Jesus Enters Jerusalem like a King (Mk. 11:1-11; Lk. 19:28-38; Jn. 12:12-19)

21 ¹Jesus and his followers were coming closer to Jerusalem. But first they stopped at Bethphage at the hill called the Mount of Olives.* There Jesus sent two of his followers into the town. ²Jesus said to the followers, "Go to the town you can see there. When you enter it, you will find a donkey tied there. With the donkey you will find a young donkey. Untie the two donkeys and bring them to me. ³If any person asks you why you are taking the donkeys, tell that person, 'The Master needs these donkeys. He will send them back soon.'" ⁴This happened to make clear the full meaning of what the prophet* said: ⁵"Tell the city of Zion, 'Now your king is coming to you. He is humble and he is riding on a donkey. He is riding on a young donkey, born from a work animal.'" Zechariah 9:9

⁶The followers went and did what Jesus told them to do. ⁷The followers brought the mother donkey and the young donkey to Jesus. They put their coats on the donkeys, and Jesus sat on the coats. ⁸[Jesus rode along the road to Jerusalem]. Many people spread their coats on the road for Jesus. Other people cut branches from the trees and spread the branches on the road. ⁹Some of the people were walking ahead of Jesus. Other people were walking behind Jesus. The people shouted, "Praise* to the Son of David*! 'Welcome! God bless the One that comes in the name of the Lord!' Psalm 118:26

Praise* to God in heaven!" ¹⁰Then Jesus went into Jerusalem. All the people in the city were confused. They asked, "Who is this man?" ¹¹The many people following Jesus answered, "This man is Jesus. He is the prophet* from the town of Nazareth in Galilee."

Jesus Goes to the Temple (Mk. 11:15-19; Lk. 19:45-48; Jn. 2:13-22)

¹²Jesus went into the temple* area. He threw out all the people that were selling and buying things there. Jesus turned over the tables that belonged to the men that were exchanging different kinds of money. And Jesus turned over the benches of those men that were selling doves. ¹³Jesus said to all the people there, "It is written [in the Scriptures*], 'My house will be called a house for prayer.'* But you are changing God's house into a 'hiding place for thieves.'*" ¹⁴Some blind people and some crippled people came to Jesus in the temple* area. Jesus healed these people. ¹⁵The leading priests and the teachers of the law saw what Jesus did. They saw that Jesus was doing great things and saw the children praising Jesus in the temple area. The children were saying, "Praise* to the Son of David.*" All these things made the priests and the teachers of the law angry. ¹⁶The leading priests and the teachers of the law asked Jesus, "Do you hear the things these children are saying?" Jesus answered, "Yes. The Scripture* says, 'You (God) have taught children and babies to give praise.'* Have you not read that Scripture?" ¹⁷Then Jesus left that place and went out of the city to Bethany. Jesus stayed there that night.

Jesus Shows the Power of Faith (Mk. 11:12-14, 20-24)

¹⁸Early the next morning, Jesus was going back to the city. Jesus was very hungry. ¹⁹Jesus saw a fig tree beside the road. Jesus went to the fig tree [to get a fig to eat]. But there were no figs on the tree. There were only leaves. So Jesus said to the tree, "You will never again have fruit!" And then the tree dried up and died. ²⁰The followers saw this. They were very surprised. They asked, "How did the fig tree dry up and die so quickly?" ²¹Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth. If you have faith and no doubts, you will be able to do the same as I did to this tree. And you will be able to do more. You will be able to say to this mountain, 'Go, mountain, fall into the sea.' And if you have faith, it will happen. ²²If you believe, you will get anything you ask for in prayer."

Jewish Leaders Doubt Jesus' Authority (Mk. 11:27-33; Lk. 20:1-8)

²³Jesus went into the temple* area. While Jesus was teaching there, the leading priests and the older leaders of the people came to Jesus. They said to Jesus, "Tell us! What authority (power) do you have to do these things? Who gave you this authority?" ²⁴Jesus answered, "I will ask you a question too. If you answer me, then I will tell you what authority I have to do these things. ²⁵Tell me: When John baptized* people, did that come from God or from man?" The priests and the Jewish leaders talked about Jesus' question. They said to each other, "If we answer, 'John's baptism was from God,' then Jesus will say, 'Then why didn't you believe John?' ²⁶But if we say, 'It was from man,' then [all the people will be angry with us]. We are afraid of the people, because they all believe that John was a prophet.*" ²⁷So they answered Jesus, "We don't know [where John's authority came from]." Then Jesus said, "Then I won't tell you what authority I have to do these things!

Mount of Olives A hill east of the city of Jerusalem where a person could look down into the temple area. prophet A person that spoke for God. Sometimes a prophet told things that would happen in the future. 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. Son of David Name for the Christ {(Messiah)}. He was from the family of David, king of Israel about 1000 years B.C. temple The special building in Jerusalem for Jewish worship. Scriptures Holy Writings--the Old Testament. 'My house ... prayer' Quote from Isa. 56:7. 'hiding place for thieves' Quote from Jer. 7:11. Scripture Part of the Holy Writings--Old Testament. 'You ... praise' Quote from Ps. 8:3 (Greek version). baptize(d) A Greek word meaning to immerse, dip, or bury a person or thing briefly under water.