Mark 11

“The week that changed the world”
Matthew 21-28
Mark 11-16
Luke 19-24
John 11-21
The Passion Week makes up 35% of the Gospels

Sunday

As they approached Jerusalem (1a)
Jericho- 825 feet below sea level
Jerusalem 2,500 feet above sea level
Luke 19:28: ‘Up to Jerusalem’

And came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives (1b)
The population of Jerusalem tripled in size during the Passover
Jesus had friends in Bethany (John 11:1-44)
Everyone was waiting for Jesus to arrive in Jerusalem (John 11:55-57)

You will find a colt (1c-6)
It was a sign of humility
It was a fulfillment of prophecy (Zechariah 9:9)

“Early Sunday morning, Jesus made his baldly public entrance into Jerusalem. It was the end of all privacy and safety, and the beginning of what would be an inevitable collision course with the priestly and political authorities in the land. His irrevocable step was taken deliberately, with every consideration for the consequences, for otherwise he might simply have slipped unceremoniously into the city along with the thousands of Passover pilgrims.” (Maier, In the Fullness of Time, 109)

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! (7-12)
They spread their cloaks as a symbol of honor
They spread their branches as a symbol of triumph

Monday

May no one ever eat fruit from you again (12-17)
The fig tree looked promising, but lacked fruit
The temple looked impressive, but lacked fruit

Looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him (18-19)

Wanted: Yeshu Hannozri
He shall be stoned because he has practiced sorcery and enticed Israel to apostasy. Anyone who can say anything in his favor, let him come forward and plead on his behalf. Anyone who knows where he is, let him declare it to the Great Sanhedrin In Jerusalem.

They wanted Jesus dead for political reasons
They wanted Jesus dead for religious reasons
They wanted Jesus dead for personal reasons
They wanted Jesus dead for economic reasons