Key Verse: Then Jesus said to the disciples, "Have faith in God. v THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY (1-11) As Jesus and his disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. 2 "Go into that village over there," he told them. "As soon as you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks, 'What are you doing?' just say, 'The Lord needs it and will return it soon.'" Ø Bethpage and Bethany and Mount of Olives • Small towns within 2 miles of the temple mount in Jerusalem. 4 The two disciples left and found the colt standing in the street, tied outside the front door. 5 As they were untying it, some bystanders demanded, "What are you doing, untying that colt?" 6 They said what Jesus had told them to say, and they were permitted to take it. Ø These two disciples had authority because they were sent by Jesus and did what Jesus told them to do. Ø To come riding a colt – as opposed to a mighty war-horse, was to come as a man of peace. Ø Jesus didn’t come to Jerusalem as a conquering general, but as a suffering (though triumphant) servant. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it, and he sat on it. 8 Many in the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others spread leafy branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, "Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD! 10 Blessings on the coming Kingdom of our ancestor David! Praise God in highest heaven!" Ø Daniel prophecies the coming of Messiah to the exact day. Daniel 9:20-27, Jeremiah 29:10-13 Ø The statements from the crowd came from Psalm 118:19-29. Ø Move from the crowd to being a disciple of Jesus. All about authority. Ø The people celebrated him ceremonially in old ways and new ways, but pushed against his authority. Ø The Authority of Jesus was not affected or influenced by this ceremony or the scene for Jesus. He had just as much authority as an obscure carpenter or traveler. v THINGS & PEOPLE CALLED TO BE WHO THEY WERE CREATED TO BE. (11-18) Ø Jesus calls out a fig tree and the temple system for false advertising. (11-18) • Fig tree was out of season for figs, but it showed leaves. Leaves only show when there is fruit. Leaves say, “there are figs here.” • It stated that it had fruit, but it did not. Outward form, but no fruit.

• At the temple he drove out people buying and selling animals for sacrifices and knocked over tables of money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. (c.f. Malachi 3:1-3) • “Approved” sacrificial animals and inflated currency prices were used. • Every Jewish male was required to pay a yearly temple tax in the currency of the temple. The amount was nearly two days’ wages. Ø The fig tree and then the temple is a picture of religion without yielded authority to Jesus. Ø Both Advertised that it had the real stuff to transform and change the world, but manipulation and man’s twisted ways rule instead of the ways of Jesus. v AUTHORITY INTERACTS WITH THE HEART (19-25) Ø Fig tree was found to be withered from the roots up. (19-21) 22 Then Jesus said to the disciples, "Have faith in God. Ø Putting faith in God, puts you under his authority. • Mountains will obey you with God’s authority. (23) • Figure of speech for insurmountable problems. Removing difficulties. • Not faith in faith, but faith in God. Ø Unforgiveness pulls you out from under God’s authority. Ø To be authentic, to get rid of the show, the hype. v AUTHORITY IN THE MARKETPLACE (26-33) Ø Religious people play games with the authority of Jesus. Ø They are still under the assumption that they are in control or that there is a negotiation going on. Ø As a follower of Jesus - Wherever you set your foot, Jesus is there with authority (through relationship with Him) you have authority in that place to bring heaven down. To speak truth. To serve. To love. To create. To make things beautiful. To bring justice. To live justly. To set the captives free. To protect the poor or the oppressed. Ø Grow in authority. Walk in authority. v THINKING IT THROUGH Ø Read all of Mark 11. Ø What did God speak to you through the message today? Ø What has life been like when you live under the authority of Jesus? And without? Ø Where is God calling you to step into the authority he has given you in him? Ø Spend some time praying for the area of life (work, school, sports, leadership, church) that he has given you authority in him.