MPC, 11th March 2001.Mark 11 - Three Days in the Big City
Phil Campbell MPC, 11th March 2001.
If you've ever seen the old movie Mr Deeds Goes to Town, you'll know Gary Cooper plays Longfellow Deeds; an innocent country bumpkin who lives in a little town where everyone's friendly and trustworthy. And out of the blue, Mr Deeds inherits 20 million dollars from his uncle. And a mansion in New York.
They send the big city lawyers out to find him. And bring him to the city. The funny thing is, Mr Deeds doesn't care much for the money. He's just an honest country boy. And so the movie tells the story... of innocent MR DEEDS. Honourable as he faces the perils of LIFE IN THE BIG CITY. Surrounded by people who are out to take advantage of him. To rip him off. There's the weasley butler; there are the shonky lawyers circling like sharks trying to cheat him out of his fortune. The cousin, left out of the will. And the blond newspaper girl who wants to get the story.
Well, I don't know if you noticed it as we read the passage from Mark 11 just now, but what we're looking at is a very similar story. In fact, I almost wonder if Mr Deeds Goes to Town was somehow based on a story called MR JESUS GOES TO JERUSALEM. Because so many of the elements are the same.
We're looking today at THREE DAYS in the BIG CITY. Three days in Jerusalem for Jesus and his disciples. The clash of INNOCENCE and CORRUPTION.
We're picking up where we left off back in December. Where we saw Jesus say to his disciples, "We're going to Jerusalem. And when we get there, the Chief Priests and the Teachers of the Law, they're going to beat me and mock me and spit on me and CRUCIFY ME. But in the end it's all going to be okay."
Jesus has been making his way towards the city from the backblocks of Judea. And as we pick up here in chapter 11, HE ARRIVES. This is where it's all been heading. Country preacher COMES TO TOWN. And the account of what happens is split up very clearly into three days. Day 1, the dramatic arrival from about verse 8 to 11. Day 2 in Verse 12. Leaving Bethany, where he's staying in a little motel just out of the city. Verse 15, arriving in Jerusalem. Verse 19, the end of the day, going back again. Back to Bethany - you can see it on the little map on your outline. "When evening came," it says, "they went out of the city." And next days exactly the same. Verse 20. In the morning they head for Jerusalem. Verse 27 they arrive.
So it's three days in the big city. Staying at Bethany, travelling in and out each day. That's the structure of the chapter, so we'll work through it day by day.
And again, it's a little bit like the story of Mr Deeds. Because Jesus comes to town CELEBRATED. Cheered. But ends up in deep water. And the way Mark tells the story, you can almost feel the suspense building up. As the clouds gather for the storm.
So let's start with day 1. It's a dramatic entrance. We're starting back at the beginning of chapter 11.
Now we need to know what the PEOPLE BACK THEN KNEW. And that is, that the prophet Zechariah said, when the MESSIAH COMES, when the KING COMES, he'll come to Jerusalem on the back of a donkey colt.
So Jesus makes sure it's arranged that way. He says to the disciples, GO GET ME A DONKEY COLT. We're going to do this RIGHT. Because the way he comes to town is all part of the drama. You can see it there in verse 2. And in verse 7 they bring him the colt, they make a saddle with their cloaks for him to sit on, and he's ready for the grand entrance.
And it's like a ticker tape parade for a conquering hero. It's like the Olympic athletes parading through the city, cheering crowds everywhere. And they lay their cloaks on the road in the mud patches pull branches off the palm trees and they lay them on the road and they shout and sing. You can see what they're saying in verse 9. HOSANNA... SAVE US! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our Father David. Hosanna in the highest." Celebrating. Because they can sense that the Kingdom is coming. The King is arriving in Jerusalem on a donkey colt. Just like Zechariah said. Great Expectations.
Except if you were directing this out as a movie, what sort of music are you going to put in the background? Because there's a sinister undertone, isn't there? And there's a tension building up. Because we know already; he's told his disciples back in chapter 10 - when I get there, the Chief Priests and teachers of the law are going to KILL ME.
And so we know his coronation isn't going to be quite what the crowds are expecting. Because this king's going to end up wearing a crown of thorns. And there's a hint of that. In the fact that he's not riding a war-horse. But a humble donkey colt. Here's the king who has already said, the way to be great is to SERVE. And he's going to show it.
But from there on, day 1 is a bit of an anti climax. The first place Jesus goes when he gets into town is the TEMPLE. The focal point of the city. And verse 11 says he looks around, checks it out; but since it's already late and the Temple's closed down for the day, he goes out to Bethany. And you're left waiting and wondering what's going to happen next. On day 2.
Day two dawns in verse 12; Jesus and the disciples get up early and they leave Bethany before breakfast. Jesus is heading for the temple again, but he's hungry.
So Mark says, he sees a fig tree in the distance. It's in leaf. And they detour off the roadway, and they head for the fig tree, to find out if it's got any fruit. This is strange. When he reaches it, says Mark, he finds nothing but leaves, because its not the season for figs. And it gets stranger. Jesus talking to a tree. He says to it, "May no-one ever eat fruit from you again." And they all hear him say it.
Now let me ask you, what's going on? I mean, here's Jesus, coming to this fig tree before the season, he's look to find some figs - and when there are none there he curses the tree.
I mean, it sort of looks like the sort of thing impatient people like you or I would do. Like you curse the hammer when it won't hit nails in straight, or say things under your breath to the lawn mower when it won't start.
So is that what Jesus is doing here? Cursing an innocent object cause things haven't gone his way? Or is there more to it that meets the eye?
Let me give you a bit of advice. Whenever Jesus does something unexpected, you can guarantee there's a reason. And the reason's usually this. He's TEACHING SOMETHING. It's like an ACTED PARABLE. And let me tell you something else. To figure out what he's on about, you'll usually have to go back to the old testament. Because time after time he's giving CLUES. Little reminders about bits of the old testament he wants you to bring to mind. Now your problem is probably like my problem. You haven't got much of it in your mind to start off with. But we should have. If we REALLY want to understand Jesus.
So turn back with me to Micah chapter 7. We read it before, and you should have your bookmark in there. Micah chapter 7. God says this, and he's talking about the people of Israel. Particularly the rulers. And look at what he says, starting at verse 1.
God says through Micah, "What misery is mine! I am like one who gathers summer fruit at the gleaning of the vineyard there is no cluster of grapes to eat, NONE OF THE EARLY FIGS THAT I CRAVE. The godly have been swept from the land, not one upright man remains. All men lie in wait to shed blood; each hunts his brother with a net. Both hands are skilled in doing evil; the ruler demands gifts, the judge accepts bribes, the powerful dictate what they desire - they all conspire together. The best of them is like a brier, the most upright worse than a thorn hedge. THE DAY OF YOUR WATCHMAN HAS COME; the DAY GOD VISITS YOU."
God says I come to Jerusalem looking for fruit, CRAVING FOR EARLY FIGS ON THE FIG TREE. But all I find is leaves. There's not a righteous man ANYWHERE. There's just wickedness. And bribery, and conspiracy, and injustice. The FIG TREE is a picture of ISRAEL. A fruitless nation led by corrupt leaders. And God says, TIME'S UP.
So what's Jesus doing when he comes to the fig tree craving for arly figs? He's acting it out. Here's the WATCHMAN on his way. Coming to Jerusalem, coming to the temple. And what's he going to find?
Well, you can see what he finds in the very next verse. We're back in Mark 11 at verse 15. He finds exactly what Micah was talking about hundreds of years before. Nothing's changed. He finds corruption. He finds injustice. He finds BETRAYAL.
So on up the hill; he gets to Jerusalem, verse 15, and he comes into the temple area and starts driving out the people who are buying and selling there. And he turns over the tables of the money changers and the benches of the dove sellers; and stops people carting their merchandise through the temple courts. And then he sits down and starts teaching. And Mark says "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."
The high priests market place. Profits at the expense of the people who come to sacrifice and pray. They're not interested in honouring God. They're interested in turning a quick buck.
Now you notice, it's only his second day in town. But already Jesus is making a splash, isn't he. Taking on the opposition head to head.
And if you look at verse 18 you'll see the reaction. "The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this, and began to look for a way to KILL HIM, because they FEARED HIM, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching. "
Which brings us to the end of day 2. Day two in the big city, and it's already shaping up just like Jesus said it would. The chief priests and teachers of the law plotting to kill him; they especially hate him, because HE'S POPULAR.
But when evening comes, says verse 19, Jesus and his disciples head out of the city, back to Bethany like the night before.
Day 3 follows exactly the same routine. In the morning, back up the hill to the city. And as they walk along, it says in verse 29, they see the fig tree Jesus had cursed the day before withered from the roots. Leafless and dead. Peter's the first one to spot it, and he calls out. "Rabbi , look- the fig tree you cursed has withered." Yesterday it was out in full leaf. And now it's bare and shriveled.
Which if you're thinking about what it SYMBOLLISED the day before, says something, doesn't it? Not about figs. But about Jerusalem. Because the fact is, Israel's days are numbered.
As Jesus comes to town and is REJECTED BY THE LEADERS OF ISRAEL, it's actually going to bring Israel to an END. As the people of God. And from here on the kingdom of God that Jesus brings is a kingdom for everyone; even US. The people of God from there on are going to be the people who follow Jesus. The King. And seek REAL RIGHTEOUSNESS. And the fruitless scribes and pharisees and the fruitless chief priests and the teachers of the law; Jerusalem itself, says Jesus, is going to wither and die. Just like the fig-tree. Even though it looks like Jesus is the one in danger, even if it looks like Jesus is the one without a future... it's just the opposite. And the ones who are judging HIM are going to be judged. No matter how things look on the surface.
Well, Jesus goes on to say some MEMORABLE WORDS. And at first it's hard to see the connection with what Peter's just said. They're standing on the Mount of Olives; the fig tree's shriveled up. And you can follow what Jesus says from verse 22. It's somehow and ANSWER to what Peter's just said about the FIG TREE.
"Have faith in God," Jesus answered - KEEP TRUSTING. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain "Go, throw yourself into the sea," and doesn't doubt in his heart but believes what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against your brother, forgive him, so that your father in heaven may forgive your sins.
Now maybe that's some good advice for praying about ANYTHING. But the question is, how does it fit in with what's going on? How does it fit in with the FIG TREE. And the unfruitful Israel? How does it fit in with the fact that two days before, we've just seen the KING ARRIVING ON A DONKEY COLT?
I mean, we see Jesus talking about having enough faith and you'll see mountains thrown into the sea and we come up with nifty little sayings about FAITH THAT CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS, and then if your faith doesn't move your own personal mountain you'll say, well, I didn't have enough faith. And you'll feel bad about it.
But I wonder if again, Jesus is talking about SOMETHING ELSE that we maybe haven't noticed. Is he saying something with a bit more depth than if you REALLY, REALLY have faith that you're going to get that RED FERRARI that you'll get it?
And again, I want to suggest that Jesus has got his mind in the book of Zechariah; the same prophet who said the King had to come on a donkey. Because Zechariah also said this. And you will have looked at it already if you're in a growth group. Zechariah 14; as he talks about the day the Lord God himself is going to COME IN PERSON. To rule. And put things right.
If you want you can turn back to it quickly. Second last book in the old testament. Zechariah 14. And it's verse 4. Because Zechariah says that when the day of God's kingdom comes, JERUSALEM is going to be lifted up. And all the mountains round it are going to be flattened. Now you need to understand he's not talking LITERALLY. He's using images. It's a metaphor. As if to say, Jerusalem's going to be the centre of the world. Higher than the highest mountain. Now if you've found it, have a look. Zechariah 14 Verse 4. Zechariah is talking about the Lord God. And he says "On that day, his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives east of Jerusalem ... exactly where Jesus is standing in Mark 11..- and Zechariah says. " And then the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west forming a great valley with half of the mountain moving north, and half of the mountain moving south."
When the LORD COMES TO VISIT, he says, NOTHING is going to stand taller than Jerusalem. The Mountain that casts its shadow on the temple, pick it up and throw it away. Because the King is coming to his city. To RULE. And it's going to be the high point of the world.
So let me ask you, what's JESUS saying? What's he getting at when he's standing there on the Mount of Olives, and he says to the disciples, just TRUST and PRAY. And you'll see THIS MOUNTAIN thrown into the sea?
Do you get it? Jesus is saying to Peter, TRUST ME - you're going to see EXACTLY WHAT ZECHARIAH WAS TALKING ABOUT. I'm THE LORD. And here I am standing on the mount of Olives just like he said. So KEEP PRAYING AND TRUSTING... and be ready for the next bit.
Let me tell you, it's really going to need the EYES OF FAITH to see that, isn't it? Because in spite of all the build up, in spite of the crowds with the Palm leaves, in spite of the celebrations - what Peter's going to be seeing in a few days time isn't going to look very glorious at all.
And somehow, the eyes of faith are going to have to see that the son of God whipped and spat on, the Son of God nailed on a cross, the son of God beaten and defeated... is somehow the high point of history.
And in the light of that, says Jesus, YOU DISCIPLES... NEED TO BE DIFFERENT.
Seems like a funny connection he's making. But as he comes to the fruitless Jerusalem, the place Micah said was full of deception, brother against brother; Jesus says, YOU BE DIFFERENT. In the sort of religion that said it's okay to GO UP TO THE TEMPLE AND PRAY and yet HATE YOUR BROTHER, Jesus says, YOU BE DIFFERENT. So verse 25, he says, that tree's shrivelling; those days are over. There's going to be a new start. So when YOU stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, FORGIVE HIM. Look for RECONCILIATION. So your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." Which is what the Kingdom is all about.
Well, they keep going to Jerusalem, in verse 27. Straight to the temple. And straight into the arms of the chief priests and the teachers of the law and the elders. And they question him. Where does your authority come from? Who says you can do all this? And it doesn't matter what he says. They're looking for a way to kill him, at the first opportunity. And we'll see more of that next time.
So those are the three days in the big city. Jesus in Jerusalem. Day one, arriving as King. Day two, Judgement - on the temple. And their empty religion. Looking for fruit. And there's no fruit at all. Day three; Make sure you look at what's about to happen THROUGH THE EYES OF FAITH. Because as Jesus goes to his death on the cross, things aren't going to be what they seem.
And finally, be different to the Israel that came before. Understand what it means that the ones who COUNT THEMSELVES FIRST - will be last. And those who put themselves LAST - will be first. As the SERVANT KING comes, who gives up his life as a ransom for many. Challenging for the disciples to keep TRUSTING THAT as they watched Jesus crucified. Hard to see the GLORY in THE CROSS. Hard to keep trusting the fact that glory comes through suffering. Where greatness comes through SERVING. And needs to always be reflected in our willingness to FORGIVE. And MOVE ON.
It's easy for us to forget that, isn't it? And to find ourselves looking for other sorts of glory and greatness. Or maybe falling back into the trap of Israel. Who wore the label that said THE PEOPLE OF GOD - and yet when you look closer, there's no FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS THERE.