The King Has Come

The Humble Arrival

Mark 11:1–9 NIV

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’ ” They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

A Different Entrance

Jesus had made the trip to Jerusalem many times before for passover.

This time was different. This time He would arrive as The King.

Roman generals of this time would return from battle would enter the cities as heroes.

They would arrive on a white horse with their battle garb and red cloak. Strong, powerful, intimidating, imposing.

Jesus took a different route.Jesus was the most powerful man on the planet and yet he chose meekness and humility.

Jesus, dressed in his tunic and cloak, climbed on a donkey to prepare for His entry into Jerusalem.

Zechariah 9:9 NIV

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

His reception, however, was a King’s welcome.

Palm leaves and cloaks lined the road in front of Him.

Palms were used in David’s time to celebrate victories and recognize royalty.

Cloaks dating back to

2 Kings 9:12–13 NIV

“That’s not true!” they said. “Tell us.” Jehu said, “Here is what he told me: ‘This is what the Lord says: I anoint you king over Israel.’ ” They quickly took their cloaks and spread them under him on the bare steps. Then they blew the trumpet and shouted, “Jehu is king!”

One Last Look at The Temple

Mark 11:11 NIV

Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

Swindoll looks at this scripture with a lens of sadness. The lack of conversation or anything of significance leaves us wondering in our minds what Jesus was thinking in this very rare quiet moment He experiences.

Being wholly God, was he looking at this temple with sadness knowing that Israel’s separation from God as their true leader would ultimately result in its complete destruction in 70 AD

Hypocrisy Exposed

Mark 11:12–14 NIV

The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.

Long has this very short account been debated.

Why would Jesus curse a tree for not bearing fruit when according to the timing of Him being there, the tree was not meant to be bearing its fruit?

Some argue that He was looking for the edible buds that came before the actual fruit.

Some argue that there are certain species of fig trees that produce fruit earlier than the typical fig tree.

Here is what I see......

Jesus went to this tree with the expectation of it bearing some form of nourishment. He expected that with how it was displaying itself that it would also be productive.

When He found that it was not, He cursed it never to bear fruit again.....…

One can’t help but see the parallelism between this tree and the church of that time.

They had become works based. Image based.

They’re concern was the outward appearance which led to no spiritual growth or production of fruit.

It is also worth noting, this is Christ’s only recorded miracle of destruction.

In fact the only recorded miracle of destruction in the New Testament.

The Hypocrisy of The Temple

Mark 11:15–18 NIV

On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.

Here we start to understand the meaning behind the fig tree as Jesus enters the temple to find that what was built to be the holiest of places, was reduced to nothing more than a “thieves den”

Isaiah 56:7–8 NIV

these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” The Sovereign Lord declares— he who gathers the exiles of Israel: “I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered.”

Jeremiah 7:11 NIV

Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the Lord.

Jesus imposes His authority here in a way we have not yet seen. Many see Jesus as soft spoken, peaceful, and non combative.

Yet the greatest description would be meek. However, meek is all too often misinterpreted to mean weak.

As Jesus shows, it is quite the opposite. Meek is strength under control.

Another misconception is that Jesus lost his temper in the temple.

Again, this is an incorrect point of view.

CS Lewis the author of The Lion the Witch and The Wardrobe series does a great job of describing Jesus as his character Aslan

READ FROM BOOK

Jesus is powerful and Jesus is dangerous to those who oppose Him.

The crooks and hypocrites in the temple that day found that out, just as those who oppose Him will find in His second coming.

Return To The Fig

I will wrap up with the ultimate lesson Jesus taught His disciples on what would have been the Monday of this Holy Week.

After Jesus cleanses the temple, He and His disciples leave. The next morning, they pass by the fig tree again.

Mark 11:20–25 NIV

In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!” “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.

The cursing of the fig tree was a representation of what was happening in Israel.

However, now Jesus uses it not as a parallel, but as a lesson in faith.

Matthew 21:20–22 NIV

When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked. Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

In this moment Jesus is saying that the power they see in Him is the same power we have through our Father.

All it requires is faith. Belief that the living God not only can but will.

The Beginning of The End

As we start this Holy Week on this Palm Sunday we see our savior arrive humbly on the back of a donkey, yet also as a king. The King of Kings the Messiah!

And while we know that death and sorrow await in just a few days time, He isn’t finished teaching us.

Do not let the appearance of righteousness outweigh your true pursuit of righteousness.

Do not let your temple become a den of thieves.

But have faith in your Father.

Philippians 4:13 NIV

I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Matthew 21:22 NIV

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Luke 1:37 NIV

For no word from God will ever fail.”

Mark 11:24 NIV

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Put your faith in the One who cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7 NIV

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Closing

Jesus cleansed the temple and threw out the junk.

And He wants to do the same to you.