Mark 11:1-16:8

Devotionals, Articles, and Bible Study Resources on Mark 11:1-16:8

1As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two of His disciples
2and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here.
3If anyone asks, ‘Why are you doing this?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it and will return it shortly.’”
4So they went and found the colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. They untied it,
5and some who were standing there asked, “Why are you untying the colt?”
6The disciples answered as Jesus had instructed them, and the people gave them permission.
7Then they led the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, and He sat on it.
8Many in the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut from the fields.
9The ones who went ahead and those who followed were shouting:
“Hosanna!”
“Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”
10“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”
“Hosanna in the highest!”
11Then Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, He went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
12The next day, when they had left Bethany, Jesus was hungry.
13Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if there was any fruit on it. But when He reached it, He found nothing on it except leaves, since it was not the season for figs.
14Then He said to the tree, “May no one ever eat of your fruit again.” And His disciples heard this statement.
15When they arrived in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began to drive out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves.
16And He would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.
17Then Jesus began to teach them, and He declared, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”
18When the chief priests and scribes heard this, they looked for a way to kill Him. For they were afraid of Him, because the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching.
19And when evening came, Jesus and His disciples went out of the city.
20As they were walking back in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from its roots.
21Peter remembered it and said, “Look, Rabbi! The fig tree You cursed has withered.”
22“Have faith in God,” Jesus said to them.
23“Truly I tell you that if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and has no doubt in his heart but believes that it will happen, it will be done for him.
24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
25And when you stand to pray, if you hold anything against another, forgive it, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your trespasses as well.”
27After their return to Jerusalem, Jesus was walking in the temple courts, and the chief priests, scribes, and elders came up to Him.
28“By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You the authority to do them?”
29“I will ask you one question,” Jesus replied, “and if you answer Me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
30John’s baptism— was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me!”
31They deliberated among themselves what they should answer: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’
32But if we say, ‘From men’...” they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John truly was a prophet.
33So they answered, “We do not know.” And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”
1Then Jesus began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a wine vat, and built a watchtower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey.
2At harvest time, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard.
3But they seized the servant, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed.
4Then he sent them another servant, and they struck him over the head and treated him shamefully.
5He sent still another, and this one they killed. He sent many others; some they beat and others they killed.
6Finally, having one beloved son, he sent him to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.
7But the tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’
8So they seized the son, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.
9What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants, and will give the vineyard to others.
10Have you never read this Scripture:
‘The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
11This is from the Lord,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”
12At this, the leaders sought to arrest Jesus, for they knew that He had spoken this parable against them. But fearing the crowd, they left Him and went away.
13Later, they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to catch Jesus in His words.
14“Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and seek favor from no one. Indeed, You are impartial and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them or not?”
15But Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to inspect.”
16So they brought it, and He asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they answered.
17Then Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” And they marveled at Him.
18Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and questioned Him:
19“Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man is to marry his brother’s widow and raise up offspring for him.
20Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died, leaving no children.
21Then the second one married the widow, but he also died and left no children. And the third did likewise.
22In this way, none of the seven left any children. And last of all, the woman died.
23In the resurrection, then, whose wife will she be? For all seven were married to her.”
24Jesus said to them, “Aren’ t you mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?
25When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. Instead, they will be like the angels in heaven.
26But concerning the dead rising, have you not read about the burning bush in the Book of Moses, how God told him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?
27He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!”
28Now one of the scribes had come up and heard their debate. Noticing how well Jesus had answered them, he asked Him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”
29Jesus replied, “This is the most important: ‘Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.
30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
31The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
32“Right, Teacher,” the scribe replied. “You have stated correctly that God is One and there is no other but Him,
33and to love Him with all your heart and with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, which is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
34When Jesus saw that the man had answered wisely, He said, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to question Him any further.
35While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, He asked, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David?
36Speaking by the Holy Spirit, David himself declared:
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand
until I put Your enemies
under Your feet.”’
37David himself calls Him ‘Lord.’ So how can He be David’s son?” And the large crowd listened to Him with delight.
38In His teaching Jesus also said, “Watch out for the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, to receive greetings in the marketplaces,
39and to have the chief seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.
40They defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.”
41As Jesus was sitting opposite the treasury, He watched the crowd putting money into it. And many rich people put in large amounts.
42Then one poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amounted to a small fraction of a denarius.
43Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more than all the others into the treasury.
44For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”
1As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, look at the magnificent stones and buildings!”
2“Do you see all these great buildings?” Jesus replied. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”
3While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately,
4“Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to be fulfilled?”
5Jesus began by telling them, “See to it that no one deceives you.
6Many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many.
7When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come.
8Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, as well as famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.
9So be on your guard. You will be delivered over to the councils and beaten in the synagogues. On My account you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.
10And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all the nations.
11But when they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand what to say. Instead, speak whatever you are given at that time, for it will not be you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
12Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against their parents and have them put to death.
13You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
14So when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
15Let no one on the housetop go back inside to retrieve anything from his house.
16And let no one in the field return for his cloak.
17How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers!
18Pray that this will not occur in the winter.
19For those will be days of tribulation unmatched from the beginning of God’s creation until now, and never to be seen again.
20If the Lord had not cut short those days, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom He has chosen, He has cut them short.
21At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it.
22For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible.
23So be on your guard; I have told you everything in advance.
24But in those days, after that tribulation:
‘The sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
25the stars will fall from the sky,
and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’
26At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
27And He will send out the angels to gather His elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
28Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near.
29So also, when you see these things happening, know that He is near, right at the door.
30Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened.
31Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.
32No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
33Be on your guard and stay alert! For you do not know when the appointed time will come.
34It is like a man going on a journey who left his house, put each servant in charge of his own task, and instructed the doorkeeper to keep watch.
35Therefore keep watch, because you do not know when the master of the house will return— whether in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or in the morning.
36Otherwise, he may arrive without notice and find you sleeping.
37And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Keep watch!”
1Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were two days away, and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a covert way to arrest Jesus and kill Him.
2“But not during the feast,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”
3While Jesus was in Bethany reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke open the jar and poured it on Jesus’ head.
4Some of those present, however, expressed their indignation to one another: “Why this waste of perfume?
5It could have been sold for over three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her.
6But Jesus said, “Leave her alone; why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful deed to Me.
7The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them whenever you want. But you will not always have Me.
8She has done what she could to anoint My body in advance of My burial.
9And truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached in all the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
10Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them.
11They were delighted to hear this, and they promised to give him money. So Judas began to look for an opportunity to betray Jesus.
12On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed, Jesus’ disciples asked Him, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”
13So He sent two of His disciples and told them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jug of water will meet you. Follow him,
14and whichever house he enters, say to the owner, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is My guest room, where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?’
15And he will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”
16So the disciples left and went into the city, where they found everything as Jesus had described. And they prepared the Passover.
17When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve.
18And while they were reclining and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you who is eating with Me will betray Me.”
19They began to be grieved and to ask Him one after another, “Surely not I?”
20He answered, “It is one of the Twelve — the one who is dipping his hand into the bowl with Me.
21The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
22While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it; this is My body.”
23Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
24He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
25Truly I tell you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.”
26And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
27Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written:
‘I will strike the Shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.’
28But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
29Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I never will.”
30“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.”
31But Peter kept insisting, “Even if I have to die with You, I will never deny You.” And all the others said the same thing.
32Then they came to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus told His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”
33He took with Him Peter, James, and John, and began to be deeply troubled and distressed.
34Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch.”
35Going a little farther, He fell to the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour would pass from Him.
36“Abba, Father,” He said, “all things are possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.”
37Then Jesus returned and found them sleeping. “Simon, are you asleep?” He asked. “Were you not able to keep watch for one hour?
38Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
39Again He went away and prayed, saying the same thing.
40And again Jesus returned and found them sleeping — for their eyes were heavy. And they did not know what to answer Him.
41When Jesus returned the third time, He said, “Are you still sleeping and resting? That is enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
42Rise, let us go. See, My betrayer is approaching!”
43While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, scribes, and elders.
44Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The One I kiss is the man; arrest Him and lead Him away securely.”
45Going directly to Jesus, he said, “Rabbi!” and kissed Him.
46Then the men seized Jesus and arrested Him.
47And one of the bystanders drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
48Jesus asked the crowd, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would an outlaw?
49Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest Me. But this has happened that the Scriptures would be fulfilled.”
50Then everyone deserted Him and fled.
51One young man who had been following Jesus was wearing a linen cloth around his body. They caught hold of him,
52but he pulled free of the linen cloth and ran away naked.
53They led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests, elders, and scribes assembled.
54Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he sat with the officers and warmed himself by the fire.
55Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but they did not find any.
56For many bore false witness against Jesus, but their testimony was inconsistent.
57Then some men stood up and testified falsely against Him:
58“We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this man-made temple, and in three days I will build another that is made without hands.’”
59But even their testimony was inconsistent.
60So the high priest stood up before them and questioned Jesus, “Have You no answer? What are these men testifying against You?”
61But Jesus remained silent and made no reply. Again the high priest questioned Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”
62“I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
63At this, the high priest tore his clothes and declared, “Why do we need any more witnesses?
64You have heard the blasphemy. What is your verdict?” And they all condemned Him as deserving of death.
65Then some of them began to spit on Him. They blindfolded Him, struck Him with their fists, and said to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers received Him with slaps in His face.
66While Peter was in the courtyard below, one of the servant girls of the high priest came down
67and saw him warming himself there. She looked at Peter and said, “You also were with Jesus the Nazarene.”
68But he denied it. “I do not know or even understand what you are talking about,” he said. Then he went out to the gateway, and the rooster crowed.
69There the servant girl saw him and again said to those standing nearby, “This man is one of them.”
70But he denied it again. After a little while, those standing nearby said once more to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you too are a Galilean.”
71But he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak!”
72And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
1Early in the morning, the chief priests, elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin devised a plan. They bound Jesus, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate.
2So Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.
3And the chief priests began to accuse Him of many things.
4Then Pilate questioned Him again, “Have You no answer? Look how many charges they are bringing against You!”
5But to Pilate’s amazement, Jesus made no further reply.
6Now it was Pilate’s custom at the feast to release to the people a prisoner of their choosing.
7And a man named Barabbas was imprisoned with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection.
8So the crowd went up and began asking Pilate to keep his custom.
9“Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” Pilate asked.
10For he knew it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over.
11But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas to them instead.
12So Pilate asked them again, “What then do you want me to do with the One you call the King of the Jews?”
13And they shouted back, “Crucify Him!”
14“Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?” But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!”
15And wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.
16Then the soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called the whole company together.
17They dressed Him in a purple robe, twisted together a crown of thorns, and set it on His head.
18And they began to salute Him: “Hail, King of the Jews!”
19They kept striking His head with a staff and spitting on Him. And they knelt down and bowed before Him.
20After they had mocked Him, they removed the purple robe and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they led Him out to crucify Him.
21Now Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and the soldiers forced him to carry the cross of Jesus.
22They brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha, which means The Place of the Skull.
23There they offered Him wine mixed with myrrh, but He did not take it.
24And they crucified Him. They also divided His garments by casting lots to decide what each of them would take.
25It was the third hour when they crucified Him.
26And the charge inscribed against Him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS.
27Along with Jesus, they crucified two robbers, one on His right and one on His left.
29And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,
30come down from the cross and save Yourself!”
31In the same way, the chief priests and scribes mocked Him among themselves, saying, “He saved others, but He cannot save Himself!
32Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” And even those who were crucified with Him berated Him.
33From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land.
34At the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
35When some of those standing nearby heard this, they said, “Behold, He is calling Elijah.”
36And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine. He put it on a reed and held it up for Jesus to drink, saying, “Leave Him alone. Let us see if Elijah comes to take Him down.”
37But Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed His last.
38And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
39When the centurion standing there in front of Jesus saw how He had breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”
40And there were also women watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.
41These women had followed Jesus and ministered to Him while He was in Galilee, and there were many other women who had come up to Jerusalem with Him.
42Now it was already evening. Since it was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath),
43Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent Council member who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God, boldly went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus.
44Pilate was surprised to hear that Jesus was already dead, so he summoned the centurion to ask if this was so.
45When Pilate had confirmed it with the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.
46So Joseph bought a linen cloth, took down the body of Jesus, wrapped it in the cloth, and placed it in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb.
47Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where His body was placed.
1When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so they could go and anoint the body of Jesus.
2Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they went to the tomb.
3They were asking one another, “Who will roll away the stone from the entrance of the tomb?”
4But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, even though it was extremely large.
5When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
6But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here! See the place where they put Him.
7But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you.’”
8So the women left the tomb and ran away, trembling and bewildered. And in their fear they did not say a word to anyone.
— Mark 11:1-16:8

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Cross References for Mark 11:1-16:8

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