Introduction
Memory Text: “ ‘And
whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him,
that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.’ ” (Mark
11:25, NKJV).
Mark 2 and 3 records a series of five controversies between
Jesus and the religious leaders all dealing with special issues of the
Christian life. This week’s lesson analyzes just what it is that brings people
in opposition to God and what Christians can do to speak to the hearts of those
resisting the Spirit’s call. Mark 11-16 covers more than one week, thus showing
how important these closing events are.
Why does half of the story in Mark 11:1-11 involve Jesus sending two
disciples to a nearby village?
The answer is two-fold. First, it demonstrates Jesus’ prophetic
powers, enhancing the dignity of His arrival and linking it to the will of God.
Second, this aspect of the story links to Zachariah 9:9,10, which speaks of the
king as riding into Jerusalem on a donkey.
What is the story behind Jesus’ triumphal entry?
Jerusalem is located in a hilly region at an elevation of
about 2,400 feet (about 740 meters) with about a population of 40,000 to 50,000
in Jesus’ day. Jesus entered from the east, descending into the Mount of Olives
and likely entering into the Golden Gate onto the Temple Mount (a gate now
bricked shut). The whole city was stirred by Jesus’ entry and the crowd that
accompanied Jesus shouted “hosanna,” a term originally meaning “save now” but
eventually coming to mean “praise to God.” Now Jesus openly enters the temple
using a well known royal symbolic action. But because it is late in the day, he
looks around and retires with the twelve disciples to Bethany. What could have
turned into a riot or revolt ends with Jesus quietly retiring.
What is the significance of the events depicted in Mark 11:12-26?
Jesus meets a leafy fig tree but found no fruit on it and as
a result cursed the tree. He moved into the temple and drove away the money
changers saying “My house shall be called a house of prayer but you have turned it into a den of thieves”, then on His way back the fig tree was withered and
Jesus gave a lesson about prayer and forgiveness. The stories of the fig tree
and the driving away of the money changers in the temple are the fourth
sandwich story in Mark. In such stories, parallel characters do opposite actions
or opposite characters do parallel actions. The fig tree and the temple stand
in parallel. Jesus curses the tree but cleanses the temple, opposite actions.
But the irony is now that the religious leaders will now plot to kill Jesus,
and that action will spell the end of the significance of the temple services,
which were fulfilled in Jesus.
How did Jesus respond to the challenge the religious leaders brought upon
Jesus?
The religious leaders came with a question to trap Jesus
rather than to know the truth. They asked Jesus by what authority Jesus does
the things He did. If Jesus responded by saying that His authority is from God,
they will deny that a simple country carpenter could have no such authority. If
Jesus admitted that His authority is from men, they would dismiss Him as a
fool. Jesus responded by telling them that He will answer their question if
they answer His. What Jesus asked was whether John the Baptist’s baptism was from
God or men. The religious leaders see that they were the ones trapped and that
if they said it was from God, Jesus will say, “Why did you not believe him?” If
they say from men, they fear the people. So they lied and said they do not
know, thus giving Jesus the opportunity not to answer their question.
How does Jesus follow up His refusal to answer the question?
Jesus gives them a parable about a vineyard, an owner and
tenants to whom the owner rents it. The tenants refuse to give any of the fruits
of the vineyard to the owner, they kill the servants sent to them to collect
the fruits and even the son. Their illogic is striking and the judgment to be
meted on them is justified. Jesus in this parable gave the religious leaders information
on where their steps were heading. This parable was a loving warning to avoid
certain judgment. It is never too late for anyone to repent, change and accept
Jesus Christ. While some will accept Jesus Christ, others may not.
What is Jesus’ response to the religious leaders concerning the issue of
paying taxes?
The religious leaders were trying to catch Jesus in
something they could use to condemn Him to the Roman Governor or the people. They
asked Jesus whether it was lawful to pay taxes to Ceasar, Jesus reponded by
telling them to give to Ceasar what belongs to Ceaser and to God what belongs
to God. This response both kept Jesus out of the trap of the religious leaders
and provided profound instruction on the believer’s responsibility to the
government.
What is Jesus’ response to the Sadducees’ question about the resurrection
of the dead?
The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of the
dead, they gave a scenario of a woman who married seven sons one after the
death of the other for the sake of raising children and who herself died with
no child. Their question was who will be the husband of the woman in the
resurrection, but Jesus answered that God is the God of Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob. He is the God of the living and not the dead. This response describes
the power of God in the resurrection and indicates that there will be no marriage
in heaven.
What is the Greatest Commandment?
“ “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel,
the LORD our God is one. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your
mind, with all your soul, with all your strength.’ This is the first
commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as
yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
What is love according to the context of Deuteronomy 6:4, 5?
The term “love” refers to being faithful to the requirements
of the treaty between parties, faithfully fulfilling them. While not ruling out
the affection between parties, it is much more focused on the actions that
demonstrate such loyalty.
What does it mean when Jesus says the Scribe is not far from the kingdom of
God?
Not far from the kingdom of God does not mean inside. The Scribe
still was to recognize who Jesus was and follow Him, a further step in the
journey of faith. The Scribe’s honesty could have made one imagine scowls from
other religious leaders. The Scribe was honest and saw the clarity and
simplicity of Jesus’ response and said so.
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