Mark 11
May 16, 2022
“They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. ‘By what authority are you doing these things?’ they asked. ‘And who gave you authority to do this?’” (v27-28)
Jesus arrives at the temple and holds an impromptu press conference, taking questions from some of the major religious players: the chief priests, teachers of the law, and elders (v27). Their interrogation boils down to one question: Does Jesus have “authority” (v28) to do what He is doing? Their question is ironic, though, because Jesus has already demonstrated His authority over disease, demons and even death. But the human heart has an incredible capacity to rationalize not recognizing Jesus’ authority.
Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that You are the Ruler of the universe. I praise You because You sovereignly oversee every square inch of creation. As Abraham Kuyper declared, “There is not one square inch of Earth’s real estate over which Christ does not cry, ‘Mine!’” And that includes me. So, I gladly surrender myself to You, inviting You to guide my steps today, knowing that living under Your authority will always be for my good.
— Pastor Joshua Brooks
Use the following steps to guide your daily time with the Lord…
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Start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart to help you understand and receive His Word.
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Read and observe the passage carefully. As needed, read a second Bible version to help with understanding.
➡️ What does it say?
What does this passage teach me about God? What does it say about my sinful nature and my need for God’s grace? How does this passage point to Jesus?
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➡️ What am I going to do about it?
Does this passage include a promise to claim, an action/attitude to avoid/embrace, or a principle to apply? How can this truth apply to my life? What could my next step be? How can I share this with others? Is there a verse or section of Scripture I need to memorize?
