Mark

By Joyce Webb 2023

Chapter 11 Verse 20-33     Chapter 12 Verse 1-12

Verse 20 The next morning, the disciples went by the fig tree that Jesus talked to. It had dried up—from the roots.

Verse 21 Peter called to Jesus to look at the tree—-to see how it had dried up.

Verse 22 -23 Jesus said to him, Have faith in God.
Whoever shall say to this mountain “Be removed and go into the sea”—-and shall not have doubt in his heart—he will see those things happen —which he says.

Verse 24 I say: What things you desire (want) –when you pray–believe you shall receive them—–and you will have them.

Verse 25 When you stand a pray—forgive—-if you have something against someone—–so that your Father in heaven will forgive you.

Verse 26 But if you will not forgive—-then your Father which is in heaven will not forgive you.

Verse 27 -28 Jesus and his disciples were now coming into Jerusalem.
They were going into the temple. The Jewish leaders came to Jesus and said to him -”By what authority do you do these things? “

Vs. 29 Jesus said–”I will ask you a question. If you answer—then I will answer your question.

Was the baptism of John from heaven—or was it of man?

Vs. 30 The Jewish leaders talked among themselves. They said if we say that John’s baptism was of heaven—Jesus will ask why we did not believe in John. If we say that John’s baptism was of man, then crowds of people will be angry—because they believed in John—and thought he was a prophet.

Vs. 33 So the Jewish leaders said to Jesus—We can not tell you.

So, Jesus said to them—I will not answer your question to me.

Chapter 12 Vs. 1-12
Jesus began to tell a parable. A parable is an earthly story with an heavenly meaning.

A man planted a vineyard. He planted a hedge around it. He made a wine press to press out the grapes. He built a tower for a person to watch from as a guard. Then he paid a man to take care of it.

The owner–master— left and traveled to a far country.

Vs. 2 At the time the grapes would be ripe, the owner sent a servant to the man caring for the vineyard.
The owner expected to receive his part of the profit from the grapes.

Vs. 3 The man in charge of the vineyard and others—took the servant and beat him. They sent him away—giving him nothing.

Vs. 4 The owner then sent another servant to collect the profit.
They threw stones at this servant and hurt his head badly. Then sent him away.

Vs. 5 The owner sent another servant to collect his profit. That servant they killed.

Vs. 6 The owner sent other servants—some they beat —some they killed.

Vs. 7 Finally, the owner sent his own beloved son. The owner thought they would have respect for his son.

Vs. 7 The man in charge of the vineyard said—-This is his son. If we kill him—then the vineyard will be ours.

Vs. 8 So they killed the son.

Vs. 9 Jesus asked this question—What do you think the owner of the vineyard will do to the man taking care of the vineyard?

He will come and kill the man in charge and he will hire others to take care of the vineyard.

Vs. 10 Jesus said, Have you not read in the scriptures—-that the stone that the builders threw away—-has become the corner stone?

(A corner stone in a building—is a special nicer stone—set in the front corner of a building with the name of the building carved into it –and the date.)

Vs. 11 Jesus said, This was the Lord’s doing. It is a wonderful thing.

Vs. 12 The Jewish leaders were angry and would have taken Jesus but they were afraid of the people. They knew that the story Jesus told was about them. They were angry and left him and went on their way.

(The story of the vineyard was the story of the Jewish people.

Throughout the Old Testament—God sent prophets to preach to the people about their sin, disobeying, and how they should obey God do what was right.

The people did not treat the prophets well. They laughed at them. They mocked them. They hurt them. They put them in pits in the ground. They killed some.

Then—God sent his beloved Son to the Jewish people—and they will kill him.

The Jewish leaders had not killed Jesus yet—but they would have if they were not afraid of the people. They will yet—kill him.

Like the “stone” the builders threw away—Jesus—they threw away. But Jesus has become the “cornerstone”. All of history is dated—BC before Christ or AD Latin words meaning —After His coming.