As recorded in Mark 11, after Jesus clears certain kinds of commerce out of the temple courts, things move to a whole new level:
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.
When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.
Mark 11:18-19 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/mrk.11.18-19.NIV
In fact, we know that religious leaders were able to get Jesus crucified, in just a few days from when this happened. I don’t think that this animosity started with just one event, though. This anger from certain religious leaders had been heating up for some time.
Let’s step back a minute, though, and make sure that we understand why. Why did religious leaders want to kill Jesus? I suspect that it was a combination of things, but here are some possible components:
- Because He said that their approach to leading God’s people was wrong
- Out of fear that the Romans would crack down if they perceived a rebellion
- To keep Him from “stealing” people away from their practices
Regardless of the specific causes of their anger, verse 18 tells us that “they feared him” (or “they were afraid of Him”, NASB). Let me tell you, when you upset someone’s “empire” with the truth of Jesus Christ, some people are going to be afraid:
- Afraid that their dishonest or sinful sources of money, power, or fame will go away
- Afraid that they will have to change
- Afraid of confronting the reality that they aren’t able to save themselves and need help
The right answer and the right message is always best, but there will be those whose lives have been built around something that is false yet well-established (or profitable) enough that they do not want to get rid of it.
Strategically, it appears that Jesus isn’t staying in the city, but stays elsewhere for the night, whether in the wilderness or somewhere else. The Lookout (a study guide, cited below) suggests that he probably stayed with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus in Bethany.
I don’t think that Jesus was running away. After all, He chose to give up His life for the salvation of humankind (see John 10:14-18). However, the time and place of certain events had to occur in a certain way, and sometimes it’s just time to retire for the night.
In review from the past several articles, there are (at least) two kinds of people described in Mark 11:
- The first group would include the disciples that obeyed Jesus in getting the colt for Him to ride upon. It might also include those who allowed the colt to be taken for this noble purpose. I would also put the disciples into this list, along with others who helped, welcomed, and praised Jesus as He entered Jerusalem.
- The second group would include the merchants in the temple courts, perhaps represented metaphorically by the cursed fig tree. Peeking ahead to verses 27-33, certain religious leaders might fall into this group as well.
Let’s be more like the first group, obeying and honoring Jesus Christ; and not like the second group, taking advantage of God’s blessings but not bearing righteous fruit. Like the fig tree, if we are not bearing good fruit, we should not expect to escape discipline or punishment. However, if we are living according to the Holy Spirit, we should expect our lives to be producing the fruit of the Spirit, as described in Galatians 5:22-23.
May we celebrate Jesus’ presence, and not fear it (see 1 John 4:13-21).
From Sunday School lesson prepared for April 2, 2023
References:
- The Lookout, April 2, 2023, © 2022 Christian Standard Media.
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – Mark, by Allen Black. © 1995 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 