Mark 11:12-14 Do Not Grow Weary In Doing Well

On the next day, when they had left Bethany, He became hungry. Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And His disciples were listening.

It is real that Jesus has command over all of creation. There was a time that Jesus commanded the waters to be still and they listened and in His healings, He commands wellness and that is what occurs. In today’s lesson He expected fruitfulness from the fig tree and when he found none, he caused it never to produce fruit. This gives a foretaste of Jesus’ expectation for us. It is the work of Jesus on the Cross which causes our salvation, but with that salvation His expectation is for us is to be fruitful in good works which glorify His Father who is in heaven. Failure to do so brings upon His discipline on us for failing his expectations.

Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, every day I seek Your Kingdom first thing in the morning. Let me not grow weary is doing good, because that is the delight and the intent of the enemy. I Your holy name I pray Amen.

Mark 11:1-11 The Triumphal Entry

As they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples, and said to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ you say, ‘The Lord has need of it’; and immediately he will send it back here.” They went away and found a colt tied at the door, outside in the street; and they untied it. Some of the bystanders were saying to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” They spoke to them just as Jesus had told them, and they gave them permission. They *brought the colt to Jesus and put their coats on it; and He sat on it. And many spread their coats in the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields. Those who went in front and those who followed were shouting: “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David; Hosanna in the highest! “Jesus entered Jerusalem and came into the temple; and after looking around at everything, He left for Bethany with the twelve, since it was already late.

Jesus went from triumph to the Cross in seven days. The triumphal entry is what we call Palm Sunday. Easter which is the death and resurrection of Jesus is only seven days later. Do you know why this could happen? Because it was God’s will that Jesus should die so as to sacrifice His life as a ransom for many. Hallelujah!

Daily Prayer: Lord, in our day we don’t fully grasp how far you came to redeem Your people. You came from heaven to earth and then to the cross to pay the price for sin that we cannot pay ourselves! How great of love this is. Now, let us to live our lives for you so that we may be a blessing to the One who blessed us. In Your holy name I pray Amen.

Mark 10:46-52 Bartimaeus Receives His Sight

Then they came to Jericho. And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road. When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him here.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage, and stand up! He is calling for you.” Throwing aside his cloak, he jumped up and came to Jesus. And answering him, Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And the blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!” And Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.

Jesus said to the blind man, “Go, your faith has made you well.” Do you believe in faith healings today, or did Jesus reserve those blessings for people in His own days. Why did not Jesus heal all of the sick and dismayed? Jesus did not heal anyone who did not come to him in faith. Jesus has compassion on all of us, but only extends His healing hand to those who seek Him. Are you seeking him by faith in your trials? Come unto Jesus, because He rewards the faithful.

Daily Prayer: Jesus, unto You I commit my soul. I have come to you in dependence, now I await the life you have had in store for me, awaiting my surrender to You. In Your holy name I pray Amen

Mark 10:35-45 Thy Kingdom Come and Thy Will Be Done

James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, came up to Jesus, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You.” And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They said to Him, “Grant that we may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” They said to Him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. But to sit on My right or on My left, this is not Mine to give; but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” Hearing this, the ten began to feel indignant with James and John. Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. But it is not this way among you, but whomever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

In order to be useful to Jesus and the Kingdom of Heaven, one must be obedient and stay within their calling. In God’s Kingdom, it is not about us, but about God. There is but one king on the throne and the rest of us are servants of the king. There is only one who is wise and that one is God alone. The rest of us have the duty to obey. And there is only one who is powerful, and all powerful He is. So when the King benefits from our service, be joyful, because your name is written in heaven.

Daily Prayer: Father, unfold my calling for my service to You. I celebrate my salvation and I indeed celebrate every time You find me useful in Your Kingdom. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Mark 10:32-34 Jesus’ Sufferings Foretold

They were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking on ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed were fearful. And again He took the twelve aside and began to tell them what was going to happen to Him, saying, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and will hand Him over to the Gentiles. They will mock Him and spit on Him, and scourge Him and kill Him, and three days later He will rise again.”

As you go through the gospels, geographically it begins in the northern part of Israel around the Galilee/Nazareth area and the story progresses as they go southward toward Jerusalem. In Jerusalem, the story climaxes but as the journey from north to south progresses, Jesus is continually warning his companions of what lies ahead. The climax is the Cross and He knows their frail belief so is constantly warning them that it is Jerusalem, He will die. Because of their simple ignorance and because they have seen Him do mighty wonders, they don’t panic at the advance notice that Jesus is giving them. In the end, when the prediction reaches its full measure, all except the apostle John will run and leave Him to die for our sins on the Cross at Calvary.

Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, I cannot say that my faith is any stronger than the disciples that You personally mentored for 3 years. What I can say is that by the power of the Holy Spirit strengthen my inner-man so that I may be built up and live. Amen.