MARK 11 It was only a small animal with not very much speed – Lowly, never ridden – not at all like a king’s steed. But the Lord of lords and the King of kings chose this colt That the prophecy of Zechariah would be plainly fulfilled.
Sitting on that beast of burden, “Hosanna’s” all around, The Lord of glory in quiet grace, entered David’s town. The nation didn’t know that their final call had come – Jehovah had come looking for some fruit, alas He findeth none.
At the first of His ministry, religion had turned into business. Now once near the end of His life, the temple was for the covetous. We are warned again the Lord knows well what is in the house of God And it is highest wisdom on our part, to this lesson pay good heed.
It is the same in prayer, if only words, not faith does characterize. I can pray all I want, but without true faith, that prayer doesn’t even rise. If a barrier is there, some little hurt, I am told I must forgive. I am forgiven by my Father Himself, in freedom my life I live.
The Lord Jesus cleansed the temple that day, He truly had that right. His authority questioned by sinful men, what He did was in God’s sight. That authority is His today, the house of God is not our own – What He allows us to do, always remember, the authority is His alone.
“Father, even when the Lord moved into that city as a Man among men, there was a dignity and honor evident as He fulfilled Thy Word. May I never think of any activity of God in my life as less than significant. May I never assume a place or work of authority under the influence of my own opinion. May I always be a man under authority, Thy authority. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”
MARK 11:1, 15, 27. “And when they came nigh to Jerusalem… and they came to Jerusalem… and they came again to Jerusalem.” JERUSALEM! There is a place that is special to the heart of God. “The city of Peace,” “David’s city,” “Jerusalem the Gold” is the place where the Lord wanted His people to come. At that place He received their tithes and offerings, He received their worship and acts of consecration, the people of God dedicated their children to Him at that place. But it was not a perfect place. There was a lot of counterfeit activity going on in the name of God. There was covetousness and greed there. However, at Jerusalem was the place where His kingship was to be seen by His own people. So as he came near to the place of His choosing, He found that animal which belonged to another, and it was made clear in one sentence as to whom it really belonged. “The Lord hath need of him.” The Master/King has a right to what ever I might think is mine. Not only what I try to claim as my own property, but also my own person. “Ye are not your own; ye are bought with a price.” “Not that I have, mine own I’ll call, I’ll hold it for the Giver. My heart, my strength, my life, my all; Are His and His forever.” When they were come to Jerusalem, we see what it was really like inside. From afar it would be an awe-inspiring sight to see such a place of renown and ancient glory. Its history would impress our hearts as the glow of the sun turned the towers and domes into shades of gold. But inside where the holy things should really overwhelm us with its consecration, types and fore-shadowing of things yet to come, and our sinfulness contrasted with God’s holiness; inside it was not at all what it should be. Greed, covetousness, selfishness, anger, malice, even the plotting of murder by those who “hated their brother” was going on right in the place where “prayer was wont to be made.” Can it be that such things can go on in a place and yet it still be called “My house?” This place was to be a “house of prayer for all nations.” His teachings cut right to the heart of things and doesn’t leave room for man’s manipulation for his own advantage. He came again to Jerusalem and back again to the temple. Again, His authority was questioned and again He answers them with the wisdom of a well-worded question. When those who would challenge His authority refused to answer, His parable of the Owner of the vineyard sending His well-beloved Son caught them right in the openness of their hypocrisy. The opportunity was there in front of them to repent and accept Him but they left Him. The place we are called to is a holy place and we must never underestimate how God looks upon it. A holy place, demands a holy people and a holy priesthood.
“O Holy God and Father of all them that believe. Please help me to keep a clear understanding of the place of Thy name and the importance of Thy choosing this place. May I ever be conscious of being before Thee and called by Thee to this holy ground. May my mind never entertain the thought that what goes on here is of little value, no matter how weak or far away from what Thou hast intended it seems to be. May I remember that the Lord “came near”; the Lord “was come to”; and the Lord “came again” to that place even though it was so far from what Thou hast intended it to be. Amen.”