Sunday 17 October
Jesus Has Authority
Dave Bosma
Dave walks us through Mark 11:1-12:12 where Jesus visits the temple three times and each time demonstrating Jesus's authority. Dave shows us that Jesus has the authority of a king, a prophet, and a son, and how this tells the gospel story from authority perspective.
Life Group questions
Jesus Has Authority
Session 11: Mark 11:1-12:12
Read Mark 11:1–12:12.
Watch Francis Chan, “The Gospel of Mark” Video Series Session 9: Mark 11:1–13:37 (9 minutes)
Discuss
Francis explained the gravity of what faced Jesus’s followers after his crucifixion. In the days preceding his death, Jesus taught them to expect hardship, rejection, and persecution because of their devotion to him. How does Francis describe Jesus’s last messages to his disciples?
Look at Mark 11:1–11. It’s finally Jesus’s time to enter Jerusalem. He rides in on a donkey to cheers of adulation from the crowd. They expect a conquering king. Do you think there was anything wrong with the people hoping for a king that would come deliver them?If you were there, how do you think you would have reacted?
Now look at Mark 11:12–26. This is a passage that seems hard to understand, but the fig tree stands as a metaphor for Israel and us. It looked alive but didn’t have the fruit that Jesus expected and desired. Mark is inviting us to question ourselves. Are we truly following Jesus, or are we only “fair weather” Christians? What evidence is there of healthy fruit in your life?
In Mark 11:25 Jesus brings up forgiveness, and the importance of forgiving others. How does forgiving others align with bearing healthy fruit as a follower of Jesus?
Read Mark 11:27–33. Who’s in power here? What does Jesus do to disarm them? Read Mark 12:1–12. Who is this parable about? Why do you think Jesus decided to speak in a parable here?
Most scholars believe that the “man” in the parable represents God, the “vineyard” is Israel, and the tenants (“vine-growers”) are Israel’s leaders. The meaning of this parable was clear to the religious leaders. Jesus had exposed their plot to kill him, but the approval of the people temporarily shielded Jesus from their wrath.
So, what is Mark trying to point out? For those who’ve begun this journey of discipleship, the reality is we’ll face powerful people who want nothing to do with Jesus. The truth that Mark wants us to walk away with is simple: The powerful persecutors in our lives have no real power over us.
Has there been a situation in which your beliefs were held against you? How did you react?
In what ways did that situation impact your view of Jesus and the cost of following him? Is it still worth it? Was your faith shaken, or did it strengthen?
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