Throwing Down the Gauntlet

Triumphal Entry: Jesus Enters Jerusalem (Day 1)

Timing: Sunday before Passover

Passover is on a Friday to Saturday

Jesus was in Bethany “six days before Passover” (John 12:1). Six days before Friday is Saturday.

“The next day” Jesus entered Jerusalem (John 12:12). The day after Saturday is Sunday.

Setting: Approaching Jerusalem by way of Bethphage & Bethany near the Mt of Olives (1).

Show Jesus’ Movements Map

Show Jerusalem at the Time of Jesus Map

Christ’s omniscience on display (2-3).

Significance of the colt (4-7)

Messiah predicted to ride into Jerusalem on a donkey (Zech 9:9).

Zech 9 context indicates Messiah’s peaceful rule begins.

The People’s Praise (8-11)

Quoted Psalm 118:26

Palm Branch was a symbol of Jewish nationalism (Ps 92:12; Feast of Booths, Lev 23:40; carvings in temples, old and new, Ezekiel 40:37)

"As no part of the palm has any waste, the dates being eaten, the branches used for Hallel, the twigs for covering [booths], the bast for ropes, the leaves for besoms, and the planed boards for ceiling rooms, so are there none worthless in Israel” (Gen. R. 41:1).”

Prophesied symbolically for the Lamb in the future (Rev 7:9).

Cleansing of the Temple (Day 2)

Cleansing Proper

Threw out those buying and selling; Overturned tables of money changers; Overturned chairs of those selling doves; Would not permit anyone to carry goods through the temple.

Pilgrim had to pay the annual temple tax (Exod 30:13-16). If they needed to change their money, these vendors could do that. But they’d charge a fee in order to make money.

He also prohibited folks from using the temple courtyard as a shortcut.

These actions profaned the holy, and oppressed the poor.

Taught

Reactions

Crowds were astonished.

Chief Priests were vengeful.

Feared Jesus’ popularity

Feared losing control (social, economic, political)

Feared losing influence with the Romans.

By these two actions (procession, cleansing), Jesus made sure His arrival was on notice.

Cursing of the Fig Tree (Days 2 & 3)

Accomplished in two acts (12-14, 20-26)

On his way back to Bethany after leaving Jerusalem on Sunday just before dusk.

On his way into Jerusalem the next morning (Monday).

Why did Jesus react violently?

Fig leaves do appear in advance of fruiting season (cf Mark 13:28).

As the leaves appear on the tree about Passover time, there are already green figs forming, known as paggim. They are not very palatable and certainly not ripe for harvest, but they can be eaten (NIGTC).

A tree in full leaf at Passover season is making a promise it cannot fulfill; so, too, is Israel (ibid.).

Ie, the tree was an empty show.

Object lesson on hypocrisy

Israel as a Fig Tree

Adam & Eve sewed fig leaves as a covering (Gen 3:7).

“Every man under his vine and under his fig tree” (eg 1 Kings 4:25; 2 Kings 18:31; Micah 4:4; Zec 3:10) was a colloquial way of saying one was “living the life of Riley.”

Hosea 9:10 may be the most significant in the OT.

The Nation of Israel, led by the hypocrites in the Sanhedrin and Herod’s palace, may have looked fruitful; however, they were empty, fruitless, looking good on the outside with no true life on the inside.

Ie, the Temple was as barren as the fig tree. They both looked alive, but were effectively dead, bearing no fruit.

Jesus was not angry at the fig tree; He was angry with Israel!

Have Faith in God

Incidentally, this is Mark’s only record of Jesus’ teachings on prayer.

“Moving mountains” was a figure of speech in Jewish literature for doing the impossible.

If the Temple no longer was a “house of prayer,” God’s people would have to take the mantle.

Jesus’ Authority Challenged (Day 3)

Jesus’ third pass into Jerusalem during Holy Week. This probably is the morning after the events of Mk 11:12-26, and so would be Tuesday morning, the same day they found the fig tree withered.

Jesus is now a “marked man” (18). He threw down the gauntlet, which will be run by several different groups.

Chief priests and elders (Mk 11:27)

Pharisees and Herodians (Mk 12:13)

Sanhedrin (Mk 12:18)

A Scribe (Mk 12:28)

At this point, Jesus has silenced his opponents (Mk 12:34).

I’m tempted to say Jesus was “draining the swamp,” but I must resist.

Because He “cleansed” the temple, but by extension to His entire ministry. He was neither a priest nor a scribe.

This confrontation begins a series of final confrontations between Jesus and the Jews, which will culminate in His prophesying the Temple’s destruction (13:1-2).

The counterquestion was a long-recognized tradition in Jewish and Greek culture.

In aligning Himself with John’s ministry, Jesus further set Himself at odds with the Jews, who hated John; and Herod, who beheaded him.

The question, if answered correctly, would have pointed to the correct answer of their own question: Jesus derived His authority from the God of Heaven.

In chapter 12, Jesus reveals completely that His mission has nothing to do with political power. It was a big emotional letdown for the disciples, and it angered His opponents.

This elevates the impact of Jesus’ actions and pronouncements in chapter 11.