“Answering Jesus, they said, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Nor will I tell you by what authority I do these things” (Mark 11:33).

The Lord does not answer all our questions at this time.  I suspect we would still not understand if we did get the answer.  Better is the way of trusting the Lord, even above our ability to understand.  The Lord grants authority to whom He grants it and He has His reasons.  Sometimes this puzzles us, especially if there is a wicked despot who rules.  But the Lord has purpose in all things and He alone is trustworthy.

Lord, when I am puzzled and have unanswered questions, help me so that my faith is not dependent upon circumstances or my ability to understand.  You alone have the words of life and life eternal.  You have spoken Your word of promise, and You alone can be trusted.  Help me to understand the simple wisdom that trusting You above all things is the way to live.  You have promised that You will work it all together for good.

Guide me, gracious Savior.  I encounter people all day long and wonder by what authority they do what they do.  Help me to understand that You are working all things together according to Your purpose.  Help me to remain in Your will, exercising whatever authority You grant me, respecting those whom You have placed in authority over me and living according to Your word.  Amen.

“They began reasoning among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’  But shall we say, ‘From men’?” – they were afraid of the people, for everyone considered John to have been a real prophet” (Mark 11:31-32).

Here is the contradiction that every politically thinking person faces: how far can we push this.  This first points to the reality that free thinking people cannot be controlled.  The second point is that the wicked seek to control.  The Lord does not use force, the wicked do.  You have been offered salvation and invited to live in the salvation of Christ.  Do not be swayed by fear of men but gain wisdom with fear of the Lord.

Lord, You are loving and gracious, but You are also serious about the condemnation of wickedness.  The two are together.  We see it in nature.  It is beautiful and glorious, but it is also quite dangerous. Help me to live with wisdom, knowing that all things are in Your hands.  Guide me to see that in You is hope and an eternal future.  John’s baptism was from You.  Lead me by Your baptism to repent of the wickedness in me.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead the way through this rebellious world.  Help me to see more clearly each day and not be driven by the winds of the fear that is in this world.  Let me be afraid of neither the crowds nor those who seek to gain control but fear You above all things.  Lead me into Your love so that I live a life that is faithfully following You wherever You lead me.  Amen.

“And Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question, and you answer Me, and then I will tell you by what authority I do these things.  Was the baptism of John from heaven, or from men? Answer Me” (Mark 11:29-30).

There are many questions we cannot answer, but we can look at what the authorities say.  Wickedness abuses authority and we know that the Lord is the source of all legitimate authority.  Here, the ones opposed to the Lord stopped short because they could not deny that the Baptism of John was affecting the crowds.  They feared the crowd, but not the Lord.  Fear the Lord and not the crowd.

Lord, You know how much I am influenced by those around me.  I sometimes fear the crowd instead of You.  You are the source of all authority, and Your will shall be accomplished.  I may question the actions of others; but teach me to understand when You are speaking and to trust You above all created things.  I may not know how or even why; but help me comprehend when it is Your hand that is acting.

Lord Jesus, You came to save all who believe.  You offer this gift to all.  There are those who are constantly questioning and do not want to believe.  Help my unbelief so that I look to You and do not doubt that You are always acting in our world.  When confronted with those who do not believe, help me to answer them with wisdom, pointing to You, as the One through whom all things have their being.  Amen.

“They came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to Him, and began saying to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things, or who gave You this authority to do these things?” (Mark 11:27-28)

All authority comes from God.  We get caught up in territories, thinking that we understand positions of authority, but our Lord can do as He chooses.  If you have authority, exercise it knowing that it is the Lord whom you serve.  Do not lord it over others as many do in this world. Respect those in authority.  Jesus has told us that all authority and power belong to Him.

Lord, You grant authority to whom You grant it.  You have told us that we will know others by their fruit.  Help me to respect the appointments You make.  Guide me to be humble with the authority You grant me.  Guide me to live knowing that You have placed me where I am.  Through all that I do, guide me to learn how to be faithful with those things You give me to do.

Lord Jesus, You were constantly confronted by those who questioned Your authority.  So also, I am daily questioned by those who ask what or why I am doing what I do. Teach me to live according to Your word of promise, respecting others, even when I have questions.  Guide me to be faithful, trusting that You will show me what needs to be done.  Be the One who leads my actions, Lord.  Amen.

“Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions.  But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions” (Mark 11:25-26).

The principle here, in part, is to get out of yourself and the issues you have.  If there is hurt, resentment, or animosity, these things can and do get in the way.  Come out of yourself and realize that all things are known by our Heavenly Father and that He will lead you through all past and present events to trust that He is working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight.  We are forgiven and He does not hold anything against those who trust in Jesus.  Learn to forgive others in the same way.

Lord, teach me how to forgive.  I think I have forgiven and then something gets in the way.  I remember and I am off and running with my thoughts.  Help me learn how to let the things I need to let go, be gone, not forgetting, but forgiving.  Help me to understand what You are doing in my life so that I become one who forgives as freely as I receive the forgiveness that You give me.

Lord Jesus, You died to free me from the recompense of sin.  Sin holds on and destroys.  Help me to learn from Your example to let things go according to the Father’s will.  Lead me to look forward to what You are doing and not dwell on the past which has already happened.  Take from me the besetting desire for vengeance so that I willingly seek the Father’s will at all times and in all places, for vengeance is Mine, says the LORD.  Amen.

“Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.  Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you” (Mark 11:23-24).

Live by faith and trust the Lord above all things.  If the Lord tells you to say to a mountain to be moved, it will be moved.  With the Lord all things are possible.  We are called to be a people of prayer who are continuously in communion with the Lord, listening to the Holy Spirit, and being guided to live into the image of Christ.  Learn how to believe in all that Jesus says as your faith deepens.

Lord, You have given me the gift of faith, but sometimes it is not very deep.  I am conflicted by this world and do not fully believe.  Help my unbelief so that I come the place where I live knowing that all things are possible with You.  Guide me deeper into prayer, communing with You and knowing that only in and through You is there life, peace, and true liberty.  Let Your will become the will I live.

Holy Spirit, I need all the help You will give me in this journey of faith.  Help me now and always to constantly be in prayer.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to see more clearly Your will for me this day and then to act upon the faith You have given me.  Show me the things that the Father would have me do and then help me to do them.  May I learn faithfulness under Your guidance and direction today.  Amen.

“When evening came, they would go out of the city.   As they were passing by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up.  Being reminded, Peter said to Him, “Rabbi, look, the fig tree which You cursed has withered.”  And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:19-22).

All things are in Your hands, Lord.  What You curse is cursed and what You bless is blessed.  Guide me to understand that in You there is hope.  You have called for us to bear good fruit.  You will dry up that which does not produce good fruit.  Lead us so that we bear fruit befitting Your kingdom.  Be the One who guides us into all goodness.  You have called for us to have faith in You.

All things are in the Lord’s hands.  All things are possible with God.  What He blesses will be blessed and what He curses will be cursed.  We did not invent God.  He created us.  The order of things is as He has established them to be.  We live not by our own reasoning, but by His word of truth.  Live then trusting in the One who created You, knowing that all things have always been in His hands.

Lord, help me to live the life You have given me to live.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to be gracious with others as You have been gracious to me.  Teach me what it means to hold fast to the faith You have given me.  Guide me to always look to You, the author and finisher of my faith, knowing that You alone bless and curse and that it will be according to the Father’s will.  Help me to live by faith.  Amen.

“And He began to teach and say to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a robbers’ den.”  The chief priests and the scribes heard this, and began seeking how to destroy Him; for they were afraid of Him, for the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching” (Mark 11:17-18).

Our faith is not something that one has to climb great heights to become like Christ.  So many place obstacles in front of others.  We are to live in harmony with one another, providing as each has need, doing our part.  Over and over again sinful humanity creates obstacles.  We are saved by faith apart from works, and we are not to place obstacles in front of others or ourselves.

Lord, You have created all things, and You have freely given them to us for our use.  We tend to accumulate, take, and seek for ourselves rather than humbly live lives as You appoint them to be lived.  Guide me in the way which is equitable, free, and holy.  Help me to offer to others what You have offered to me.  Guide me in Your goodness to understand that in You alone do I have hope and an eternal future.

Lord Jesus, as You cleaned out the temple, so also clean up my life.  Guide me away from the insanity of this world, which creates difficulties, in order that I may come to the place where I see things more clearly and love You and my neighbor as You love us.  Get rid of the clutter in my life and help me to live according to Your never-changing word of truth.  Amen.

“Then they came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple and began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves; and He would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple” (Mark 11:15-16).

Sinfulness tends to take a good thing to an extreme.  There needs to be supply to meet demand.  Each has a job to do.  Then greed enters in and those who have the supply take advantage and the ones who have need pay more.  Next comes exclusivity, where only certain sellers can be bought from and the price goes higher.  Not only in commerce, but with our religion, this happens.

Lord, I know we all have a religion which shapes our way of doing things.  Sin has a way of making our religion more important than the reason for what we are doing.  You are God and we are to worship You alone.  Help me to comprehend the line between what is good and the next step which takes over where the created one becomes more important than You, the Creator.  All things were created by You and You alone are to be worshiped.

Lord Jesus, You have come to clean my house.  There are many places where I have been bartering with You, seeking what I want rather than what is right.  Create in me clean living where I do what is right without worrying about what I will gain or what it will cost me.  Help to not try to buy and sell what You give freely.  Help me to practice a religion that points me to You and right living, sharing with my neighbor as You have shared with me.  Amen.

“On the next day, when they had left Bethany, He became hungry.  Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.  He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And His disciples were listening” (Mark 11:12-14).

There are lessons that are subtle and cause us to go into meditation.  Why would Jesus curse a fig tree when it did not have fruit?  Yet is this not the One who knows all things?  He spoke to His disciples with His actions as well as His words.  He does the same for us.  Will we trust circumstances or the One who is over all circumstances?  Keep in mind the parables that teach us to bear fruit.

Lord, I do not always understand all that You say and do.  Will I stop believing or trusting?  Does this mean that I am depending upon myself for my faith?  Help me to understand that the beginning of wisdom starts with trusting You above all things.  You speak forth all that exists, and You can remove so that something no longer exists.  Guide me to live by faith, trusting in You above all things.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for all that You have done, are doing, and will do.  Guide me to see that all things are under Your authority.  You have come to lead the way, following the Father’s will, to bring an end to sin, death, and destruction.  Guide me in the way of everlasting life and help me to do those things which You give me to do in the time You desire for them to be done.  Amen.