Monthly Archives: August 2020

THE GOSPEL OF MARK – THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS

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THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS

5 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.’”
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.
19 When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city. Mark 11:15-19

Jerusalem! It was early morning but Jesus and His men were already in the city. He headed straight for the temple. The disciples were apprehensive. They were familiar with that look, that gleam in His eye, that determined step. The Master was on a mission and they smelt trouble. He obviously knew exactly what He was going to do, but they had no part in it.

He strode into the outer court where He had observed the evidence of the sheep and cattle market and the money racketeering the day before. With swift action, He overturned the entire enterprise, sending birds, animals and money scattering in all directions. Outraged stall owners and bankers dived after their goods but to no avail. The whole place was in an uproar. Loosed from their prisons, terrified birds and animals flapped and fled to freedom. Coins littered the floor; upturned furniture blocked the path of the angry merchants. The noise and smell were overwhelming. Jesus stood back and watched while His disciples whispered among them, “Now He’s done it! Where will it all end?”

Jesus was a provocative figure. He was undaunted in His confrontation with lies, wrong and evil. He was not afraid to offend people to expose what was in their hearts. This was not an act of mindless rage or personal affront. He was ruthlessly exposing the selfish greed of opportunistic businessmen who saw an opportunity to exploit innocent worshippers to line their own pockets.

It was obvious that the religious leaders were in on the deal because they loudly protested Jesus’ action and planned to do away with Him because His ways and His words were too intrusive of their hypocritical religiosity for comfort. They were losing their grip on the people who were beginning to see through their sham.

Jesus was never afraid of the consequences of His words or actions because He stood for the truth which would always prevail. Not even the threat of death put Him off His avowed purpose of revealing the true nature of the Father.

THE GOSPEL OF MARK – YOU MUST DIE!

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YOU MUST DIE!

11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

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. Mark 11:12-14

The disciples must have felt relieved when Jesus left the temple peaceably and returned to Bethany. He seems to have made Martha and Mary’s home His headquarters for the moment. They knew that He was so focussed and self-assured that no amount of reasoning with Him would dissuade Him from what He was about to do. He had gone to the temple with the view to planning His strategy for the rest of the day.

What had He seen that made Him so determined to return there the following morning? He never discussed His plans with His disciples. He often tried to tell then what would happen but they were not inclined to listen to Him because they had their own agenda. Did He see the remnants of the days’ trading in the Court of the Gentiles? Did He see litter, dung, bird droppings and the odd coin lying on the floor? Did He see chairs and tables set up and ready for the next day?

Did anger rise up in Him that this was His Father’s appointed meeting place for spiritually hungry Gentiles, and there was nowhere else for them to go because they were banned from the rest of the temple? Those who were supposed to lead God’s people had sanctioned this part of the temple to be a market place for dishonest trade. They cared nothing for the despised Gentiles who also had a place in God’s heart.

He was up early the next morning, too early for breakfast. Spotting a fig tree in the distance He hoped for an early snack, only to find no fruit – only leaves. Just as the tree could not satisfy His hunger, so His people, Israel failed to satisfy His desire for a loving family. He spoke prophetic words to the tree, “Your time is up. Your potential to bear fruit is over. You are worthless and rejected. Now die.” And the tree died.

Did the disciples get the message?  At this point, only the tree died as a visual aid for them, but there was a warning in this action. What had happened to the tree would happen to the nation the tree symbolised – at God’s powerful word, and they would be speaking that word!

THE GOSPEL OF MARK – CRUNCHTIME IN JERUSALEM!

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CHAPTER 11

CRUNCHTIME IN JERUSALEM!

1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”
4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 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!” Mark 11:1-10

Everything Jesus did had meaning and purpose. Zechariah, the prophet, predicted this event some 400+ years before. Way back in the time of Israel’s weakness and oppression, he visualised Israel’s Messiah riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. Now it was happening. What was this? In the eyes of Rome, it was an act of treason. The people were excited. At last their king had come and they looked forward to a new life of freedom from the hated Romans.

The religious leaders were appalled. They had no desire to turn Jerusalem into a war zone against the Romans. What could one man and a motley group of 12 men do against the might of Rome? This man had to be silenced before things really got out of hand. Their past experience reminded them that, if they got rid of the ring leaders the followers would easily be disbanded. This was crunch time for them. Passover was coming up when Jerusalem would be filled with visitors from all over Israel – a good time to trigger a coup.

Despite conflicting agendas between Jesus and His disciples, Jesus was confident. He seemed to know what He was doing. Was He going to head for Pilate’s residence, the Roman Praetorium, or Herod’s palace (Herod happened to be in Jerusalem – convenient for a coup!)? No, the temple was His destination.

The crowd was excited. Everyone hailed Him as the son of David, paying homage by paving the road with their cloaks and palm branches. This was a blatant bid for kingship. Finally, their hopes and dreams for deliverance from Rome were about to be realised. They waited expectantly for the showdown, egging Jesus on by their show of support.

The disciples were bewildered and afraid. Would they have to tackle Rome by themselves? Where was the army? Jesus had never indicated something like this as part of His plan. He had taught them non-violence, humility, gentleness and submission. They could not figure out what was going on. They only thing He kept repeating was that He was going to die in Jerusalem at the hands of the Jews. How would that win their freedom from Rome? They were very apprehensive and reluctant followers as they made their way into Jerusalem.

THE GOSPEL OF MARK – “I WANT TO SEE!”

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“I WANT TO SEE!”

46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” 50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.
The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”
52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. Mark 10:46-52

What did it mean for Bartimaeus to be noticed by Jesus? It seems that the only time he was ever noticed was to be silenced or to be chased away. His calls for mercy produced irritated voices telling him to shut up but he refused to be silenced. This was his one chance in a lifetime and he was not going to miss it. Jesus might miss it  in the din of excitement the crowd was making.

What did Jesus hear?  If the noise was anything like the din our indigenous people can make, there was no way He could have heard him with His natural hearing. Bartimaeus must have surely been on the edge of the crowd. He would not have risked getting mixed up with pushing, jostling people. But in the midst of the din, Jesus’ ears caught the cry for help. His heart connected with the desperate call and He stopped. “Bring him to me,” He commanded.

The attitude of the people changed dramatically. Instead of trying to shut him up, they now became patronising. Instead of ignoring him and treating him like scum, all eyes were on the blind beggar. Notice the reporter’s comment, “Throwing his cloak aside…” Why did he do that? Didn’t he need it any more or was it a symbolic act? Was he tossing aside whatever got in his way of getting to Jesus?

His cloak was his beggar’s licence to beg. When he threw it away, it was an act of faith in Jesus’ willingness to heal him. He would no longer need it when his sight was restored.

Willing hands now guided him through the path the crowd had opened up for him. Perhaps he knelt reverently in the dust, sightless eyes looking expectantly into the Master’s face. He heard the gentle voice, “What can I do for you?” and, without hesitation he responded, “I want to see.” Jesus only spoke, nothing else. No touch, no spit, no mud as at other times. “Go! Your faith has made the connection.” Instantly the darkness vanished, the mist cleared and he stared into the most loving, compassionate and gentle eyes he had ever seen. He was smitten forever. He not only saw but he SAW and he followed. Never did he want to be parted from Him again.

THE GOSPEL OF MARK – THE SON OF DAVID IS HERE

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THE SON OF DAVID IS HERE

46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” 50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.
The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”
52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. Mark 10:46-52

We love to tell our children about blind Bartimaeus. It makes for a good story. But this is actually not a Sunday school story. It has details in it which one could easily miss. Jesus and His disciples were down in Jericho – the rebuilt city which was destroyed in Joshua’s day. Bartimaeus was a blind beggar sitting by the road and hoping for hand-outs. His acute hearing picked up the sounds of an approaching crowd. In the hubbub, he heard a name – Jesus of Nazareth – being spoken over and over again. Bartimaeus realised that the commotion was an excited crowd milling about this man, Jesus, as He left the city for the long climb up to Jerusalem.

Two things connected in Bartimaeus’ brain – “Son of David” and “mercy” (chesed, covenant faithfulness). What did Bartimaeus understand that the disciples had not yet grasped? Was it because of his blindness that he had a better perception of what the Messiah would do? Not many people recognised this aspect of Jesus’ Messiahship, kingship – yes, but merciful Son of David – no. This was an association of Messiah with the character of God – the God of covenant love.

Jesus’ ears and heart connected with the cry, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” Did His heart bond with this despised, side-lined, unclean, blind beggar because Bartimaeus recognised who He really was? It was always His joy to show mercy because that is who the Father is and He and the Father are ECHAD.

Jesus’ question, “What do you want me to do for you?” wasn’t prompted by ignorance. He knew the man was blind. He wanted Bartimaeus to be specific, to verbalise his desire so that the faith channel would not be blocked by doubt or insecurity. Bartimeaus’ request showed Jesus the measure of his confidence in Him, and his understanding of who the Son of David was. He could have asked for new clothes or even a piece of bread but he asked big because he trusted big. To him, the Son of David meant that the one God had promised was here.