Mark 11:1-14 : Easy-to-Read Version
Jesus Enters Jerusalem like a King
11 1Jesus and his followers were coming closer to Jerusalem. They came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives.* There Jesus sent two of his followers to do something. 2Jesus said to the followers, "Go to the town you can see there. When you enter it, you will find a young donkey tied there. No person has ever ridden this donkey. Untie the donkey and bring it here to me. 3If any person asks you why you are taking the donkey, tell that person, 'The Master needs this donkey. He will send it back soon.'" 4The followers went into the town. They found a young donkey tied in the street near the door of a house. The followers untied the donkey. 5Some people were standing there and saw this. The people asked, "What are you doing? Why are you untying that donkey?" 6The followers answered the way Jesus told them to answer. The people let the followers take the donkey. 7The followers brought the donkey to Jesus. The followers put their coats on the donkey, and Jesus sat on it. 8Many people spread their coats on the road for Jesus. Other people cut branches in the fields and spread the branches on the road. 9Some of the people were walking ahead of Jesus. Other people were walking behind him. All the people shouted, "'Praise* Him!' 'Welcome! God bless the One that comes in the name of the Lord!' Psalm 118:25-26
10God bless the kingdom of our father David.* That kingdom is coming! Praise* to God in heaven!" 11Jesus went into Jerusalem and went to the temple.* Jesus looked at everything in the temple area. But it was already late. So Jesus went to Bethany with the twelve apostles.*
Jesus Says a Fig Tree will Die
12The next day, Jesus was leaving Bethany. He was hungry. 13Jesus saw a fig tree with leaves. So Jesus went to the tree to see if it had any figs growing on it. But Jesus found no figs on the tree. There were only leaves. It was not the right time for figs to grow. 14So Jesus said to the tree, "People will never eat fruit from you again." Jesus' followers heard him say this.
Mount of Olives A hill east the city of Jerusalem where a person could look down into the temple area. Praise Literally, "Hosanna," a Hebrew word used in praying to God for help. Here, it was probably a shout of joy used in praising God or His Messiah. David King of Israel about 1000 years before Christ. temple The special building in Jerusalem for Jewish worship. apostles The men Jesus chose to be his special helpers.