Podcasts about Mark 11

Recorded on Sunday, June 1, 2025. Other scripture cited: Malachi 3:1-5; 1 John 4:1.Support the show

Welcome to the School of Ministry podcast. In this episode, we delve into the powerful teachings of Jesus in Mark 11:22-26, exploring how faith and prayer intertwine in our lives. Gain insights into the dynamics of prayer – dispelling common misconceptions and aligning our requests with God's will. Discover how a Biblical mindset shapes our understanding of God's answers and learn the importance of approaching prayer, knowing we are entering God's presence, that we do so with sincerity and obedience.

89 : Gospel of Mark 11 1. And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples, 2. And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him. 3. And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither. 4. And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him. 5. And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt? ; AB church Lausanne

This sermon from Mark 11:1–11 calls us to examine how our trust in performance, reputation, and prosperity chokes out true faith. Christ did not come to support our idols, but to replace our hearts of stone with hearts made alive by grace. The Gospel takes root in the soil of surrender, not pride. Only when we lay down our self-sufficiency and submit to the King who came to die can we truly live.

Sunday morning

Series: Mark: The Good News of the Son of God Title: The Cursed Tree and the Corrupt Temple Passage: Mark 11:1-33 Preached by Pastor Mason Ballard Resurrection Church 5.18.2025 #ResurrectionChurch #Charleston #WestVirginia

Jesus's final days in Jerusalem reveal not a victim being swept along by events, but a Messiah deliberately orchestrating the completion of his divine mission. Walking through Mark 11-12, we explore how Jesus strategically confronts the religious establishment, forcing their hand toward his predetermined purpose—to die on the cross for our salvation.We begin with Jesus's powerful teaching about forgiveness: when we pray, we must forgive others so that God will forgive us. This spiritual principle reveals how harboring unforgiveness creates barriers in our relationship with God. Having been forgiven an immense debt ourselves, how can we withhold forgiveness from others? This teaching provides practical guidance for maintaining spiritual health and wholeness in our daily walk.The confrontation intensifies when Jesus enters the temple courts. Religious leaders challenge his authority, attempting to trap him with theological questions. With masterful wisdom, Jesus turns their question back on them, exposing their political calculations and fear of public opinion rather than genuine concern for truth. This exchange demonstrates Jesus's complete control and wisdom in dealing with opposition.The climax comes when Jesus tells the Parable of the Vineyard, deliberately echoing Isaiah 5 where God uses this same metaphor to represent Israel. By appropriating this prophetic imagery, Jesus speaks with unmistakable divine authority. The message is clear: the religious leaders, like their predecessors, had rejected God's messengers and now plotted to reject God's Son. They had positioned themselves as owners rather than stewards of God's people.This episode reveals Jesus deliberately intensifying conflict, forcing the religious establishment to show their true colors as part of God's redemptive plan. The central question remains relevant today: Do we recognize Jesus's divine authority in our lives, or do we resist it to maintain our own control?Join us as we unpack these profound theological truths and discover their practical application for believers today. Subscribe now to continue this journey through Mark's Gospel, as we reason through Scripture together and deepen our understanding of Jesus's mission and message.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Forgiveness | Chris McGarvey

The cursing of the fig tree isn't a random act of frustration but a deliberate teaching tool sandwiched around Jesus' cleansing of the temple. Both incidents highlight the same spiritual truth—Israel's leadership had failed in its divine purpose. Though "it wasn't the season for figs," Jesus makes clear that this particular season in Israel's history was characterized by spiritual fruitlessness.We examine how the withered tree serves as both judgment and warning. Just as Jesus inspected the fig tree and found no evidence of future fruit, He inspected the temple and found corruption instead of worship. The parallel is unmistakable—God expects fruitfulness from those who claim to follow Him.This episode delivers a sobering question for today's church: What happens when Christ inspects our ministries and personal lives? Are we bearing genuine spiritual fruit, or merely displaying religious leaves? The fig tree's withering stands as a powerful reminder that God's judgment falls on fruitlessness.Join us next time as we continue our verse-by-verse journey through Mark's gospel, exploring the final days of Jesus before His crucifixion—the most significant events in human history.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

The triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem represents a pivotal moment where multiple prophetic threads converge with breathtaking precision. As Jesus rides a humble donkey through Jerusalem's gates, we witness nothing less than the glory of God returning to the temple after centuries of absence—a direct fulfillment of Ezekiel's vision where God's presence departed through the east gate and to the Mount of Olives. Now, that same glory was making its way back.This episode uncovers the rich symbolism and theological depth behind what might seem like a simple parade. The timing during Passover week was no coincidence—Jesus presented himself as the ultimate unblemished lamb precisely when Jewish families were selecting their own sacrificial lambs. Daniel's prophecy of the Messiah appearing after the 69th week aligned perfectly with this moment. Yet what happens next is shocking: after all this prophetic buildup, Jesus simply enters the temple, looks around, and leaves "because it was late"—not just in the day, but in Israel's national life.We explore the stark contrast between Jesus' gentle entry and his forceful temple cleansing the following day, overturning tables and driving out merchants. His righteous anger targeted not just inappropriate commerce but exploitation of the poor and the blockage of the Court of Gentiles—the only place non-Jews could pray. The religious leaders' inability to refute his teaching and their plotting to kill him reveals how threatening authentic spirituality can be to institutionalized religion.The lessons here are profound for modern faith communities. Just as the temple system God established became corrupted by wrong motives, churches today face the same danger of drifting from worship to worldliness. When Jesus returns, will he find us faithful, or will he need to overturn our tables too? Join us as we reason through this pivotal moment that forever changed the relationship between God and humanity.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

The Triumphal Entry marks a pivotal moment in Scripture where Mark's Gospel dramatically slows down, devoting six chapters to Jesus' final week after racing through three years of ministry in just ten chapters. When Jesus sends disciples to find "a colt on which no one has ever sat," He's demonstrating both divine foreknowledge and fulfilling Zechariah's prophecy. The crowds' enthusiastic reception—laying cloaks on the road, waving palm branches, shouting "Hosanna" and "Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David"—wasn't random celebration but deliberate messianic recognition. They were quoting Psalm 118 and explicitly acknowledging Jesus as the promised Davidic king.What makes this event extraordinary is its timing and symbolism. Jesus purposefully enters Jerusalem during Passover when families selected perfect lambs for sacrifice, presenting Himself as the ultimate Passover Lamb. By entering from the Mount of Olives, He fulfills Ezekiel's vision of God's glory returning to the temple. The palm branches connect this moment to the Feast of Tabernacles, the future Millennial Kingdom, and even heavenly worship as described in Revelation.Listen as we unpack how this familiar story contains deeper spiritual meanings that reveal God's intricate plan across Scripture and time. Are you seeing these profound connections in your own Bible reading?Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Copyright WGNR Radio 2025Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshow/wgnrSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Exodus 19-20; 19 Psalms 76-77; 41 Mark 11

519. Is Jesus a Threat? Mark 11:27-33 Mojirola Olukanni 04052025 by City Church Lagos

Intro: Genuine, biblical faith is a miracle! Faith in God is something we do not possess naturally. Eph. 2:8 tells us that faith is “the gift of God.” God enables us to believe in Him for salvation, then He gives every believer some “measure of faith”, Rom. 12:3. That is, God empowers His children to believe Him, to serve Him, to glorify Him through the power of the faith in Him that He gives to us! This outworking of faith in God's people has allowed them see demonstrations of God's power that boggle the mind. It has allowed them to receive answers to prayers for things that appeared impossible. Consider the following: Joshua 10:12-14 – Joshua commanded the sun to stand still so Israel could defeat the Amorites. Isaiah 38:1-6 – King Hezekiah was told that he would die. He prayed to the Lord and God added 15 years to his life. Genesis 22:1-14 – Abraham was told to sacrifice his son Isaac, who was the son of promise. He obeyed by faith and God spared Isaac, providing a ram in his place. Joshua 14:6-16 – 85 year old Caleb believed God for the power to defeat a mountain infested with giants. God gave him that mountain. 1 Samuel 17:1-54 – A teenage boy named David believed God for the power to defeat a giant named Goliath. God gave him the victory. Daniel 3:1-30 – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego believed God to keep them from the power of a pagan king and a fiery furnace. God met them in the furnace and protected them there. Many, many more examples could be given, Ill. Heb. 11:32-35, but these are enough to teach about the power of biblical faith in God.    The passage before us today magnifies the power of biblical faith. On Monday morning of the Lord's Passion Week, as Jesus his disciples walked toward Jerusalem, Jesus cursed a fig tree, 11:12-14. When they passed by the next day, the fig tree was dried up. Jesus uses this experience to teach His disciples a lesson about Biblical Faith.

In Pastor Jason's message, he highlights Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, marking the beginning of His final days and emphasizing themes of authority and rebellion. He confronts the spiritual barrenness of Israel symbolized by a fig tree, illustrating that true faith leads to fruitfulness, and teaches the importance of forgiveness in prayer, linking it to our relationship with God. The sermon culminates with Jesus' parable of the vinedressers.

Daily Dose of Hope April 30, 2025 Day 3 of Week 5   Scripture – Mark 11:12-33   Prayer:  Almighty God, We belong to you.  Sometimes, we get distracted and wander.  Forgive us, Lord.  Help us stay fully focused on you.  Help us remember who and whose we are.  In these next few moments of silence, Lord, help us hear a word from you...Jesus, this is your day, we are your people.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we finish Mark 11 and there is a lot here to discuss.   Let's start with the cursing of the fig tree.  It seems out of character for Jesus to curse anything, much less a fig tree.  At that point in the season, the tree should not have been full of leaves but it was an early bloomer.  That being the case, it should have had some figs as well.  But upon further examination, the tree was all leaves and no fruit, so Jesus curses it so it will never bear fruit again.  It's an odd story for us.  What in the world does this mean?   I think we can look at the cursing of this tree as a parable of sorts.  Keep in mind, the crowds have just hailed Jesus as king (think of yesterday's Scripture).  But their fervor won't last; it won't be long until Jesus is rejected and killed.  The spiritual depth of God's people is shallow.  There is no spiritual fruit.    This tree cursing is followed by Jesus entering the temple and turning the tables of the money changers.  Again, we see the lack of spiritual fruit.  There is much hustle and bustle, a lot of activity, but no righteousness.  All leaves and no fruit.  It looks good on the outside but there is no real depth to faith.  It's a lot of spiritual busyness without real desire to please God.   I did want to briefly address why Jesus was so angry with the money changers.  This was the one area of the temple designated for Gentiles (the nations) to pray. They weren't allowed in any other area of the temple. And the Jewish people had taken over the entire area for trade and profit. Lots of money was being made here.  This isn't about worshiping God, it's about financial benefit for the wealthiest Jews.  Again, all leaves and no fruit.    This, of course, begs the question:  How is our spiritual fruit?  What evidence is there in our own lives that we are bearing fruit for the Kingdom?  We can look really good.  We can be covered with beautiful green leaves – we can look like perfect “Christians,” attend Bible studies, show up at all the ministry events – but if our root is withered, none of that matters.  Are we living holy lives?  Do we have evidence of the fruit of the Spirit at work?  This Scripture is pretty clear that Jesus expects fruit.   The religious leaders have an interesting reaction to all of this.  They are scared.  I'm thinking that they know they are in the wrong but they don't want to submit to this Jesus character.  Thus, they begin to plot how to kill him.   This gang of naysayers approach Jesus the next day and ask him what authority he has to clear out the temple.  They aren't looking to understand; they are looking to trap Jesus in his words.  Afterall, they have already heard his claims of authority as Son of God and they have seen his miracles.  They are simply seeking more evidence on which to bring charges against him.    But Jesus knows this and he doesn't answer their question directly.  Instead, he asks them a question – by what authority did John the Baptist baptize?  Was his power from heaven or earth?  If they could answer that question, then they would also know the source of Jesus' authority.   This group knew that either answer would lead to other problems for them so they just said they didn't know; they pleaded ignorance.  And just like that, Jesus made his point. Jesus revealed their inconsistencies and their insincerity.    Do you trust in the authority of Jesus, specifically that Jesus is God?  He is Lord of all.  Have you submitted everything, your whole life, to his authority?  Spend some time in prayer about his today.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki              

Daily Dose of Hope April 29, 2025 Day 2 of Week 5   Scripture – Mark 11:1-11   Prayer: Holy and Almighty God, We come to you today in humility but also with expectancy.  We need to hear a word from you.  We need to sense your presence and be reminded of how you walk alongside us.  In these next few moments of silence, help us settle our mind and gather our scattered thoughts, focusing on you and you alone...In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we begin Mark 11.  This is what we call Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem and it is typically referred to as the Palm Sunday passage.    As a little girl going to Sunday School, I can remember making palm branches and waving them on Palm Sunday. Jesus' triumphal entry was described kind of like a parade. Think about parades with their marching bands, large balloons, and dancers. They are often about celebration and national pride. But Jesus' entry into Jerusalem this wasn't that kind of parade, especially as the book of Mark describes it.   The disciples have been on a journey toward Jerusalem and they are almost there. They have come to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives.  Jesus tells two of the disciples to go on ahead and fetch a colt that has never been ridden. He tells them exactly where to find the colt and what to say if anyone questions them. Jesus may have known the owner of the colt and set it up ahead of time or he may not have.  We know that Jesus is also God, all-powerful and omniscient, so how this happened exactly, we don't know. Regardless, they get the colt, put their cloaks on the animal, and Jesus rides on it as he enters the city. Others spread branches on the road. Others run ahead and shout, “Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the coming of our father David.”   What's interesting here to me is all the themes of royalty we see in this short passage. Some of us may think it's strange that Jesus rode on a donkey rather than a horse but at the time, horses were only used for battle, specifically for warfare.  In the Old Testament, new kings would come riding in on the donkey or mule of the previous king. We see this in 1 Kings 1 when King David puts his son Solomon on his own mule, the trumpet is sounded, and the people rejoice and shout.  Then, the priest and the prophet Nathan anoint him as king of Israel. The mule is like the presidential limo, a sign of power and prestige that says this is the new leader.   What is different in this case is that Mark specifically states that Jesus is not riding on a previous king's colt or donkey. He is riding on a colt that has never been ridden before. This is a sign that God is doing a new thing. Jesus is king but a different kind of king.   Then, we see Jesus being given a royal welcome. The people are laying cloaks and branches down for him. They are running ahead in the streets to give him this royal kind of treatment. This is the kind of welcome that the emperor or a high official of the Roman government would have received. Think of it kind of like the red carpet being rolled out---a sign that a very important leader, the new king, has arrived.   For the Jews in the crowd, they would have also known that this a fulfillment of prophecy.  Zechariah 9:9, 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. All the signs point to the fact that Jesus is the king!   But there is more.   We see them running ahead and shouting, “Hosanna in the highest, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”   The word hosanna means “pray, save us.”  The people in the crowd are expressing that this is the messiah, this is the anointed one, the one they had been waiting for that God had sent to save them. These words are based on Psalm 118:22-26, The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. The LORD has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.  LORD, save us! LORD, grant us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you.  Then they say “blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David.” Surely, this is the messiah who has come to sit on the throne of David, just as God promised 600 years before. You see, it's all coming together for them. Thus, there is joy and celebration. God has sent King Jesus to save his people.   But the enthusiasm is short-lived. Jesus makes it to the city gates and goes into Jerusalem. He looks around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. And just like that, the celebration is over. The people have moved on.   Of course, we know that people are fickle. They get distracted and disillusioned fairly quickly. We get distracted and disillusioned fairly quickly. While there is something clearly royal about Jesus, he is the promised figure, but not in a way they expected or wanted. They think Messiah has entered the royal city to stage a royal takeover, to save them from the Romans. And we know what happens...he has actually entered to royal city to suffer and die. Yes, Jesus is Messiah. He is Savior. But he wasn't a military leader on the way to stage a coup. He was actually God himself who had come to save us in a much more fundamental way, to be the final sacrifice for sin so that we could be reconciled to holy God and live life abundantly. No more barriers, no more veil of separation.   Jesus, Messiah, certainly could have overthrown the Romans and reinstituted Israel as they desired it, as it was in the days of King David. But Jesus' mission wasn't just to save the Jews, but rather to usher in the Kingdom of God, in which all people for all time could be part of God's greater work in the world and have a relationship with a God who loves them, adores them, and calls them to something bigger and more important, more eternal. Jesus was king, they were right, he just wasn't the king they expected.   How often has Jesus not been the king we expected? We think, if that were us, we would celebrate and praise Jesus for who he is – King of Kings and Lord of Lords. But do we do that now? What are your expectations of Jesus? How do we respond when Jesus does not meet our own expectations?   How often have we expected Jesus to ensure us that nothing bad will happen? If only we believe and are faithful, then my loved ones will be protected and I won't get sick, my marriage will be secure, my job will be stable.   How often have we expected that if we follow Jesus with enough fervor, then he will give us the material desires of our heart?   How often have we thought that if we follow Jesus and have enough faith, then we will be protected from loneliness, depression, anxiety, or other kinds of internal torment?   How often have we relied on Jesus as counselor or self-help guru rather than Lord of our lives?   How often have we wanted Jesus to simply be wise teacher and not Lord of our lives? How often have we wanted him to be provider and sustainer but not really Lord of all?   As Eugene Peterson (who put together the Message translation of the Bible) wrote, “Jesus does not always meet our expectations, does not always give what we ask for or what we think we need. When he doesn't, we feel let down, deflated, disappointed, or we surf to another channel on the TV, or we try out another church that will, hopefully, give us what we ask for.”   We will chat some more tomorrow.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

The twenty-seventh in a series of sermons on the Gospel of Mark. Speaker: Seth Wachtel

518. Don't Be Good-for-Nothing Mark 11:12-25 Emmanuel Oset 27042025 by City Church Lagos

Judges - Jerusalem Is Captured, Capture of Other Cities, Places Not Conquered.Mark - The Triumphal Entry, Jesus Drives Money Changers from the Temple, Jesus' Authority Questioned.

Jesus enters Jerusalem and is welcomed heartily with fanfare, cheers, and expectation. Many had concluded rightly that Jesus was the promised Messiah, but had concluded wrongly that Jesus would a conquering king in the traditional sense. They assumed that Jesus had come to take the throne of Israel in a limited, earthly sense, like kings that had come before him. Christ, however, came to vanquish sin and death, not the Roman government. When he enters the temple he rebukes those who use the worship of God as a money-making venture. The chief priests, scribes, and elders challenge the authority of Jesus, but calls their bluff by revealing that fear people more than they fear God.  :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Join Jeremiah as she shares from Mark 11 on where our healing comes from and how we can rest in the finished work of Jesus.

Mark 11: 22-23

Mark 11 records Jesus' entry into Jerusalem and the day becomes known as Palm Sunday. But Jesus wasn't the only one who came into Jerusalem just before Passover. Will we join the Jesus parade or the Pilate parade? If you prefer to listen, stream, and/or watch, join us and subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kingwoodmethodist

God designed us with a purpose in mind. In Mark 11, Jesus sees a fig tree and a temple not fulfilling their purposes, then he offers some practical tips for his disciples - and for us - to pursue God's purpose for our lives. If you prefer to listen, stream, and/or watch, join us and subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kingwoodmethodist

Send me a Text Message!When Jesus died on the cross, the viel in the temple, which kept everyone away from the very holy presence of God, that curtain was torn in two. We've all thought that the message in that moment was "Come. You're invited. Come into God's presence." But what if God tore the curtain in two as a way of saying, "I will not be put in a box. Walls cannot contain me."  That could change everything.Do you understand? Since the resurrection, any place can be a sacred space, because Christ is let loose and His presence brings the sacred to every space He touches. There is no box that can keep God in!

April 14 | Mark 11:15-19 by Christ Covenant

In a world where we can get instant satisfaction with a click of a button it is hard to be servant-hearted. We often look to God and want him to serve us when we are meant to serve Him. For Him to build our kingdom instead of us building His. The story of Palm Sunday is a celebration of Jesus entering Jerusalem. So why were the people of Jerusalem so quick to turn on Jesus? Join Pastor Ben Kaempfer as he walks us through this story of celebration in Mark Chapter 11.Support the show

Send me a Text Message!The four gospels are basically biographies  of Jesus, but unlike most biographies you've ever read, the gospels pretty much ignore the first 30 years of Jesus' life. They dive into his last three years, but of his last three years, about 1/3 of the pages of the gospels are dedicated to his last week. Sunday to Sunday. 8 days. Apparently the people who knew him best felt we could not get Jesus if we don't get this week in his life. What happens in these eight days is the hot burning  center of his life. So here is what we are going to do for the last episodes of this Lent-series. Each episode will land on a story, an event, a truth from that day of that week. Which means that maybe, I'll even do In-between Saturday and Resurrection Sunday. If you want Palm Sunday go to our youtube page youtube.com/calvarycwow. That was my message for this weekend. But for Holy Monday...we're talking about the problem with sacred places!

The twenty-sixth in a series of sermons on the Gospel of Mark. Speaker: Mike Jones

The Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, is a pivotal event which fulfills an Old Testament prophecy spoken by the prophet Zechariah. His prophecy foretells of a coming King, riding on a donkey, marking Jesus' final days before His crucifixion. Jesus riding into Jerusalem shows us that the King of Glory humbled Himself and became a servant King so that we might live with Him forever. By Dave Bartlett

To watch full online video service please click here.

Lessons from Jerusalem Road - Mark 11:1-7 (4/13/25) by Faith Community Church Plymouth, MA

The Live recording of the 10am Service at Steadfast Church in Carlsbad, California with Pastor Chris Fik April 13, 2025.

The Triumphal Procession - Mark 11:1 - 11, Rev. Eugene Kim by CGS Media

Jesus’s anger may not be something we often reflect on, but in today’s guided Lent meditation, we witness a moment when He expresses righteous anger. During the final week before His crucifixion, Jesus enters the temple, overturns the tables of the money changers, and drives out those exploiting worshipers. His anger isn’t reckless—it’s intentional, purposeful, and deeply rooted in love for God’s people. This passage from Mark 11:15–18 invites us to consider what stirs the heart of Jesus and how He responds when worship is corrupted. As you meditate on this scene, you’ll be invited to step into the story—as a disciple watching in awe, a religious leader resisting His authority, a pilgrim seeking to worship, or someone in need of healing. Through reflection, we’ll explore what stands out and how this passage speaks into our lives today. Then, you’ll be invited to respond to Jesus in a personal way, opening your heart to what He is revealing. Take a few moments to slow down, listen, and receive what God has for you today. I pray this meditation helps you encounter Jesus in a fresh way. Get your free Lent Journal here. Here are some additional helpful links: Download your free LENT guide here. You can find out more about me, Jodie, at http://www.jodieniznik.com/ Follow me on Instagram @jodieniznik Follow me on Facebook @JodieGNiznik Learn more about Scripture meditation and download a FREE Guided Scripture Meditation Journal here. Join my Monday email newsletter here, where I send links to the newest meditation every Monday morning. Find out more about my partner, Life Audio, at lifeaudio.com. Download FREE sample chapters from my Bible studies here. The Entire meditation text is: Mark 11:15–18, NLT 15 When (Jesus and his disciples) arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people buying and selling animals for sacrifices. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, 16 and he stopped everyone from using the Temple as a marketplace. 17 He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.” 18 When the leading priests and teachers of religious law heard what Jesus had done, they began planning how to kill him. But they were afraid of him because the people were so amazed at his teaching. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

“When they arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people buying and selling animals for sacrifices. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, and he stopped everyone from using the Temple as a marketplace.” (Mark 11:15–16 NLT) On Palm Sunday, the people in Jerusalem mistakenly celebrated Jesus as the conquering Messiah, the King who would lead the Jewish revolt against the Roman Empire. On the following day, they got a glimpse of His true agenda. After cursing the fig tree that produced no fruit, Jesus went to the temple in Jerusalem. His focus was on the spiritual, not the political. Rather than worship or teach, however, He turned His attention to the money changers and merchants in the outer court. According to the passage above from Mark 11, He cleaned house. The question is, why? The merchants, the people who sold animals for sacrifice, served an important purpose. The temple in Jerusalem was the center of worship for all Jewish people. People traveled great distances to attend festivals and offer required sacrifices there. Those sacrifices often involved animals such as birds, sheep, goats, and bulls. Those who didn’t raise animals themselves had to buy them somewhere. And transporting them all the way to Jerusalem was a complication many wished to avoid. So the merchants who sold animals near the Jerusalem temple provided a necessary service. Of course, they made a profit. But they weren’t necessarily gouging their customers. At least, not all of them were. The money changers were equally important. Many people offered money as sacrifices. However, the region of Judea, where Jerusalem was located, was under the rule of the Romans. The people who lived in Judea used Roman currency. That posed a problem because Roman coins were stamped with images of Roman rulers. And Roman people worshiped their rulers as gods. So Jewish people considered their images a form of idolatry—and inappropriate for sacrifices to God. What’s more, the Lord said to Moses in Exodus 30:13, “Each person who is counted must give a small piece of silver as a sacred offering to the Lord. (This payment is half a shekel, based on the sanctuary shekel, which equals twenty gerahs)” (NLT). The money changers at the temple exchanged Roman currency for Jewish half-shekel coins. The problem was that the merchants and money changers were infringing on worship at the temple. Their booths were originally positioned outside the temple complex. Over time, however, they moved into the outer courtyard of the temple, the area where Gentiles worshiped. The merchants and money changers were misappropriating worship space for business. That’s why Jesus drove them out. In Psalm 69:9, David wrote, “Passion for your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me” (NLT). Jesus showed His followers what passion for God’s house looks like. Jesus prioritized worship. And He wants us to prioritize it as well. It stands to reason that He would react strongly to anyone or anything that makes it harder to worship God. We can embrace that same attitude by removing the obstacles that hinder our own personal worship. Reflection question: How do you keep things from interfering with your worship of God? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so he went over to see if he could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. Then Jesus said to the tree, ‘May no one ever eat your fruit again!’ And the disciples heard him say it.” (Mark 11:12–14 NLT) Staying in Jerusalem during the Passover celebration was out of the question for Jesus, especially after His hero’s welcome on Palm Sunday. The crowds would have mobbed Him and interfered with the vital work of His final days. So He stayed in Bethany, which was less than two miles from Jerusalem. He likely stayed in the home of His friends, the siblings Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. On the day after His triumphant entry, Jesus returned to Jerusalem. On the way, He saw a fig tree that had leaves on it. Usually, fig leaves indicate that a tree has fruit. Jesus was hungry, so He approached the tree to pick a fig to eat. Instead, He discovered that the tree had no fruit. “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” He said. Jesus cursed the tree because it bore no fruit. This may seem out of character for Jesus, as though He lost His temper because He was fooled by vegetation. But this wasn’t the first-century equivalent of kicking a broken vending machine. Jesus wasn’t “hangry.” He was giving His followers a real-life parable—an unforgettable lesson on the importance of being fruitful. The Old Testament prophets used the fig as a symbol of Israel. Micah 7:1–3 says, “How miserable I am! I feel like the fruit picker after the harvest who can find nothing to eat. Not a cluster of grapes or a single early fig can be found to satisfy my hunger. The godly people have all disappeared; not one honest person is left on the earth” (NLT). The passage is referring to the spiritual condition of God’s people. They give the outward appearance of being holy and obedient, but they produce no fruit—no real evidence of their holiness and obedience. Appearances can be deceiving, but genuine fruit can’t be faked. If a fruit tree doesn’t produce fruit, it’s useless. Likewise, if God’s people don’t produce spiritual fruit, they are useless. In cursing the fig tree, Jesus was denouncing Israel’s relationship with God and warning the people of Israel of the coming judgment. He was also sending a warning to people who claim to be Christians but show no evidence of a personal relationship with Him. In John 15:8, He said, “When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father” (NLT). James was a little more blunt: “Faith is dead without good works” (James 2:26 nlt). And the apostle Paul wrote, “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” (Galatians 5:22–23 NLT) Those qualities please the Lord because they show that our faith is genuine and that our spiritual fruit can nourish others. If you nurture those qualities and allow them to blossom in your life, you’ll help others see just how life-changing a relationship with Christ can be. Reflection question: What spiritual fruit has God produced in you? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.