Scripture Reading : Mark 11:1-26
Theme : The Jerusalem Ministry
- Coming of the King. Unused animals were regarded as specially suited for sacred purposes (Num. 19:2; Deut. 21:3; 1 Sam. 6:7). It was therefore fitting for the unique nature of Jesus. Jesus rode on the donkey as He entered Jerusalem, fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9 regarding the coming king. The donkey represented peace, instead of conquest. Jesus did not present Himself as the glorious, irresistible ruler that the people expected, but as the One bringing peace (between God and man).
- Cursing of the Fig Tree. In the fig tree, the fruit appears together with, and sometimes before, the appearance of leaves. The fig tree with an abundance of leaves ahead of season held out the promise that it had fruit. However, the promise turned out to be false. The fig tree was therefore a symbol of Israel’s failure to produce the spiritual fruit that it professed to have. Jesus used the tree to teach the disciples a lesson of God’s condemnation of hypocrisy.
- Cleansing of the Temple. The Jews turned the temple into a market place, instead of using it properly for worship. When Jesus did not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple, it was referring to the temple court. Mark alone described the temple as a place of prayer for “all the nations”. The temple court alone was available to Gentiles for prayer, but the Jews turned it into a place of profit and greed, thus depriving Gentiles the only place in the temple where they could worship. Because of this, Jesus cleansed the temple.
Praying the Scripture
- Many people expect Jesus to do whatever they want, like the Jews who expected the Messiah to deliver them from the Roman oppressors. Let us pray for humble hearts that will accept God’s will.
- Jesus used the tree to teach the disciples a lesson of God’s condemnation of hypocrisy. Let us pray that we will not be like the fig tree, making empty promises of abundant fruit, when there is actually none.
- We must ensure that visitors to our church will see our reverent attitude towards God. Let us pray that God guard our hearts against evil desires, especially associated with loving money.
经文：马可福音11:1-26
主题：耶路撒冷事工
- 君王的驾临。未曾被用的动物是最适合为礼仪所用（数19:2；申21:3；撒上6:7）。因此，这与耶稣的特殊本质相符。耶稣骑着驴驹进耶路撒冷，由此应验了撒迦利亚书9:9有关将临君王的预言。驴驹代表和平，不是征服。耶稣不以荣耀和无可阻挡统治者的形象出现，如众人所期待的，而是那位带来和平（神与人之间）的。
- 咒诅无花果树。无花果树的果子是与叶子一同长出的，或甚至先长出。一棵不是时候就长满叶子的无花果树让人期待它是有果子的，但事实并非如此。因此，那棵无花果树象征以色列无法结出它当有的属灵果子一样。耶稣使用那棵树教导门徒们神谴责人假冒为善的功课。
- 洁净圣殿。犹太人将圣殿转变成一个买卖市场，而不是正确的为敬拜所用。当经文说耶稣“不许人拿着器具从殿里经过”，那指的是圣殿院子。唯独马可将圣殿形容作一个为“万国”祷告的殿。只有圣殿院子是供给外邦人祷告之地，但犹太人将那地转变成人贪心并赚取利润之地，使外邦人无法到殿中他们唯一能敬拜的地方。因此，耶稣将圣殿洁净。
用经文祷告
- 很多人期望耶稣能行他们凡所愿的，如犹太人曾期待弥赛亚能助他们脱离罗马暴君一样。让我们祈求能有谦卑的心来领受神的旨意。
- 耶稣藉着无花果树教导神谴责人假冒为善的功课。让我们祷告我们不会像那颗无花果树一样，让人认为自己是结满果子的，但实际上一个都没有。
- 我们要确保参观我们教会的人能看到我们对神敬虔的态度。让我们祈求神能保守我们的心不要有恶念，尤其是与贪财有关的。
