BOTH BARRELS!!

Mark’s gospel contrasts fear with faith: here in ch12 he tells how this young man Jesus fearlessly confronts the chief priests, scribes and elders who have challenged His authority in the temple.                                                                       How?...by simply telling them a story, then asking one question!

The parable comes from the well-known ‘Jehovah’s vineyard’ in Isaiah 5...

“For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel and the men of Judah His pleasant plant...” 

...and Jesus ends the story with:   

“This is the heir, come, let us kill Him and the inheritance shall be ours.” 

...exactly what these leaders had been trying to do only yesterday!                       

So what was the question?...“Haven’t you read this Scripture...?”       - straight from Psalm 118:22-23

Who have they just rejected? The very ‘corner-stone’ of the true temple!

“This is the Lord’s doing and it is marvellous in our eyes”

BANG! BANG!... He gives them both barrels because it is far from marvellous in their eyes!

 

BY WHAT AUTHORITY?

This is the 3^rd day that Jesus enters Jerusalem and the tension couldn’t be higher!                                                    

Two days ago He was acclaimed as Son of David, but then yesterday he upended temple trade for thousands.              

How will Jerusalem receive Him today?  (Mark 11)                                                                                                              

On the way, Peter remarks that the fig-tree has shrivelled, so Jesus answers:

“Have faith in God.”

What had they seen only yesterday?... thousands of people with faith in tradition and money.

Notice the responsibility Jesus then puts on his disciples: to forgive others.

However the chief priests, scribes and elders are not so forgiving...

“Who gave you this authority to do these things?”

The Lord who commanded the fig-tree to shrivel replies:                  

“Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Why?

He is the temple of God.

PRAYER or PROFIT?

No, this isn’t Jesus Christ cursing the fig-tree, it’s my old friend Gordon showing me his dormant tree in winter, or almost – there were 2 leaves!

In Mark 11, Jesus has come past Bethpage (‘House of figs’) only to find a fruitless fig-tree – the only living thing He cursed, on His way to the city where He himself will soon be hung on a tree as a curse.                                                                  

Those disciples would know the fig-tree as a symbol of peace and prosperity, and remember that prophet Hosea spoke of the Fathers as ‘the first-ripe in the fig-tree’.  No, it was not unreasonable to expect at least one fig at that time of the year, so this was clearly a sign meant for Israel.

What will Jesus find when He reaches the city?                         Will he find prayer?... or profit?

Imagine the upheaval for thousands of visitors as He shouts:

“My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations but you have made it a robber’s den!”

...while birds, lambs and money scatter in all directions.

Remember Adam and Eve sowed fig leaves together for aprons?      

Well Israel as a dead fig-tree has been exposed as worse than fruitless!

Where is your interest? In prayer, or in profit?

DONKEY RIDE FOR THE KING

Just imagine for a minute...

You are a devout pilgrim or maybe just a tourist, who has travelled from afar to be at Jerusalem for this very special Passover in Jerusalem.                                                                           

Why this Passover?                                   

Jews have been counting off those 483 years elapsing since the Persian king Artaxerxes I Longimanus gave orders for Jerusalem to be rebuilt, as per Daniel’s prophecies - so their Messiah is due to show up!                                   

The city is packed and the Roman army is on high alert.

All of a sudden great excitement sweeps the city...here comes a young man riding an unbroken donkey colt – some carpenter/prophet guy from Galilee – and they are even claiming he’s bringing the kingdom of David!  (Mark ch11)

What’s that they’re saying?... “Hosanna” ...save we pray!  However will the Romans take that?

Having come via Bethpage (‘house of unripe figs’) and Bethany (‘house of the poor’) Jesus is now recognised and feted as King?                                        

No, He just takes a look around at the magnificent temple then walks back out to Bethany for the night.

Would you have recognised this guy as the Son of God?

NEXT... Where’s the faith?

RUN AWAY?...or FOLLOW?

Looking for Jesus’ mission statement? Of the 4 gospel writers it is John Mark, once the runaway servant, who gets to share this with us...

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many.”  Mark 10:45

Jesus is heading for Jerusalem and people are still flocking to hear Him and have their children blessed by Him. 

What about those more responsible?

• Pharisees are still trying to trap Him, this time over divorce (and so risking His neck with Herod, like John the Baptist)
• Disciples have learnt nothing from Jesus over children – the victims of divorce! Instead they block children while still hoping for honour.
• A rich man has done everything right in the sight of man and now wants eternal life. Why? He wants to keep enjoying his possessions rather than be right with Good God who is in front of him!

Yes... “with men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible”

The journey must go on. While the disciples follow afraid, the only one who gets to stop Jesus now is a blind man!

“Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Bart went his way with new eyesight?                      

No, he follows Jesus in the way – and what is Jesus’ ultimate goal?  

For the 4^th time He reminds us...rising from the dead.

HELP MY UNBELIEF!

We come to the climax of Jesus’ ministry in Mark 9 – this is where it changes gear as He heads for Jerusalem, avoiding any further witness in Galilee. If the Guv finds this hard going, imagine how this young man of only 33 years must have felt, deliberately leaving the glory of transfiguration and the comfort of Elijah (Prophets) and Moses (Law) to face mockery, betrayal, abuse and certain death by crucifixion as the worst of criminal.                                            

It all begins with three disciples privileged to be reminded who Jesus really is: not just a rabbi but the Son of God!                             “This is My beloved Son: hear HIM”

Let’s take an overview of this journey and some conversations along the way, from these next two chapters...

It’s now time to head down the mountain and face the real world  – faithless crowds of people running, scribes questioning, powerless disciples, a desperate father... “Help my unbelief!”...and his child typical of suffering humanity.            
This is action-packed  – everything happens straightaway – and notice what the main players are up to...

• Satan is doing everything He can to derail Jesus’ mission – having inspired the #1 disciple Peter to rebuke the Lord, and now this child thrashes with an unclean spirit.  Can’t anyone help?
• The disciples are too often afraid and think they can hide from the Lord what they have been arguing about: ‘who is the greatest’ if you please!

The One who really is the greatest, the lowly Son of God, has His focus on rising from the dead!                             

“...He shall rise the third day.”

It’s time for Jesus to warn against offending children (a millstone for a necklace?) and of the certainty of hell...  “...the fire that never shall be quenched”

WOAH!!   Yes, the stakes could not be higher.

SIGN FROM HEAVEN? YOU GOT IT!

Watch closely as we come to the climax of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee – the pace is breath-taking in Mark 8!                 

Over 5000 Jews have recently been fed bountifully with just 5 fishburgers, the scraps filling 12 SMALL baskets (kophinos). 

Will Gentiles have to settle for only crumbs from the Jew’s table?  

No, this time Jesus feeds 4000 people with just 7 fishburgers, the scraps filling 7 LARGE picnic hampers! (spuris)...God’s favourite number is 7!                                  

The Pharisees want a sign from heaven? – you guys have it right there. In the face of such plentiful divine provision even the disciples miss it, fretting over their one loaf of bread and exasperating Jesus who upbraids them. 

  

Before heading all the way to Caesarea Philippi there is one man in Bethsaida who needs that very personal touch from Jesus to see clearly: spit in the eye!...outside the town that has rejected his ministry.                                                

There will be nothing more for Galilee.                                                                             

So who is this Servant of God, called Jesus?            

The Christ who must face death... but Satan is right there to use Peter in rebuking him!                                          

This is the first time the disciples learn this and that the Son of Man will be raised after three days.

Will you deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Him?