Mark 11; John 12

Viewing Multiple Passages

Mark 11

1 When they were nearing Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany on Mount Olives, he sent off two of the disciples with instructions:
2 "Go to the village across from you. As soon as you enter, you'll find a colt tethered, one that has never yet been ridden. Untie it and bring it.
3 If anyone asks, 'What are you doing?' say, 'The Master needs him, and will return him right away.'"
4 They went and found a colt tied to a door at the street corner and untied it.
5 Some of those standing there said, "What are you doing untying that colt?"
6 The disciples replied exactly as Jesus had instructed them, and the people let them alone.
7 They brought the colt to Jesus, spread their coats on it, and he mounted.
8 The people gave him a wonderful welcome, some throwing their coats on the street, others spreading out rushes they had cut in the fields.
9 Running ahead and following after, they were calling out, Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in God's name!
10 Blessed the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in highest heaven!
11 He entered Jerusalem, then entered the Temple. He looked around, taking it all in. But by now it was late, so he went back to Bethany with the Twelve.
12 As they left Bethany the next day, he was hungry.
13 Off in the distance he saw a fig tree in full leaf. He came up to it expecting to find something for breakfast, but found nothing but fig leaves. (It wasn't yet the season for figs.)
14 He addressed the tree: "No one is going to eat fruit from you again - ever!" And his disciples overheard him.
15 They arrived at Jerusalem. Immediately on entering the Temple Jesus started throwing out everyone who had set up shop there, buying and selling. He kicked over the tables of the bankers and the stalls of the pigeon merchants.
16 He didn't let anyone even carry a basket through the Temple.
17 And then he taught them, quoting this text: My house was designated a house of prayer for the nations; You've turned it into a hangout for thieves.
18 The high priests and religion scholars heard what was going on and plotted how they might get rid of him. They panicked, for the entire crowd was carried away by his teaching.
19 At evening, Jesus and his disciples left the city.
20 In the morning, walking along the road, they saw the fig tree, shriveled to a dry stick.
21 Peter, remembering what had happened the previous day, said to him, "Rabbi, look - the fig tree you cursed is shriveled up!"
22 Jesus was matter-of-fact: "Embrace this God-life. Really embrace it,
23 and nothing will be too much for you. This mountain, for instance: Just say, 'Go jump in the lake' - no shuffling or shilly-shallying - and it's as good as done.
24 That's why I urge you to pray for absolutely everything, ranging from small to large. Include everything as you embrace this God-life, and you'll get God's everything.
25 And when you assume the posture of prayer, remember that it's not all asking. If you have anything against someone, forgive - only then will your heavenly Father be inclined to also wipe your slate clean of sins."
27 Then when they were back in Jerusalem once again, as they were walking through the Temple, the high priests, religion scholars, and leaders came up
28 and demanded, "Show us your credentials. Who authorized you to speak and act like this?"
29 Jesus responded, "First let me ask you a question. Answer my question and then I'll present my credentials.
30 About the baptism of John - who authorized it: heaven or humans? Tell me."
31 They were on the spot, and knew it. They pulled back into a huddle and whispered, "If we say 'heaven,' he'll ask us why we didn't believe John;
32 if we say 'humans,' we'll be up against it with the people because they all hold John up as a prophet."
33 They decided to concede that round to Jesus. "We don't know," they said. Jesus replied, "Then I won't answer your question either."
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.

John 12

1 Six days before Passover, Jesus entered Bethany where Lazarus, so recently raised from the dead, was living.
2 Lazarus and his sisters invited Jesus to dinner at their home. Martha served. Lazarus was one of those sitting at the table with them.
3 Mary came in with a jar of very expensive aromatic oils, anointed and massaged Jesus' feet, and then wiped them with her hair. The fragrance of the oils filled the house.
4 Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, even then getting ready to betray him, said,
5 "Why wasn't this oil sold and the money given to the poor? It would have easily brought three hundred silver pieces."
6 He said this not because he cared two cents about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of their common funds, but also embezzled them.
7 Jesus said, "Let her alone. She's anticipating and honoring the day of my burial.
8 You always have the poor with you. You don't always have me."
9 Word got out among the Jews that he was back in town. The people came to take a look, not only at Jesus but also at Lazarus, who had been raised from the dead.
10 So the high priests plotted to kill Lazarus
11 because so many of the Jews were going over and believing in Jesus on account of him. See How Your King Comes
12 The next day the huge crowd that had arrived for the Feast heard that Jesus was entering Jerusalem.
13 They broke off palm branches and went out to meet him. And they cheered: Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in God's name! Yes! The King of Israel!
14 Jesus got a young donkey and rode it, just as the Scripture has it:
15 No fear, Daughter Zion: See how your king comes, riding a donkey's colt.
16 The disciples didn't notice the fulfillment of many Scriptures at the time, but after Jesus was glorified, they remembered that what was written about him matched what was done to him.
17 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, was there giving eyewitness accounts.
18 It was because they had spread the word of this latest God-sign that the crowd swelled to a welcoming parade.
19 The Pharisees took one look and threw up their hands: "It's out of control. The world's in a stampede after him." A Grain of Wheat Must Die
20 There were some Greeks in town who had come up to worship at the Feast.
21 They approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee: "Sir, we want to see Jesus. Can you help us?"
22 Philip went and told Andrew. Andrew and Philip together told Jesus.
23 Jesus answered, "Time's up. The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
24 "Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over.
25 In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal.
26 "If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me. Then you'll be where I am, ready to serve at a moment's notice. The Father will honor and reward anyone who serves me.
27 "Right now I am storm-tossed. And what am I going to say? 'Father, get me out of this'? No, this is why I came in the first place.
28 I'll say, 'Father, put your glory on display.'" A voice came out of the sky: "I have glorified it, and I'll glorify it again."
29 The listening crowd said, "Thunder!" Others said, "An angel spoke to him!"
30 Jesus said, "The voice didn't come for me but for you.
31 At this moment the world is in crisis. Now Satan, the ruler of this world, will be thrown out.
32 And I, as I am lifted up from the earth, will attract everyone to me and gather them around me."
33 He put it this way to show how he was going to be put to death.
34 Voices from the crowd answered, "We heard from God's Law that the Messiah lasts forever. How can it be necessary, as you put it, that the Son of Man 'be lifted up'? Who is this 'Son of Man'?"
35 Jesus said, "For a brief time still, the light is among you. Walk by the light you have so darkness doesn't destroy you. If you walk in darkness, you don't know where you're going.
36 As you have the light, believe in the light. Then the light will be within you, and shining through your lives. You'll be children of light."
37 All these God-signs he had given them and they still didn't get it, still wouldn't trust him.
38 This proved that the prophet Isaiah was right: God, who believed what we preached? Who recognized God's arm, outstretched and ready to act?
39 First they wouldn't believe, then they couldn't - again, just as Isaiah said:
40 Their eyes are blinded, their hearts are hardened, So that they wouldn't see with their eyes and perceive with their hearts, And turn to me, God, so I could heal them.
41 Isaiah said these things after he got a glimpse of God's cascading brightness that would pour through the Messiah.
42 On the other hand, a considerable number from the ranks of the leaders did believe. But because of the Pharisees, they didn't come out in the open with it. They were afraid of getting kicked out of the meeting place.
43 When push came to shove they cared more for human approval than for God's glory.
44 Jesus summed it all up when he cried out, "Whoever believes in me, believes not just in me but in the One who sent me.
45 Whoever looks at me is looking, in fact, at the One who sent me.
46 I am Light that has come into the world so that all who believe in me won't have to stay any longer in the dark.
47 "If anyone hears what I am saying and doesn't take it seriously, I don't reject him. I didn't come to reject the world;
48 I came to save the world. But you need to know that whoever puts me off, refusing to take in what I'm saying, is willfully choosing rejection. The Word, the Word-made-flesh that I have spoken and that I am, that Word and no other is the last word.
49 I'm not making any of this up on my own. The Father who sent me gave me orders, told me what to say and how to say it.
50 And I know exactly what his command produces: real and eternal life. That's all I have to say. What the Father told me, I tell you."
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.