King Jesus – Wk2
King Jesus
Heart Matters
August 29, 2021
Big question: How does Jesus become King?
Mark 10:32
They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid.
On the way into Jerusalem for the purpose of confronting the systemic evil that has wreaked havoc on God’s good world.
Mark 11:7-10
When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
Jesus is ushered into the city as the presumptive king… week later…
Hosanna! —> The God who saves!
Blessed —> Welcome the Kingdom of our Father David
A Markan Sandwich
Story A —> Story B —> Story A
(Intro) (Intro & Conclusion) (Conclusion)
Understood together —> Bigger point
Mark 11:12-25
Fig Tree —> Clears the Temple —> Fig Tree
Mark 11:15-17
15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts 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.’”
Malachi 3:1
“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty.
Mark 1:2
as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way”—
Why are they buying and selling in the temple in the first place?
FAR BIGGER THAN UNFAIR BUSINESS PRACTICES!!
…you have made it ‘a den of robbers.
Den of Robbers —> Brigand – member of a gang who hides out and ambushes unsuspecting people to rob them.
Was the temple intended to be a place of inclusion or exclusion?
The temple was the place God dwelt and God had been pursuing all people and inviting them to be a part of his Kingdom…. Yet the religious leaders controlled the guest list.
The Prodigal Son (Luke 15)
Mark 11:18
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.
Solomon’s Dedication:
1 Kings 8:41-42
“As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your name— 42 for they will hear of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm—when they come and pray toward this temple,
So what does a fig tree have to do with the temple and its leaders failing to live up to their calling?
Mark 11:12-14
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.
Fig Tree + Full Bloom = Fruit
The fig leafs covered up its true condition.
Mark 11:20-25
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 “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
Is it possible to make your heart appear better than it is?
On the way into Jerusalem for the purpose of confronting the systemic evil that has wreaked havoc and brought chaos into God’s good world.