He Keeps Promises

Mark 11:1-11, 15-17

1. Jesus' "triumphal entry" into Jerusalem might more precisely be called his entry into the temple in Jerusalem. Notice its destination in v. 11. Read the prophecy of the Lord and the temple in Malachi 3:1–3. What was to happen when the Lord came to the temple?
   
2. Read 11:15–17 and the second time Jesus goes into the temple. How did he fulfill Malachi's prophecy?
   
3. According to Jesus in v. 17, what was one of the main purposes for the temple?
   
4. Go back to Jesus' entry into the city and notice how carefully Jesus personally prepared his entrance as a fulfillment of Scriptural prophecies:
   • Compare vv. 2, 4 to Genesis 49:10–11. Why did Jesus organize this?
   • Compare vv. 4–6 to Zechariah 9:9. What point is being made?
   • Compare vv. 7–8 to 2 Kings 9:12–13. Again, what is the point?
   

The Lord was to come into the temple, i.e., the place that was to be a place of prayer for all nations. But, either there was nothing happening there (v. 11) or wrong things were happening there (vv. 15–17).

1. Read Ephesians 5:19–22. The church is now the dwelling place, i.e., the temple, of God. How might a local church fall into the same problems that Jesus saw in the Jerusalem temple on his triumphal entry?
   
2. The people wanted a king—but not the kind of king Jesus came to be. Are you open to God's doing things in a very different way from what you might want?
   
3. What do you think we should all learn and apply to our lives from this passage?
   

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