THE GOSPEL OF MARK

Lesson 8
IN JERUSALEM, THE CONCLUSION OF JESUS PUBLIC MINISTRY
(Mark 11:1 - 12:44)
I. Introduction
A. At this time, Mark begins a discussion of events in the LAST WEEK of Jesus ministry,
climaxing in the DEATH and RESURRECTION of Jesus. Note, the research book
by Bob Buchanan as well as the handout on the Last Week.
B. EVENTS that are NOT MENTIONED by MARK:
1. Visit with Zaccheus
(Luke 19: 1-10)
2. Parable of the POUNDS (Luke 19:11-28)
3. Arrival at BETHANY and the FEAST in the home of SIMON
(John 12:2)
4. The Anointing of Jesus by MARY
(John 12:3-8)
5. The PLOT to kill JESUS and LAZARUS (John 12:10)

II. The TRIUMPHAL ENTRY of Jesus into Jerusalem (Mark 11:1-11). First Day!
A. From Jericho to Jerusalem is about 30 kilometers
B. The Triumphal Entry is in fulfillment of the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9, 10.
C. There are THREE primary MESSIANIC ELEMENTS:
1. The ENTRY itself, Behold, thy king comes.....
2. The Messianic ANIMAL, Upon a colt ....
3. The JUBILATION of the people, Rejoice, O, Jerusalem ....
D. NOTICE that at this time, the disciples did NOT understand

(John 12:16)

E. The KING was proclaimed! The people said, Hosanna to the son of David.
Hosanna means Save now, I beseech you.
F. At this time, as He entered the City, JESUS WEPT over Jerusalem
(Luke 19:41).
G. Jesus went to BETHANY as He would do each evening
(Mark 11:11, 19)

III. CURSING of the FIG TREE

(Mark 11:12-14, 20-26)

Second Day!

A. There was NO FRUIT, for it was NOT the season for fruit
B. Jesus was teaching a great lesson about FRUITLESSNESS!
1. Perhaps, Jesus is saying that the beauty of the temple would hide the
fruitlessness of the Jews, just as the leaves hide the lack of fruit on the tree!
2. The next morning the TREE was dead (Mark 11:20-26). Here, Jesus spoke
concerning the need of FAITH! In the THREE miracles following the
great CONFESSION, FAITH is emphasized.

a. The Demoniac Boy

b. Blind Bartimaeus
c. The Cursed Fig Tree

(Mark 9:14-29)
(Mark 10:46-52)
(Mark 11:12-14, 20-26)

C. There must be FAITH without DOUBT

(Mark 11:23). QUESTION:
say Yes to EVERY REQUEST we make?

IV. The CLEANSING of the TEMPLE

Does God

(Mark 11:15-19) See also Matthew 21:12-17/

A. There were commercial enterprises selling animals on the Mount of Olives. The family
of Caiaphas was involved. This business moved into the Court of the Gentiles
B. Jesus drove them out. He referred to Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11. His Fathers
house was for prayer, not a house of merchandise.
C. A den of robbers may refer to refusing the animals that the people brought and
forcing them to buy from the commercial enterprise.
D. They wanted to KILL JESUS, but they FEARED HIM!

(Mark 11:18)

V. A Series of CONFRONTATIONS with the JEWISH LEADERSHIP

Third Day!
A. The question of HIS AUTHORITY

(Mark 11:27-12:12)

(Mark 11:27-33; Matthew 21:23-27)

1. They KNEW that Jesus performed MIRACLES, Signs

(John 11:47)

2. Perhaps, this question was based on His authority to cleanse the temple. Who
gave Him this authority?
3. Jesus responded by ASKING THEM A QUESTION! From where did
Johns baptism come? HEAVEN or MAN? A good question!
4. NOTICE THE DILEMMA:
a. If they said from HEAVEN, He would say, Why did you not believe?
b. If they said from MEN, they feared the people
c. Saying NOTHING would betray the ignorance of learned men!
5. This is NOT an honest response. Jesus would NOT answer their question
B. The WICKED TENANTS in the VINEYARD

(Mark 12:1-12)

1. Notice that in these confrontations, Jesus is OPPOSED by all the leading

groups of Jews, the rulers, the priests, the Pharisees, Herodians, the
Sadducees (Mark 11:27; 12:13, 18)
2. Note that this story shows a great purpose of PARABLES: To cause people
to AGREE BEFORE they realize that the truth spoken affects THEM!
3. The servants would be the PROPHETS (Read Amos 3:7), and the Son who
was killed by the wicked tenants is JESUS!

4. The JEWS pronounced JUDGMENT on THEMSELVES by their answer!

(Matthew 21:41).
5. Jesus is the STONE which was rejected by men
Psalm 118:22, 23; Acts 4:11; I Peter 2:5-8)

(Mark 12:10, 11;

6. This parable was spoken in the PRESENCE of the PEOPLE

C. The QUESTION of TAXES to CAESAR

(Luke 20:9)

(Mark 12:13-17; Matthew 22:15-22)

1. The Pharisees and the Herodians tried to trap Him, either politically or
theologically (Mark 12:13)
2. They FLATTERED Jesus, stating that He regarded NOT the face of men
3. Jesus saw their HYPOCRISY, and called them hypocrites (Matthew 22:18)
4. Render to Caesar means to PAY BACK to Caesar what is rightfully his,
and give the Lord what belongs to Him.
5. Note that the Jews LIED about what Jesus said here when Jesus was on TRIAL
(Luke 23:2)
D. The QUESTION of the RESURRECTION

(Mark 12:18-27; Matthew 22:23-33)

1. The Levirate marriage is being discussed here (Deuteronomy 25:5-10)

The Latin word, Levir means brother-in-Law.
2. The Sadducees were IN ERROR
a. They did NOT know the POWER of God

(Mark 12:25)

(1) There is a RESURRECTION!

(2) There will be no more births, no deaths, and no marriages
(3) They are equal to the angels
(Luke 20:36)
b. They also did NOT know the SCRIPTURES!
(1) The Sadducees only accepted the PENTATEUCH
(2) God IS the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This
teaches that they LIVE!
(Exodus 3:6)
(3) He is NOT the God of the DEAD, but of the LIVING!
E. The QUESTION about the FIRST COMMANDMENT (Mark 12:28-34)
Note also Matthew 22:34-40.
1. The Jewish Talmud said there were 248 positive commands and 365
negative commands in the Old Testament Law
2. Jesus referred the scribe back to the SHEMA in Deuteronomy 6:4-6
3. The second is to LOVE your neighbor. For a definition of neighbor, see
the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)
4. We should be people of LOVE, and our LOVE should result from our knowledge

of the Fathers LOVE

(John 3:16; I John 4:9-11, 19, 20)

5. The scribe agreed that LOVE is much more than SACRIFICE, and Jesus said
that he was NOT FAR from the KINGDOM!
F. The QUESTION by JESUS about the DESCENT of the MESSIAH
See also Matthew 22:41-46; Luke 20:41-44.

(Mark 12:35-37)

1. The question is based on Psalm 110:1, where David said, The Lord said unto
MY LORD....
2. Jehovah said to the Messiah, who was Davids LORD, Sit at my right hand.
3. If David called HIS DESCENDANT by the term Lord, HOW CAN THIS
BE? What is taught here?
a. The Pre-existence of Christ
b. The Christ, the Messiah is GREATER than David
c. He is SUPERIOR in that He is the DIVINE SON OF GOD
4. Note that David said this in the Holy Spirit (Mark 12:36). David was
INSPIRED of God (II Timothy 3:16, 17; II Peter 1:20, 21)
5. Please NOTE that Jesus will REIGN at Gods Right Hand until He delivers
up the kingdom to God the Father (I Corinthians 15:25, 26)
G. Jesus DENOUNCED the SCRIBES

(Mark 12:38-40)

1. They loved to be CHIEF

2. They would take advantage of the poor, and would then try to cover it up by
long prayers! See also I Thessalonians 2:5 where Paul did NOT do this.
3. They would receive GREATER condemnation! Read James 3:1

VI. The POOR WIDOW cast in MORE than the RICH

(Mark 12:41-44)

A. There were receptacles in the Court of the Women in the Temple. The rich
cast in much, but the Widow cas in more for she gave all she had
B. The Scribes devoured widows houses, but the widow gave all! A great contrast!
C. God holds us responsible for WHAT WE HAVE!
II Corinthians 8:12; I Corinthians 16:1-3)

(Leviticus 5:7, 11;