Scripture: St. Mark 11:1-33 (NKJV)
1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of
Olives, He sent two of His disciples; 2 and He said to them, “Go into the
village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt
tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. 3 And if anyone says to
you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately
he will send it here.”
4 So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the
street, and they loosed it. 5 But some of those who stood there said to them,
“What are you doing, loosing the colt?” 6 And they spoke to them just as Jesus
had commanded. So they let them go.
7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat
on it. 8 And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy
branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then those who went
before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who
comes in the name of the LORD!’ 10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David
that comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
11 And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked
around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with
the twelve.
12 Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. 13 And
seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would
find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it
was not the season for figs. 14 In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat
fruit from you ever again.” And His disciples heard it.
15 So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to
drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of
the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 16 And He would not
allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. 17 Then He taught, saying to
them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all
nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’”
18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy
Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His
teaching. 19 When evening had come, He went out of the city.
20 Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from
the roots. 21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree
which You cursed has withered away.” 22 So Jesus answered and said to them,
“Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this
mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his
heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have
whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you
pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone,
forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.
26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your
trespasses.”
27 Then they came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the
chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him. 28 And they said to
Him, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this
authority to do these things?” 29 But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also
will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what
authority I do these things: 30 The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from
men? Answer Me.” 31 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say,
‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 32 But if we
say, ‘From men’”—they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a
prophet indeed. 33 So they answered and said to Jesus, “We do not know.” And
Jesus answered and said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I
do these things.”
Devotion
“Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and
sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the
seats of those who sold doves.”
Sometimes our Lord Jesus is mischaracterized as being only a mild-mannered
teacher of peace and love. However, the story of Him driving out the money
changers shows that that image of Jesus is not completely accurate.
In many instances we see Christ clearly condemning the actions and teachings of
those who burden God’s people with faithless errors. By modern standards He
actually would be considered intolerant and hateful towards these wicked
people. But in reality He is neither a teacher of timidity with a naive
live-and-let-live message, nor is He a hateful extremist. He teaches love and
mercy, but He also upholds truth and justice. He exemplifies righteous patience
and humility, but He also is bold and zealous for making God’s righteous
judgment known as well.
God’s message to mankind is not “peace at any cost;” it is the message of peace
at the cost of Christ’s blood on the cross. Jesus Christ’s innocent suffering
and death are profoundly important because they are the fulfillment of God’s
promises for our salvation. Our Lord would not be promoting love and peace if
He allowed His saving Word to be corrupted by false teachers and peddlers.
Those who are truly hateful and intolerant are those who obscure the truth that
helps us and saves us. His judgments and measures against falsehood are serious
because our salvation in Him is serious!
We pray: Lord God, keep us safe from false teachers by Your justice, and
comfort us with Your peace in Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Lutheran Herald is a publication of the Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of
North America. These daily devotions are authored by the bishop, pastors, and
deacons of the diocese. Daily posts are provided by The Reverend Jeffrey A.
Ahonen.
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