SCRIPTURE READING:
Mark 11; John 12
SCRIPTURE:
Mark 11
¹ And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,
² And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.
³ And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.
⁴ And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him.
⁵ And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt?
⁶ And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.
⁷ And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him.
⁸ And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.
⁹ And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:
¹⁰ Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.
¹¹ And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.
¹² And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:
¹³ And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
¹⁴ And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.
¹⁵ And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;
¹⁶ And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.
¹⁷ And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye 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 was astonished at his doctrine.
¹⁹ And when even was come, he went out of the city.
²⁰ And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
²¹ And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
²² And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
²³ For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
²⁴ Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
²⁵ And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
²⁶ But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
²⁷ And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders,
²⁸ And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things?
²⁹ And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.
³⁰ The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me.
³¹ And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
³² But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.
³³ And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.
John 12
¹ Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
² There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
³ Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
⁴ Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,
⁵ Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
⁶ This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
⁷ Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
⁸ For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
⁹ Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
¹⁰ But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
¹¹ Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.
¹² On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
¹³ Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
¹⁴ And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,
¹⁵ Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.
¹⁶ These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.
¹⁷ The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.
¹⁸ For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.
¹⁹ The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.
²⁰ And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:
²¹ The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
²² Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.
²³ And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
²⁴ Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
²⁵ He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
²⁶ If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
²⁷ Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
²⁸ Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
²⁹ The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.
³⁰ Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.
³¹ Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
³² And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
³³ This he said, signifying what death he should die.
³⁴ The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?
³⁵ Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
³⁶ While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
³⁷ But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:
³⁸ That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
³⁹ Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
⁴⁰ He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
⁴¹ These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.
⁴² Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
⁴³ For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
⁴⁴ Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
⁴⁵ And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.
⁴⁶ I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
⁴⁷ And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
⁴⁸ He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
⁴⁹ For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
⁵⁰ And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
DEVOTIONAL:
Mark shows Jesus entering Jerusalem to acclaim and then looking carefully around the temple before departing for the evening. The next day's action is therefore not portrayed as a passing outburst. The King who has received the crowd's blessing examines the place associated with His Father's worship. Mark places the cleansing between the cursing of a leafy but fruitless tree and the disciples' discovery that it has withered. That arrangement invites us to hear a warning about outward religious display without the reality God seeks. The text itself notes that it was not the season for figs; the event is a prophetic sign, not a lesson about a gardener's irritation or a license to dismiss difficult details (Mark 11:1-21).
Jesus explains His temple action with Scripture's language of a house of prayer for all nations and a den of thieves. The problem is deeper than the mere presence of financial transactions. Sacred activity cannot excuse a life that resists God's purposes. The reference to all nations also keeps Israel's calling open toward the wider blessing God intends, rather than allowing worship to become the possession of the influential. Jesus is a Jewish Messiah confronting corruption within the worship of His own people, not an outsider mocking their Scriptures. His instruction to the disciples then joins faith, prayer, and forgiveness. The God who can do what we cannot is not a technique for obtaining our preferences while we nurse hostility toward another person (Mark 11:22-33).
John brings us into a house where worship takes a different form. Mary anoints Jesus with costly ointment, and Judas criticizes the act under the appearance of concern for the poor. John explicitly tells us that Judas is a thief; his attractive argument conceals a competing love. Jesus connects Mary's action with His burial. Her gift does not abolish responsibility for those in need, but it honors the unique moment of the Messiah's approaching death. We should resist the temptation to measure every act of devotion by whether it preserves our comfort or looks efficient to an observer. Equally, we must not use this scene to defend lavish religious spending that ignores the poor. The point is the worth of Jesus, not the prestige of our arrangements (John 12:1-11).
The arrival of Greeks who wish to see Jesus makes the worldwide horizon more visible. His answer is not a program for acquiring a larger audience. He speaks of a grain of wheat falling into the ground and dying so that it bears much fruit. John then states that being lifted up refers to the manner of His death. The nations are drawn to the Messiah through the saving work of the cross, not through the removal of its offense. Jesus' troubled soul and His prayer for the Father's glory reveal costly obedience, not emotional numbness. His death will confront the ruler of this world and open the way of life to those who believe. Our self-denial follows His redemption; it never replaces it (John 12:20-36).
John closes the chapter by exposing another hidden barrier: the desire for human approval. Some rulers will not confess Jesus because they love the praise of people more than the praise of God. Alongside the warning about hardened unbelief, this detail makes the question painfully immediate. We may admire Christ while negotiating the social price of being identified with Him. Genuine faith receives the light He brings and the Father's word He speaks. It does not make us naturally fearless, but it brings fear under a greater allegiance. Worship becomes fruitful when the One we praise may also correct our motives, reorder our loves, and lead us into obedience that costs something (John 12:37-50).
In daily life, ask what your worship is permitted to cost. A crowded schedule may reveal that prayer receives only leftover attention. A household disagreement may reveal that you prefer being vindicated to extending forgiveness. An ethical decision at work may uncover how much praise governs your silence. Set aside an unhurried period to confess a specific competing love, then connect that confession with a concrete change: protect a regular time for family prayer, begin a careful conversation about an unresolved injury, or speak honestly when concealment would preserve approval. In church, support practices that welcome people who cannot enhance the congregation's reputation, and evaluate ministry by faithfulness to Jesus rather than public visibility alone. Forgiveness does not erase necessary boundaries or accountability. It releases personal vengeance to God while pursuing what is true. The dying grain of wheat teaches us to relinquish self-preservation because the crucified Savior, not our protected image, is our life.
In U.S. civic life, generous hospitality grows from the Messiah's concern that prayer reach beyond a privileged circle. Pray for community leaders and volunteers welcoming unfamiliar neighbors, for people isolated by language or disability, and for congregations discerning how to serve without making assistance a means of self-promotion. Ask that fear of losing approval not silence acts of principled kindness. Christians should be present as openhearted neighbors who make room for others, decline contemptuous speech, and offer practical service without concealing either their allegiance to Jesus or their respect for another person's dignity.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Read Mark's temple account alongside Jesus' words about prayer and forgiveness: what kind of fruit should worship produce beyond the worship gathering?
Where does the contrast between Mary and Judas uncover a respectable explanation that may be concealing a less worthy motive in you?
Why does Jesus answer the Greeks' desire to see Him by speaking about death and fruitfulness rather than about popularity?
Which costly act of hospitality or honest confession could your family or congregation undertake without turning the act into an advertisement for itself?
PRAYER:
ADORATION:
Father, Your name is worthy of glory when obedience is costly and when its fruit is hidden. We adore Your Son, whose death brings life and whose light exposes what polished religious appearances cannot conceal.
CONFESSION:
Search the motives beneath our useful arguments. Forgive our guarded generosity, our lingering revenge, and our reluctance to be identified with Jesus when approval is at risk. We have sometimes wanted worship to comfort our pride rather than surrender it.
THANKSGIVING:
Thank You for the grain of wheat that did not remain alone. Through the Messiah's willing death, You have opened life to believers from the nations. Thank You that the cross, not our ability to impress, is the source of lasting fruit.
SUPPLICATION – GENERAL:
Reorder our schedules around communion with You and our relationships around obedient love. Give wisdom for difficult forgiveness, sincerity in giving, and freedom from performing faith for an audience. Let our churches welcome the overlooked while proclaiming the Savior without embarrassment.
SUPPLICATION – U.S. / CIVIC:
Make hospitality truthful and generous in our communities. Sustain interpreters, accessibility volunteers, and local leaders helping unfamiliar neighbors find their way. Keep Christian service free from vanity and fear, and teach us to protect dignity while speaking and acting openly as disciples.
SCRIPTURE:
²² Have faith in God.