Sabbath School Lesson for August 24-30, 2024
Overview of Lesson 9, Jerusalem Controversies
Memory Text: “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.’ ” Mark 11:25 NKJV
Jesus certainly had a lot of forgiving to do regarding the religious leaders in Jerusalem. At the beginning of His ministry, chapters 2 and 3 of Mark listed five confrontations He had with them regarding His identity, authority, and ministry.
Slowing down the pace for the rest of the Gospel, Mark covered the final week of Jesus’ time on earth in chapters 11-16, which begins with six more contentious controversies He had with the scribes and Pharisees. See Mark 11-12:34.
But Jesus always spoke His truths in ways designed to speak to their hardened, prejudiced hearts. Although few responded favorably, these bookend events served as a needed, informative guide for the disciples, who would likewise later meet difficult challenges in their attempt to spread the gospel of Christ.
Today, we are no less amazed at how tenderly, yet firmly, Jesus dealt with His critical detractors, right up to His unmerciful treatment and sacrifice at the end of that last dramatic week in Jerusalem.
The events and controversies found in Mark 11 and 12 include…
- Sunday: The Triumphal Entry–Why did Jesus choose to enter Jerusalem this way?
- Monday: A Cursed Tree and a Cleansed Temple–How were the fig tree and the temple related to each other?
- Tuesday: Who Said You Could Do That?–Jesus continued to reply to His critics with profound questions and parables.
- Wednesday: Earthly Duties and Heavenly Outcomes–Jesus answered their trick questions about taxes to Rome and marriage after the resurrection.
- Thursday: The Greatest Commandment–At last, one religious leader questioned Jesus without antagonism or malice in his heart.
Sunday: The Triumphal Entry (Mark 11:1-11)
The full symbolism of riding into Jerusalem on a lowly donkey was no doubt lost on most of the Jews who witnessed it. It had been the custom of Solomon and other kings to enter the holy city that way (1 Kings 1:32-34). The royal significance was gladly recognized by the throngs of people who were anxious to have Jesus declared an earthly king.
But the humility aspect of Jesus’ first coming was not foremost in their thoughts. Jesus had humbled Himself by stepping away from His glorious heavenly throne to be their Savior. He was aware of the prediction in Zephaniah 9:9-10, which called for the Messiah to arrive in such a humble manner.
Jesus knew His time had arrived for this. The call for secrecy was no longer needed. The gathering crowd and shouts of “hosannah” unfortunately drew the attention of the religious leaders and must have angered them greatly, causing them to increase their murderous plots to destroy Him.
Bible Verses to Explore:
Mark 11:1-11 and Luke 24:21
- Why were the disciples and the crowds in Jerusalem thrilled to see Jesus enter Jerusalem on a donkey?
- When will Jesus be our King, and why should we be focused on that event, and not be dependent on any earthly nation or leader to save us?
Monday: A Cursed Tree and a Cleansed Temple (Mark 11:12-26)
After all the excitement and joy of seeing Jesus enter Jerusalem on a donkey, He and the disciples were happy to retire for the night in the small town of Bethany, about two miles away. They were naturally hungry as well, so passing by a fig tree, they were hopeful that a few figs might provide some food for them, even though it was out of season. Jesus surprisingly expressed disappointment at finding no figs by cursing the tree, declaring it would never produce fruit again (Mark 11:14).
The next day, upon arriving at the temple, they passed through the Court of the Gentiles, where Caiaphas had recently approved sellers and moneychangers to set up their tables. Jesus was noticeably angered by the noisy business going on there, so He did another uncharacteristic act by turning over the tables and chasing away the merchants who sat behind them. He was not happy that God’s house of prayer had ceased to produce fruit, but had instead become a den of thieves (Mark 11:17).
Jesus and His disciples again went out of the city for the night, but in the morning, as they passed the fig tree, it was shocking to find that it had withered from the roots, fulfilling the curse Jesus had placed on it the previous day.
This was a powerful lesson for the disciples about the importance of producing fruit, and God’s ability to eventually do away with those who don’t.
Bible Verses to Explore:
Mark 11:11-14, 20-26
- What can we learn from this strange act of cursing the fig tree?
Mark 11:15-19
- How was the fig tree related to the atmosphere of the temple that day?
- What was the reaction of the people and the religious leaders to Jesus’ unusual action in the temple?
Tuesday: Who Said You Could Do That? (Mark 11:27-12:12)
Once again, the religious leaders came to Jesus with a trick question that sounded pretty straight forward. They wanted Him to tell them by whose authority He had come. But, claiming to be the One sent from God, the Messiah, would have been a reason for a charge of blasphemy.
Jesus, however, saw their craftiness and said He would answer their question, if they would answer His. So, Jesus asked them by whose authority did John the Baptist preach and baptize. They immediately saw the tight spot they were in.
If they said God’s authority, they would have had to explain why they hadn’t accepted John’s teachings, and even His. And if they said any other authority, the people would turn against them. They ended up answering that they didn’t know, which was their least hurtful answer. Although an admission that they didn’t know was probably not easy for them either. What they should have known by then was that Jesus was smarter than they were…because He was God!
Mark 12:1-12 revealed another way Jesus used to reach the stubborn leaders. He told a parable about some wicked vinedressers, who repeatedly assaulted or killed the ones sent by the owner of the vineyard. They walked away thoughtful, because they instantly recognized that they were the vinedressers in the story.
Bible Verses to Explore:
Mark 11:27-33
- How did this conversation show that Jesus was actually responding in a way designed to make them think about what they were doing and not just to outsmart them?
Mark 12:1-12
- Why was it obvious, even to the religious leaders, that they were the vinedressers?
- How did this parable point out the foolhardiness of the vinedressers (and by extension, the scribes and Pharisees)?
Wednesday: Earthly Duties and Heavenly Outcomes (Mark 12:13-27)
The religious elite were not through with Jesus yet. They continued to pound Him with questions designed to get Him in trouble with the authorities and/or the vast crowds who followed Him. They came to Him with a question about taxes, which were extremely cruel and unpopular at the time. But Jesus outwitted them by calling for a coin and pointing out that with Caesar’s inscription on it, it was rightly his. That simple answer was logical, and completely unexpected.
And then, there came a question from the Sadducees, who did not believe in a resurrection. They described an unusual situation about seven brothers who had each become the husband of one woman. They wanted to know whose wife she would be after the resurrection.
The dilemma did not seem to bother the Savior, however. He explained that after the resurrection, the institution of marriage would not be needed. They would be as the angels in heaven. The only thing that would matter was that they were alive again and with the Bridegroom Jesus, the only “marriage” that will last through eternity.
Bible Verses to Explore:
Mark 12:13-17 and Romans 13:1-7
- What are your thoughts about supporting governments? When and how should it be done?
Mark 12:18-27
- Why would the Sadducees come to Jesus with a question about the resurrection, when they didn’t even believe in a resurrection?
- What do you think Jesus meant by saying that God was a God of the living, and not of the dead?
Thursday: The Greatest Commandment (Mark 12:28-34)
We know that one of those religious leaders, a scribe, was beginning to listen to and understand Jesus’ wise responses. He was honest with himself and courageous enough to later return and ask Jesus a very straightforward, simple question. He sincerely wanted to know what was the greatest commandment.
Jesus, recognizing his deep longing to please God, simply repeated the Shema confession of faith (Deuteronomy 6:4, 5)–to love God with all your heart. But He added the need to love our neighbor as well (Leviticus 19:18). What Jesus was ultimately saying was that love was the greatest commandment.
The scribe repeated Jesus’ answer, showing that he was in agreement. Jesus then encouraged him with the words: “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”
Bible Verses to Explore:
Mark 12:28-34
- Why is it important to include love in our attempts to please God?
- What did Jesus mean by saying “You are not far from the kingdom of God”?
Friday: Final Thoughts
The experience of the fig tree, followed by the cleansing of the temple, brings new thoughts about our relationship with God. On the surface, many have thought that the noisy, irreverent atmosphere in the temple was what angered Jesus. We have tended to blame noisy children and loud conversations in the church sanctuary for such irreverence.
While it is important to maintain a quiet, worshipful atmosphere in the Lord’s house, we must look deeper into the connection of the unfruitfulness of the fig tree. What is really abhorrent to God is the totality of our unfruitful lives. We are like that fig tree by not producing the fruits of the Spirit.
Ellen G. White described it this way:
“In the sentence pronounced on the fig tree Christ demonstrates how hateful in His eyes is this vain pretense. He declares that the open sinner is less guilty than is he who professes to serve God, but who bears no fruit to His glory.” ~The Desire of Ages, p. 584.
Next Week: The Last Days
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