Jesus is in Charge

Please turn to Mark chapter 11. Before we dive into the scripture, I want to share some images to provide context. For those watching live on YouTube, I apologize—you won’t be able to see these images, but everyone here will. The first image is a Google Earth screenshot of present-day Jerusalem, highlighting key locations. The Temple Mount, which includes the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque, is central. The Kidron Valley, a narrow strip, separates it from the Mount of Olives, which looks concrete-like for reasons I can explain later. Nearby, you’ll find Bethphage and Bethany, with the Tomb of Lazarus in Bethany. A road connects Bethany through Bethphage, over the Mount of Olives, through the Kidron Valley, and up to the Temple Mount. The second image shows an aerial view of the Temple Mount from the Mount of Olives, depicting it today and as it looked in Jesus’ time, with the temple at its center. When scripture mentions Jesus teaching or praying “in the temple,” it refers to the Temple Mount courtyard, not the temple structure itself. Keep these images in mind as we explore Mark chapter 11, covering the entire chapter, including the Triumphal Entry we discussed recently.

We begin with Mark 11:1–11, the Triumphal Entry. As Jesus and His disciples approached Jerusalem, near Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, He sent two disciples to a village to find a colt tied up, one no one had ever ridden. He instructed them to untie it and, if questioned, say, “The Lord needs it and will send it back immediately.” The disciples found the colt exactly as Jesus described, and when some bystanders asked what they were doing, they repeated Jesus’ words, and the people let them go. They brought the colt to Jesus, placed their cloaks on it, and He rode it into Jerusalem. Crowds spread their cloaks and leafy branches on the road, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” Jesus entered the temple, looked around, and, as it was late, returned to Bethany with the twelve.

The next day, as described in verses 12–14, Jesus was hungry and saw a fig tree in leaf. Approaching it, He found no fruit, as it was not the season for figs, and said, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again,” which His disciples heard. In verses 15–19, Jesus entered the temple and drove out those buying and selling, overturning the tables of money changers and the seats of those selling pigeons. He prevented anyone from carrying goods through the temple, declaring, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” The chief priests and scribes, fearing Him because the crowd was astonished at His teaching, sought to destroy Him. That evening, Jesus and His disciples left the city.

In verses 20–25, as they passed by the next morning, the disciples saw the fig tree withered to its roots. Peter, recalling Jesus’ words, said, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered.” Jesus responded, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father in heaven may forgive your trespasses.” Finally, in verses 27–33, Jesus returned to Jerusalem, and while walking in the temple, the chief priests, scribes, and elders challenged Him, asking, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority?” Jesus replied, “I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?” They debated, fearing the crowd’s reaction, and answered, “We do not know.” Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

The focus of Mark chapter 11 is Jesus’ unrivaled authority, a theme reflected in the song “Overcome,” which celebrates His victory over sin and death, granting us salvation. As disciples, we operate under His authority. In the Triumphal Entry, Mark emphasizes Jesus’ control over every detail. He orchestrated the colt’s retrieval, predicting the disciples’ encounter and the outcome, which unfolded exactly as He said. This mirrors Matthew 28:6, where the angel declares, “He has risen, as he said,” reinforcing Jesus’ ability to fulfill promises. This event previews His greater authority over sin and death at the cross and resurrection. In John 10:18, Jesus states, “No one takes [my life] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.” His death and resurrection were by His authority, not human forces. The Triumphal Entry fulfills Zechariah 9:9, with Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, heralded as King, coming in the name of the Lord (Psalm 118:26), and ushering in David’s eternal kingdom. This assures us that His promises, like John 14:2–3 about preparing a place and returning, are trustworthy.

The fig tree and temple cleansing are inseparably connected, though often misunderstood when separated. Jesus cursed the fig tree for lacking fruit, despite it not being fig season, prompting critics to call it unfair. Some explain that fig trees with leaves should have early fruit, but this misses the point. The fig tree symbolizes Israel’s lack of spiritual fruit, as in Jeremiah 8:13. In the temple, Jesus drove out money changers and animal sellers, who provided necessary services: money changing for the temple tax (Exodus 30:13–15) and unblemished animals for sacrifices, especially for the poor. Historically, these activities occurred outside the Temple Mount, but under Caiaphas, they were moved onto it for profit. People also used the Temple Mount as a shortcut, disrespecting its purpose. Jesus declared it a “den of robbers,” not to reform worship but to signal its end. When He died and the temple veil tore (Matthew 27:51), the sacrificial system ended, replaced by the new covenant in His blood (Hebrews 8–10), celebrated in communion. Many still believe good deeds earn God’s favor, but Jesus’ perfect sacrifice makes this unnecessary—trust in His work for salvation.

When Peter saw the withered fig tree, Jesus taught about prayer, countering the belief that temple proximity enhanced prayer’s effectiveness. He said, “Have faith in God,” emphasizing that prayer’s power comes from God’s authority. Using the Mount of Olives, He illustrated that God can answer any prayer, even moving a mountain into the sea. Prayer requires faith without doubt (James 1:6–8) and forgiveness to remove barriers, as in the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:12). We should pray boldly for “mountain-throwing” requests aligned with God’s will, not limiting God to small prayers. When religious leaders challenged Jesus’ authority, He exposed their fear and lack of authority by questioning them about John the Baptist. His refusal to answer was the chapter’s greatest display of authority—He didn’t need to justify Himself. In their domain, Jesus remained in control, as John 10:18 affirms: no one took His life; He laid it down by His authority.

This chapter calls us to pray bigger prayers, trusting God for the impossible. We can trust Jesus’ promises about the future, like His return, with hope, not fear, just as we trust His work on the cross. Jesus’ authority demands obedience—we must read His Word, understand it, and obey, recognizing His authority over our lives today. Let us pray: Dear Lord, thank You for Mark chapter 11, which vividly displays Jesus’ unrivaled authority. Help us trust Him confidently, pray boldly, and obey faithfully. May we live with hope for the future, submitting to Jesus’ authority in all we do. We ask this in Your name, Amen.