And they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him, and they said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?”

Mark 11:27-33

And they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him, and they said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?” Mark 11:27-28

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 11:27-33.  Excerpts from the commentary's introduction and the first (of three) division (vv27-28):

• The title of this chapter for the commentary is "Three Reasons People Are Not Willing 
   to Follow Jesus" and the main idea is: "People refuse to trust Jesus not because He is not worthy but because of the hardness of their own hearts."
• "Jesus has just cleansed and cursed the temple for its corruptions and abuse (Mark 11:12-25). In response, the religious leaders were “looking for a way to destroy Him” (11:18). You would think Jesus would avoid the public eye, but He does nothing of the sort! He returns to Jerusalem and the temple with courage, looking for a fight—not a physical confrontation, but a spiritual one that will place His claims and identity front and center."  
• Mark 11:27–12:44 records five temple controversies in Jerusalem that parallel five earlier controversies in Galilee (cf. 2:1–3:6). In both cases His opponents are the religious leaders. Now that He is in Jerusalem, the stakes are much higher and the intensity of the conflict much stronger. Things are moving to an inevitable climax: the cross."  
• "In this first of five temple controversies, we will see some common reasons people are not willing to come and follow Jesus."  
• The title of the first division per the commentary is "They Do Not Want to Submit to His Authority."
• "Jesus “came again to Jerusalem.” At some point the religious authorities show up—the Sanhedrin, the Jewish high court, who exercised both political and religious authority in Israel. It consisted of 71 men led by the acting high priest. Their power was enormous. They were super sensitive to anything that could threaten their authority, and Jesus was clearly a threat." 
• The Sanhedrin questioned Jesus' authority and sought to undermine Him with His followers. "The question of authority is important. We all have a source of authority in our lives, someone or something that guides us and drives us, something that rules. For most of us, like the Sanhedrin, it is ourselves. We are not really interested in surrendering that rule to anyone else."

All of humanity seeks value, worth and significance.  Yet the world offers significance that is not lasting.  Jesus offers significance and worth that is eternal.  Philippians 3:8.  He must increase but I must decrease - John 3:30.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and who is full of grace and mercy - thank You Jesus for loving me while I was still an enemy and hostile to You.  I am not deserving of how You save and pour out mercies daily that never cease.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sins towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

And they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him, and they said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?” Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me.”

Mark 11:27-33

And they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him, and they said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?” Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me.” Mark 11:27-30

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on an unassisted review of Mark 11:27-33, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary. Observations of the text based on the Sword Bible Study Method: 

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: V27 states the Jesus came again to Jerusalem and to the temple.  Jesus knew full well what was going to happen to Him ultimately in Jerusalem - He was going to His death.  Yet He never backed down - Jesus was fearless.  He heard and followed God's call and never wavered.  V28 describes how Jesus challenged people - on this occasion Jesus sought for the chief priests and scribes to truly recognize who He was - the promised Messiah.  Jesus constantly challenged the disciples to grow in their understanding of God and His will for their lives.  We are also to grow in our understanding of Him and His will.  Proverbs 27:17 and Hebrews 5:11-14.       
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: The Jewish leaders did not accept Jesus and what He was saying.  When confronted by Truth, people either embrace it or reject it (sometimes passively by doing nothing).  Here and throughout the Gospels, the Jewish leaders rejected Truth because it threatened them.  There is a warning here for believers as well because God's Word does not change.  Yet believers sometimes warp and twist the Word into something it is not to suit their own will not God's will.  See also 2 Timothy 3:16 - God's Word is perfect and useful in all circumstances, even when it is difficult to hear, such as when God wants to train or rebuke us.  God knows what He wants us to hear and He reveals it us whether we want to hear and accept it is another matter - see Hebrews 4:12-13.      
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid,Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?):  Avoid running from Truth.  Claim and embrace Truth in all circumstances - 1 Thessalonians 5:18.  Sharpen and help others grow.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and who is Truth.  You give me Your Word, the Holy Spirit, the church, and my brothers and sisters in Christ to encourage and sharpen me.  Thank You Jesus for how You save and bless!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

The king and all his attendants who heard all these words showed no fear, nor did they tear their clothes. Even though Elnathan, Delaiah and Gemariah urged the king not to burn the scroll, he would not listen to them. Instead, the king commanded Jerahmeel, a son of the king, Seraiah son of Azriel and Shelemiah son of Abdeel to arrest Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet.

Jeremiah 36

The king and all his attendants who heard all these words showed no fear, nor did they tear their clothes. Even though Elnathan, Delaiah and Gemariah urged the king not to burn the scroll, he would not listen to them. Instead, the king commanded Jerahmeel, a son of the king, Seraiah son of Azriel and Shelemiah son of Abdeel to arrest Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet. v24-26

God confronts Jehoiakim though Jeremiah and Baruch - much like God uses Nathan to confront David.  Yet unlike David's response of repentance, Jehoiakim, denies truth.  There will be people in the world that deny truth - Jesus implies as such in Matthew 7:13-14 with the wide and narrow gate.  

God wants us to proclaim truth. Much like Peter and John stand firm in Acts 4:20, we must not hesitate to speak truth.  

Yet it is not up to us who accepts Jesus into their heart - this is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8).  

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has saved me - not through anything I have done - but entirely through grace.  Thank You Jesus.  I am undeserving of such grace.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.