Mark 11:1-22
The Beginning of the End

V.1-7
“colt” young male horse, donkey or zebra.

“which no one has ever ridden.”

• Only unused animals were appropriate for sacred purposes (Num. 19:2, Deut. 21:3)

The disciples were unaware
John 12:16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.

Jesus was not
Zech 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Matthew’s account
Matt 21:3 If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away." 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 "Say to the Daughter of Zion, 'See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.'"

Sometimes God may ask of us things that require faith and do not make sense

V.8 “Many people spread their cloaks on the ground”

2 Kings 9:11 When Jehu went out to his fellow officers, one of them asked him, "Is everything all right? Why did this madman come to you?" "You know the man and the sort of things he says," Jehu replied. 12 "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.'" 13 They hurried and took their cloaks and spread them under him on the bare steps. Then they blew the trumpet and shouted, "Jehu is king!"

V.9-10 “Hosanna” Save us now!”

•Part of the Jewish Hallel found in Psalms 118.

Ps 118:25 O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success. 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you. 27 The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar. 28 You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you. 29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Did they believe Jesus to be the Messiah?

Luke 19:39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" 40 "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

V.11
Luke 19:41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace-but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."

V.12-14 Isn’t this a strange miracle?
•The leaves of the fig tree appear after the green figs.
•Thus the appearance of the tree is deceptive.

A deceptive appearance

Matt 23:27 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

V.15-16 Where’s the fruit?
•praise
•worship
•loving fellowship

V.17 “House of prayer for all nations” and “Den of robbers”

The priestly leadership was far more interested in revenue than reverence for God.

See Jer 7:1

V.18-21

Like the fig tree Jerusalem will face judgement

V.22 “Have faith in God” Do not be like the fruitless Pharisees.

Where’s the Fruit?