Based on an eight day devotional series freely offered by Lifeway. It was for use by anyone who wanted to use it during the covid lock down during Easter in 2021.
Talking points in the episode and show notes are my own. Additional questions are from the devotion series.
DAY ONE
THE UNEXPECTED KING
Mark 11:1-11
Jesus and his followers came to Jerusalem from the area of Bethany and the Mount of Olives. It was an area he was familiar with, and the home of friends like Lazarus, Mary and Martha. It was where his disciples were told how to find a young donkey.
Using their coats as a makeshift saddle, they brought the donkey colt for Jesus to ride. Many others spread their coats or palm branches on the road.
People led the wway, while some followed behind. All were shouting, “Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!” It was part of the Psalms that were commonly recited as worshippers ascemded to the tempole in Jerusalem. They were acknowledging that a Messiah was to come from the line of David, and be their king. After all the festivities of the victorious day, it was late. There was nothing to ssee in the temple. So, Jesus went back to Bethany.
The people hoped for change, but it was for change in their circumstance in the world. Jesus came for change, but to change hearts towards God, and establish a spiritual kingdom. To quote from the devotional author:
while people look for a temporary solution to their problems, people need a permanent change.
Salvation by grace through faith brings the only real change.
This change may or may not affect external circumstances, but it will change the one who worships Christ.
QUESTIONS
- Zechariah 9:9 NASB
- How does this relate to what Mark records in Mark 11:1-11?
- Shout in triumph.
- Your king is coming.
- Just, salvation, humble.
- Prophecy: Riding on a donkey.
- What was the general expectation as Jesus entered Jerusalem? Circumstantial change.
- What does Jesus offer that is not expected? Eternal change.
9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
DAY TWO
BEARING FRUIT
Mark 11:12-14
Leaving Bethany on the following day, Jesus was hungry as he walked. He spotted a leafy, healthy appearing fig tree. The problem is that the tree had no figs on it, because figs were out of season. So, Jesus cursed the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” The disciples took note of this. Fasrt forward a day and they notice the fig tree has indeed withered and died. If this is one of Jesus many object lessons, is it unfair? Was he a little unfair to condemn the tree for being out of season?
From the devotional commentary:
While God had given His people the opportunity to produce fruit, they did not. The task of bearing fruit, then, was to be given to a new people,
Though the lesson may have to do with a transfer of who is included in the fold, wasn’t it unreasonable for Jesus to expect out of season figs? Remember, Jesus is the creator of the universe. According to John chapter 1, there is nothing that was made that he ddid nnot create. If the master over the universe wants an out of season fig, the fact he didn’t get one meant that a full rebellion was going on. At his touch, broken bodies were healed, bread and fish were multiplied to feed thousands. If the master wantts a simple fig, at the touch of his hand, the tree should have bburst forth in full bloom.
You wouldn’t be wrong to recognize an inner struggle going on within yourself.
Do you feel broken down and past your season? The touch of the masters hand is your call to bear fruit. He’ll even emmpower and give you what is needed to bear fruit abundantly. Just let him.
QUESTIONS
- How is a fig tree a good illustration for the life of a Christian?
- Prroductive in seasons.
- Symbolic of the religious Jews, a place of learning.
- Can appear healthy in appearance, vbut lack a proper response.
- Romans 7:14-8:2 NASB
14 For we know that the Law is spiritual,
but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.
15 For what I am doing, I do not understand;
for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.
16 But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law,
confessing that the Law is good.
17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it,
but sin which dwells in me.
18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh;
for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.
19 For the good that I want, I do not do,
but I practice the very evil that I do not want.
20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want,
I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.
21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me,
the one who wants to do good.
22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man,
23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind
and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.
24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?
25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God,
but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.
Romans 8
1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free
from the law of sin and of death.
- How do we overcome the struggles that Paul shared?
- Rely on the power of Christ to sa ve us from sin and shortcoming.
- Rely on the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to live by the spirit of the law.
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Scriptures in the show notes and episode are quoted from the NASB. “Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.”
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