Mark 11:27-33 (Please open your Bibles so you can read along)
(Briefly describe the following from Mark 11)
Jesus arrives at the Jerusalem late in the day and walks around looking at everything.
Because it is late He goes to Bethany for the night.
Coming back the next morning He “began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.”
Jesus continues teaching after He does this saying, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”
Jesus goes “out of the city” for the night.
The next day He is walking through the temple courts so, let’s pick it up there and go ahead and read our Scripture for today Mark 11:27-33
What exactly are the teachers of the law, the chief priests and the elders asking Him? How would we say it today?
Just WHO do you think you are, Jesus???
Who were the authorities not only in the Jewish faith but especially in the Temple?
Authorities in the Jewish faith:
Pharisees – Teachers of the law and their traditions (which they
claimed went all the way back to Moses even though there was no proof)
Saducees – Teachers of the law of Moses but denying some
foundational doctrines
Scribes – Many were also Pharisees but Scribes copied the Law (first five books of the OT). These are the ones who we have to think for preserving the Old Testament so faithfully. They were experts in the Law and would also write commentaries and give Scriptural legal advice in opinions. However, they also believed that the oral traditions could and did supersede the authority of the Scriptures.
Priests – Levitical priests – Any priests who were descendents of Levi but not of the lineage descended from Aaron the son of Levi. These are the priests who cared for the temple. These are the priests who would have set up the area in the temple for the sacrificial cattle to be corralled for purchase for sacrifices. These are the priest who would have arranged with the money changers and told them where to set up.
Priests – Chief priests – all chief priests were direct descendents of Aaron. These are the priests who would offer the sacrifices and burn incense to the Lord.
Priests – High Priest – the high priest would be chosen from the chief priests on an annual basis. He would be the one who would go into the Holy of Holies once a year.
OK. So, these were THE authorities! In the temple the Chief Priests were the ABSOLUTE authorities and they have been for centuries.
So, here comes this upstart Jesus from Nazareth.
First He comes in here acting like He owns the place looking around at everything and then the next day He comes in and starts chasing people around with a whip turning over tables of the dove merchants and the money changers and not allowing anyone to carry merchandise through the Temple!
And then He’s quoting Scripture saying, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations” as if it is really HIS house! What gall!
And then He accuses the holy priesthood, of making the temple into a “Den of robbers!”
After teaching for awhile Jesus leaves the temple and leaves Jerusalem for the night
Boy the Jewish leaders are hot under the collar now!
Mark 11:18 NIV
“The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill Him, for they feared Him, because the whole crowd was amazed at His teaching.”
From this verse it appears that what the chief priests and teachers of the law would have liked to have done would have been to take Jesus outside the temple and kill Him right then and there!
But … they’re afraid of the crowd so they come up with an alternate plan!
Then next morning Jesus arrives back at the temple and is once again walking through the temple courts as if He owns the place.
Mark 11:27b-28 NIV
“The chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to Him (and asked) ‘By what authority are You doing these things? … And who gave You authority to do this?’”
What they are saying is, “WE are the ones in charge here! Who do You think You are???”
Do you know what? From their perspective that’s a very good question!
We know from today’s Scripture reading how Jesus actually responded to their questions.
But … they must have known who Jesus really was.
I mean … I wonder if they had this phrase back when Jesus was on earth?
“Actions speak louder than words?”
You can be sure that they had all heard about Jesus healing the eyes of a man born blind! Right?
You can be sure that they heard about Jesus feeding the five thousand and the four thousand! Right?
You can be sure that they heard about Jesus healing the crippled woman and the man with dropsy (an abnormal swelling of the body)! Right?
And, if nothing else, they certainly had heard about Jesus casting out demons and even raising Lazarus from the dead when He was on His way to Jerusalem!
We KNOW they had heard about that because they wanted to kill Lazarus as well!
In my mind it is safe to say that if Jesus had authority to heal the blind, if Jesus had authority feed literally thousands with a few loaves and fishes, if Jesus had the authority to heal dropsy with a simple command, if Jesus had authority cast out evil spirits and if Jesus even had authority to raise the dead then Jesus had authority to kick a cattle market out of the Temple if He wanted to do so!
Add to all of that the fact that Jesus had already told them who He was:
John 10:22b-30
“It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. The Jews who were there gathered around Him, saying, ‘How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Messiah, tell us plainly.’
“Jesus answered, ‘I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in My Father’s name testify about Me, but you do not believe because you are not My sheep. My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.’”
John 12:42-43
“Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in Him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.”
So, with all of this known to them they still ask, “Who do You think you are, Jesus?”
Do you remember that last week we asked, “What would it be like if Jesus came into your home, your mind and your soul and looked around at everything?” What would it be like?
Today we need to ask the follow up question. What if AFTER Jesus came into your home, mind and soul He saw something that shouldn’t be there and asked you to remove it? What would you do?
Well, what you would do, or how you would respond would be entirely dependent on what authority Jesus has in your life, right?
What if you have a heart hardened against Jesus?
What if you want to be the supreme authority in your life?
What if you want your hand on the remote control of every aspect of everything you do?
Well, then you would be like the Jewish leaders who ignored Jesus’ authority.
On the other hand, what if you have a heart that is soft and yielded to Jesus?
And, what if Jesus comes and points out something to you that seems to be entirely innocent and something which you enjoy very much and asks you to let it go?
What would you do?
It totally depends on what authority Jesus has in your life?
What if you enjoyed this object on a daily basis?
Would your love for Jesus and His approval move you to instantly obey?
What would you do?
It totally depends on what authority Jesus has in your life?
What if the object or the activity had a sentimental value to you?
Would your love for Jesus and His approval move you to instantly obey?
What would you do?
It totally depends on what authority Jesus has in your life?
What if the object or the activity made your life easier and more comfortable?
Would your love for Jesus and His approval move you to instantly obey?
What would you do?
It totally depends on what authority Jesus has in your life?
Let me show you a graph.
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Construct the graph in this manner) |
X axis = 100% on top down to 0% on bottom = Jesus Authority in your life |
Y axis = 100% at intersection of XY axis and 0% at far right end of Y axis = | Authority of Sin in your life |
The draw a line from 0% Jesus Authority and 100% sin as a starting point to|
100% Jesus Authority and 0% sin as an upward slope |
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Looking at this chart can you tell me where:
Where Jesus has 0% authority sin has 100% authority? (Describe – rebellion)
Where Jesus has 100% authority sin has 0% authority? (Entire sanctification)
Have you ever heard of a slippery slope?
In this case, a slippery slope is anywhere along the line where Jesus does not have 100% authority in your life.
How do you think the Jewish leaders got a cattle market and money exchange into the temple of the LORD? All at once? Not on your life!
It was one tiny step at a time.
I was at gathering sometime in the past where a person had fallen into sin. This was a group from about five denominations.
The sin was a very serious sin. Now, this person was from a church that believed in living a holy life with the help of the Holy Spirit. They, like us, believe that you can be totally surrendered to the Lord in a way that you will not knowingly commit any acts of sin.
Let’s assume that this person had at one time in his life been fully 100% committed to the Lord and living a life that would please Him in every way.
Had the addiction to this sin become full blown all at once?
No. It never does. It always starts by “sticking your toe in the water” to see what it’s like.
A wet toe is a slippery toe.
It always starts with the first glance, the first taste, the first flirt, the first purchase, the first skip of church, the first dirty joke, the first sin.
The first sin when you hear the voice of the Lord say, “Don’t do that” and you go ahead and do it anyway.
Let’s look at that graph again and compare it to one of our memory Scriptures.
Romans 6:22-23
(Recite verse 22 and ask where that point would be on the chart.
Recite verse 23a and ask where that point would be on the chart.
Recite verse 23b and ask where that point would be on the chart.)
Can we live a perfect life? No, there will always be areas unknown to us where we fall short of what Jesus wants for us.
Can we live a life where we are in full conformance to the will of God as far as we know and understand with the help of the Holy Spirit? Absolutely!
One of my favorite Scriptures is
2 Chronicles 16:9
“For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.”
What authority does Jesus have in your life?
Where along this graph?
When you are fully committed to the LORD, when you love the Lord your God with all of your heart, all of your soul and all of your mind, when you have been set free sin and have become a slave of God THERE IS NO POWER ON EARTH OR IN HELL THAT CAN FORCE YOU TO SIN!
Closing remarks and prayer …
