity.
The chapter commences with Jesus and his disciples nearing Jerusalem, the city of great religious significance. Jesus sends two of his disciples to fetch a colt that no one has ridden before. The specific instructions given by Jesus and the disciples' obedience to his words reflect the divine authority of Jesus. The entry of Jesus into Jerusalem on a colt also fulfills the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9, indicating that Jesus is the promised Messiah.
The triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, popularly known as Palm Sunday, is a significant event that marks the beginning of the Passion Week. The people's reaction to Jesus' entry, laying down their garments and palm branches before him and shouting praises, is a powerful illustration of Jesus' kingship. However, this kingship is not of worldly power or authority but of humility, peace, and service. This event also foreshadows the forthcoming events of Jesus' passion, death, and resurrection.
The second event in this chapter is the cursing of the fig tree by Jesus. This event is highly symbolic and serves as a visual parable. The fig tree, which had leaves but no fruit, is symbolic of spiritual barrenness. Jesus' cursing of the fig tree is a symbolic act that signifies God's judgment on unfruitfulness and a lack of spiritual authenticity. It serves as a warning to all believers about the dire consequences of failing to bear spiritual fruits.
The third event in this chapter is Jesus' cleansing of the temple. Jesus enters the temple in Jerusalem and drives out those who were buying and selling in the temple. He overturns the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. Jesus' action in the temple is a powerful demonstration of his divine authority and a condemnation of the religious leaders' corruption. It is a clear declaration that the temple, the house of God, should be a place of prayer and not a marketplace.
The cleansing of the temple also signifies the need for personal and collective purification. It reminds believers of the importance of maintaining the sanctity of the places of worship and their own lives. The event also indicates the impending judgment on the religious leaders and the institution they represent.
The next day, as Jesus and his disciples pass by, they notice the fig tree that Jesus had cursed has withered. This event serves as a tangible lesson on the power of faith and prayer. Jesus uses this opportunity to teach his disciples about the importance of having faith in God. He emphasizes that faith can move mountains and that whatever they ask for in prayer, believing, they will receive.
This teaching on prayer and faith is a vital spiritual lesson for all believers. It serves as a reminder of the power of faith and the importance of prayer in the life of a believer. It encourages believers to trust in God's power and to pray with faith, expecting answers to their prayers.
The chapter ends with the religious leaders questioning Jesus' authority. They ask Jesus by what authority he does these things and who gave him this authority. Jesus, in his characteristic manner, answers their question with a question. He asks them about the baptism of John – whether it was from heaven or from men. The leaders are unable to answer Jesus' question, and thus Jesus refuses to answer their question about his authority.
This encounter with the religious leaders highlights the spiritual blindness and hardness of heart of the leaders. It also asserts the divine authority of Jesus, which is not derived from human approval or recognition but comes from God.
In conclusion, Chapter 11 of the Book of Mark presents several significant events in the life of Jesus, each filled with deep spiritual insights and lessons. The triumphant entry into Jerusalem, the cursing of the fig tree, the cleansing of the temple, the lesson on prayer and faith, and the questioning of Jesus' authority are all instances that reveal the divine authority, mission, and teachings of Jesus. These events and teachings continue to hold profound relevance for contemporary Christianity, inspiring believers to lead lives marked by faith, prayer, spiritual fruitfulness, and reverence for God's sanctity.
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