Mark-Lesson 16

Lesson 16

The Son of Man Is Presented

Mark 11:1–33

Knowing the Scriptures

Studies in Mark’s Gospel

Last time’s lesson was entitled Transition and Servanthood, for it was the transition between Jesus’ ministry and the hour that had awaited Him since the day He was born to the virgin Mary.  As Jesus and the crowds around Him journeyed toward Jerusalem, He took the disciples aside and predicted in graphic detail the sufferings He would face there.  Yet this seemed to not even sink in, for the next moment we saw James and John asking to become Jesus’ number two men in the Kingdom!  They clearly all were expecting the militant, conquering Messiah, not one who would suffer and die.  Jesus then told them about what it means to be a true servant, and that even He, the Son of Man, came not to be served but to serve, and especially to give His life as a ransom for us to rescue us out of our slavery to sin and death.  Mark 10 concluded with the story of the healing of a blind beggar, Bartimaeus.  This man put His faith in Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of David, and was rewarded for his faith by having both his physical and spiritual eyes opened.  Lastly, we took a look at three other things occurring at the time that Mark chose not to include, for he was focusing on the journey to Jerusalem.  These were the conversion and transformation of the wee little man Zacchaeus, the important Kingdom parable of the ten minas, and the most dramatic of all, raising Lazarus from the dead. 

In this final part of the Gospel of Mark, we are focusing on the last week of the earthly life of Jesus, the Son of Man.  Here is a brief outline of what we’ll be studying the rest of this Bible Fellowship season:

Mark 11:  The Son of Man Presented

Mark 12:  The Son of Man Tested

Mark 13:  The Son of Man Returning

Mark 14:  The Son of Man Arrested

Mark 15:  The Son of Man Crucified

Mark 16:  The Son of Man Resurrected                       

DAY ONE: The Son of Man Enters Jerusalem

Please carefully read Mark 11:1-11 and answer the following questions.

1.   In the first section of Mark 11 we are looking at the triumphal entry of Jesus.  However, this is more of the presentation of the Son of Man to the world as the Messiah.  There is no more Messianic secret, but Jesus presents himself openly.  What unusual thing did Jesus ask of a couple of His disciples, and what transpired after this (verses 1-6)?

NOTE: The importance of the triumphal entry is indicated by the fact that this is only the second time that all four Gospels include the same event.[i]

2.  As Jesus rode the colt, what began to happen, and what was the reaction of the crowd (verses 7-10)?

3. The shouts of the crowd and their reaction to Jesus coming into Jerusalem may or may not have shown that they understood who He really was. Pilgrims to this feast were typically welcomed by the crowds already there, so it is unlikely that the whole crowd recognized the significance of Jesus’ entry.[ii]  The shouts and songs that they proclaimed come from the Psalms and were typically sung by pilgrims going up to Jerusalem, in particular of the Psalms of ascents, Psalms 113-118.  The word hosanna means "oh save now," and later on became used as a shout of praise like hallelujah.[iii] Read Psalm 118:19-28 and record how this amazingly not only speaks of going up to the Temple but of what Jesus really had accomplished.

4.  It was close to the end of the day by the time Jesus entered into Jerusalem.  In fact, if Jesus had walked in one day the distance from Jericho to Jerusalem, He and His disciples would have gone 21 miles uphill![iv] What was all that Jesus was able to do that evening (verse 11)?

Scripture Memory:  This week we will be memorizing Mark 11:24.  Review the passage several times throughout the day each day this week, and by the end of the week, you should have it memorized completely.

Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.   Mark 11:24, nkjv