Lesson 5273

 (Lesson 5273)(07-14-26) Mark 11:27-33 

   “And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders, And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things? And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me. And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him? But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed. And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.” 

 

    Today’s quote relates that when the leaders of the Jews challenged Jesus's authority to teach, He countered by asking them whether the message John preached came from heaven or was it made up by John himself? Because the leaders feared the crowd's reaction they refused to answer prompting Jesus to also refuse to explain the source of His own authority. Note that, in this context, the phrase, “the baptism of John”, referred to the entire, life-altering message John preached to prepare people for the coming of the Messiah and had nothing to do with a water ritual. ~ 

 

Lesson 5272

 (Lesson 5272)(07-13-26) Mark 11:25-26 

   “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” 

 

    Today’s quote shows that receiving God's forgiveness is directly tied to our willingness to forgive others. It emphasizes that holding onto grudges disrupts a person's relationship with God and acts as a barrier to effective prayer. ~ 

 

Lesson 5271

 (Lesson 5271)(07-12-26) Mark 11:19-24 

   “And when even was come, he went out of the city. And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” 

 

    Today’s quote demonstrates the immense power of absolute trust in God through confident prayer. By showing his apostles the withered fig tree, Jesus explained that unwavering faith can overcome otherwise impossible obstacles. Those of us who believe in God and accept Jesus Christ as our intercessor can have anything we desire if our faith is strong enough. ~ 

Lesson 5270

 (Lesson 5270)(07-11-26) Mark 11:12-18 

   “And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it. And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.” 

 

   Today’s quote warns us against letting religious routines and commercialism hollow out our devotion to God and the gospel of Jesus Christ. By confronting the non-productive fig tree and clearing the temple of the commercialism of the Jews, Jesus demonstrated that outward appearances of faith mean nothing if we are not producing real results (fruit) in our effort in God’s work. ~