Twenty - Mark - 11

11:1  When they had almost reached Jerusalem, as far as Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent on two of his disciples.

11:2  "Go to the village facing you," he said; "and, as soon as you get there, you will find a foal tethered, which no one has ever ridden; untie it, and bring it.

11:3  And, if any one says to you 'Why are you doing that?',say 'The Master wants it, and will be sure to send it back here at once.'"

11:4  The two disciples went, and, finding a foal tethered outside a door in the street, they untied it.

11:5  Some of the by-standers said to them. "What are you doing, untying the foal?"

11:6  And the two disciples answered as Jesus had told them; and they allowed them to go.

11:7  Then they brought the foal to Jesus, and, when they had laid their cloaks on it, he seated himself upon it.

11:8  Many of the people spread their cloaks on the road, while some strewed boughs which they had cut from the fields;

11:9  And those who led the way, as well as those who followed, kept shouting. "'God save him! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!'

11:10  Blessed is the coming Kingdom of our father David! 'God save him from on high!'"

11:11  Jesus entered Jerusalem, and went into the Temple Courts; and, after looking round at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

11:12  The next day, after they had left Bethany, Jesus became hungry;

11:13  And, noticing a fig-tree at a distance in leaf, he went to it to see if by any chance he could find something on it; but, on coming up to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.

11:14  So, addressing the tree, he exclaimed. "May no man ever again eat of your fruit!" And his disciples heard what he said.

11:15  They came to Jerusalem. Jesus went into 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 the pigeon-dealers,

11:16  And would not allow any one to carry anything across the Temple Courts.

11:17  Then he began to teach. "Does not Scripture say," he asked, "'My House shall be called a House of Prayer for all the nations'?But you have made it a den of robbers.'"

11:18  Now the Chief Priests and the Teachers of the Law heard this and began to look for some way of putting Jesus to death; for they were afraid of him, since all the people were greatly impressed by his teaching.

11:19  As soon as evening fell, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.

11:20  As they passed by early in the morning, they noticed that the fig- tree was withered up from the very roots.

11:21  Then Peter recollected what had occurred. "Look, Rabbi," he exclaimed, "the fig-tree which you doomed is withered up!"

11:22  "Have faith in God!" replied Jesus.

11:23  "I tell you that if any one should say to this hill 'Be lifted up and hurled into the sea!',without ever a doubt in his mind, but in the faith that what he says will be done, he would find that it would be.

11:24  And therefore I say to you 'Have faith that whatever you ask for in prayer is already granted you, and you will find that it will be.'

11:25  And, whenever you stand up to pray, forgive any grievance that you have against any one, that your Father who is in Heaven also may forgive you your offenses."

11:27  They came to Jerusalem again. While Jesus was walking about in the Temple Courts, the Chief Priests, the Teachers of the Law, and the Councillors came up to him.

11:28  "What authority have you to do these things?" they said. "Who gave you the authority to do them?"

11:29  "I will put one question to you," said Jesus. "Answer me that, and then I will tell you what authority I have to act as I do.

11:30  It is about John's baptism. Was it of divine or human origin? Answer me that."

11:31  They began arguing together; "If we say 'divine,' he will say 'Why then did not you believe him?'

11:32  Yet can we say 'human'?"--They were afraid of the people, for everyone regarded John as undoubtedly a Prophet.

11:33  So their answer to Jesus was--"We do not know." "Then I," replied Jesus, "refuse to tell you what authority I have to do these things."