Jesus Wept

Mark 11

New King James Version (NKJV)

The Triumphal Entry

11 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples; 2 and He said to them, “Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. 3 And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately he will send it here.”4 So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it. 5 But some of those who stood there said to them, “What are you doing, loosing the colt?”6 And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. 8 And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 11 And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.

Today we will begin looking at what happened to Jesus the week of His crucifixion. On Sunday He entered Jerusalem on a colt as described in Zechariah 9:9  “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
 Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!
 Behold, your King is coming to you; 
He is just and having salvation,
 lowly and riding on a donkey,
 A colt, the foal of a donkey. We are foretold of the entry into Jerusalem by Jesus Christ and the prophecy was absolutely fulfilled. Please listen to the to the cries of the people, 9 Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” Many of these are the same people that will a few days later cry out Crucify Him! We must guard our hearts or we to will be tossed to and fro.

I think it is important to point out that in Luke 19:41:42 we see that Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem. “Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.” 

His love for His children was evident. Even though He knew what He was facing, He wept for their souls.

Mark tells us the next day (Monday), Jesus Cleanses the Temple

15 So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 16 And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. 17 Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching. 19 When evening had come, He went out of the city. Before cleansing the temple Jesus dealt with the fig tree we will discuss this some more tomorrow. But pay attention to Mark 11:12-14 Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. 13 And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” And His disciples heard it.

The fate of the fig tree is not so good but we will discuss that tomorrow, as well as some of the teachings of Jesus before He laid down His life. I think it is important for us to consider that before Jesus died on the cross He cleansed the temple. He made sure the people understood that His Father's house was a Holy place. A place, a house of prayer. May we examine our temple regularly. may we keep the main thing the main thing. May we love Jesus Christ in His House. 

The following scriptures describe several events leading up to the crucifixion. Study to show thyself approved.

Luke 19: 28 - 46 
Matthew 21: 1 - 17 
Mark 11: 1 - 11 
John 12: 12 - 50 
John 2: 13 - 15 

Reaching for Him,

Brother Big Daddy

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