The New Temple - Mark 11:11-24 Series

Mark 11:11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve. 12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig-tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, "May no-one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it. 15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: "`My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it `a den of robbers'." 18 The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching. 19 When evening came, they went out of the city. 20 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig-tree withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!" 22 "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. 23 "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Introduction

From the time you woke up this morning until now, how much fruit have you produced? In today’s passage we’re going to see Jesus kill a tree because it failed to produce fruit. And if you think that’s because Jesus really cared a lot about figs, you’re missing the point. It was a picture of what he will do to people when spiritual fruit is lacking. So it’s an important question—how fruitful is your life?

The Inspection

In the first 10 verses of Mark 11 Jesus made his approach to Jerusalem as the exalted, messianic king. That’s where we left off last time. If a king rides in to take over, where does he go? The capital. The seat of power. If you want to take control of the US, you take the White House and Congress. You want Russia, you take Moscow; you want China, you take Beijing.

Jesus is riding in as the new king—where does he go? He doesn’t just go to Jerusalem.

Mark 11:11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple.

The Temple was God’s throne room. The triumphant Davidic king blew right past Herod’s palace in Jericho—wasn’t interested in that—and goes into God’s palace. He isn’t taking over China or Russia or the US or Rome or even Israel. He’s taking command of the entire Universe—nothing less than the kingdom of God.

Anticlimax?

So, what happens when Jesus shows up? A lot of people are really disappointed in verse 11. If you read the commentaries, the #1 word you’ll see in every one of them is “anticlimactic.” It seems like such a dud of an ending to an otherwise very dramatic event. The spectacular triumphal entry, with all the shouts and praises and palm branches and fulfilled prophecy and all the rest. Then this:

Mark 11:11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

And that’s how that day ends. At first glance, that does seem like an anticlimax. One famous pastor even says the whole triumphal entry was a “fake coronation.” And he says that because of how anticlimactic the ending is.

The only real problem I see with calling v.11 an anticlimactic ending is—actually, two problems:

1) It’s not anticlimactic, and

2)

3) It’s not an ending.

4)

It’s not the conclusion of the Triumphal Entry; it’s the starting point of this whole, long section from here through ch.13 where Jesus engages with the Temple.

A Fruit Inspection

So verse 11 is not a throwaway verse. Every word is important.

11 … He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

He looked around at everything—why does Mark tell us that? Is this a little tourist moment with Jesus snapping pictures and posting them on Instagram? What’s the significance of this? Do you think Mark will tell us? Let’s look at the context and see if we can spot anything about Jesus performing an inspection. Oh, looky there—the very next statement!