Mark
Chapter 11
The Triumphant Entry Into Jerusalem
When they approached Jerusalem and reached Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples with these instructions:
“Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied up that no one has ridden. Untie it and bring it here.
If anyone asks you, ‘What are you doing?’ give this answer: ‘The Lord needs it, but he will send it back immediately.’”
They went off and found the colt, out in the street, tied at the door.
As they were untying it, some of the bystanders asked:
“Why are you untying that colt?”
They answered as Jesus had told them, and the people allowed them to continue.
They brought the colt to Jesus, laid their cloaks on its back, and Jesus mounted it.
Many people also laid their cloaks on the road, while others spread leafy branches from the fields.
Then those walking ahead of Jesus and those following behind him began to shout:
“Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the kingdom of our father David,
which is coming!
Hosanna in the highest!”
So Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. After he looked around, and since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
Curses the Fig Tree
The next day, as they were leaving Bethany, he felt hungry.
In the distance, he saw a fig tree covered with leaves, so he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it wasn’t the season for figs.
Then Jesus said to the fig tree:
“May no one ever eat your fruit!”
And his disciples heard these words.
Cleanses the Temple
When they arrived in Jerusalem, Jesus went to the temple and started to drive out everyone buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the stalls of those selling pigeons.
And he refused to let anyone carry anything through the temple area.
Jesus then taught the people:
“Does not God say in the Scriptures: My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have turned it into a den of thieves.”
The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard about this, and they tried to find a way to destroy him. They were afraid of him because everyone was amazed by his teaching.
When evening arrived, Jesus departed from the city.
The Dry Fig Tree
Early the next morning, as they walked along the road, the disciples saw that the fig tree had withered to its roots.
Peter then said to him:
“Master, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered.”
And Jesus answered:
“Have faith in God.
Truly, I say to you, if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and do not doubt in your heart but believe that what you say will happen, it will be done for you.
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 to pray, if you have anything against anyone, forgive,
so that your heavenly Father may also forgive your sins.”
The Authority of Jesus
They were once again in Jerusalem. As Jesus was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders approached him
and asked: “What authority do you have to act like this? Who gave you the authority to do the things you do?”
Jesus said to them:
“I will ask you just one question, and if you answer me, I will tell you what authority I have to do this.
Was John’s baptism from heaven or from humans? Answer me.”
And they kept arguing among themselves:
“If we say that it was a work of God, he will ask, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’”
But neither could they answer the people that John’s baptism was merely a human activity, for everyone regarded John as a prophet.
So they responded to Jesus:
“We don’t know.”
Then Jesus said to them:
“Neither will I tell you what authority I have to do what I do.”
Commentaries
Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem.
Upon arriving in Jerusalem, everything is prepared for the fulfillment of what has been announced (8:31; 9:31; 10:33ff). The evangelist depicts Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah-King, humble and poor, who comes not to bring war but peace (cf. Zec 9:9f). His plan to return on a donkey also shows him as a fair and kind king. The people greet Jesus with the words of Psalm 118:25ff. The word Hosanna means “save us, please.” But Jesus’ idea of a king differs from that of the crowd, who expect a king with a nationalist, warrior, and vengeful character (10).
Curses the Fig Tree.
In biblical tradition, the fig tree symbolizes the people of God (Hos 9:10). Upon arriving in Jerusalem, Jesus finds a society that, despite having the Word of God, does not bear fruit (Mi 7:1; Jr 8:13) because it does not believe that the “time” of the kingdom is already among them. Such a society is condemned to sterility.
Cleanses the Temple.
The temple’s appearance is beautiful and lush, but it is also sterile and unproductive. It has lost its identity as a house of universal prayer (Is 56:7) and has become a den of thieves, which, according to Jeremiah 7:11, is similar to a place of unjustly gained goods.
The Dry Fig Tree.
The barren fig tree has withered away. Jesus offers three keys to help Christian communities avoid becoming barren and dry: unwavering faith, confident prayer, and forgiveness that promotes brotherly unity.
The Authority of Jesus.
The three groups representing the Sanhedrin (high priests, scribes, and elders) question Jesus’ authority: “Who gave you this authority?” (28). Jesus recalls John the Baptist, whose work was recognized by all as coming from God (32). The leaders cannot deny this argument and implicitly accept that Jesus’ authority is also divine.