LENT 2011, Day 35

Mark 11:12-19

A lot of my post today comes from last year’s blog. The major difference is that I deleted what other gospels added, and focused primarily on Mark.

As Jesus was walking back to Jerusalem from Bethany on Monday morning he cursed a fig tree that had no figs – but Mark lets us know it wasn't even fig season.... I have to assume it was for the purpose of creating a teachable moment for Him to demonstrate His authority over absolutely everything. Mark inserts the sequential story of what happened next in their day – then comes back to the fig tree later. I’ll do the same – but with the cue that we will return…tomorrow.

Bethany was a 2-mile walk from Jerusalem - a village nestled near the base of the east side of the Mount of Olives, to the east of Jerusalem. Bethphage was along the route to Jerusalem, a very small village on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives. The Mount of Olives is a long hill - not just a peak.... It helps me visualize better when I have more information.

Jesus destination in Jerusalem was the temple. When he entered that Monday, he was infuriated because the profiteers had made it a den of robbers. Jews had come 'up' to Jerusalem from all over Israel as well as from other surrounding countries to celebrate the Passover. The poor and those who traveled long distances were dependent on purchasing the doves (pigeons) they would have to have for their sacrifice after they arrived in Jerusalem. They could only make those purchases with local coins, which necessitated there being money-changers, and the money-changers were short-changing the customers. Jesus tossed them all out. They were in business to line their own pockets, not to provide a fair-market-value service.

I don't believe this is an indictment on garage sales, bake sales, church auctions, and other appropriate fundraisers held in churches, as some have tried to make it. If they had a 'helping service' that truly helped, offering a fair exchange, I do not believe it would have invoked Jesus' ire. His act is a model for what should elicit righteous indignation in us: inequities and abuses that deny rights, denigrate, and devour. His house is to be a house of prayer. He is to be the priority. Serving others in His name is to be the model. Those who were ripping off the faithful were doing it out of greed.

I do pay attention to the fact that Mark lets us know when evening came they went out of the city. (Matthew tells us Jesus spent the night in Bethany again.) The chief priests and scribes were intent on finding a way to destroy Him. Staying out of their way until it was the time God defined had been an issue for several months, and in this last week, when their fervor in their quest escalated, it was no different. Jesus was responding the God's will in every move He made.