Mark 12:13-17
13 The leaders sent some Pharisees and supporters of Herod to try to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested. 14 "Teacher," these men said, "we know how honest you are. You are impartial and don't play favorites. You sincerely teach the ways of God. Now tell us — is it right to pay taxes to the Roman government or not? 15 Should we pay them, or should we not?"
Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, "Whom are you trying to fool with your trick questions? Show me a Roman coin, and I'll tell you."  16 When they handed it to him, he asked, "Whose picture and title are stamped on it?"
"Caesar's," they replied. 17 "Well, then," Jesus said, "give to Caesar what belongs to him. But everything that belongs to God must be given to God." This reply completely amazed them. (NLT)

Everything that belongs to God must be given to God. Everything comes from God and everything must return to God. He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End and it is He who holds everything together. We live and breathe because He wills it to be so. Nothing ever escapes His notice, He sees everything, He knows everything and He is everywhere. You cannot hide yourself from God for He knows where you are at every moment of your life. You cannot hide your sin from Him for He knows when you sin. Our finite minds cannot fathom who God is but we can accept Him for who He is, believe in Him, trust Him, love Him, obey Him and do that which pleases Him. Do not be foolish as the world is foolish but trust in the one who holds your life in His hands. Praise God for He is an awesome and an amazing God.

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Mark 12:8-12
8 So they grabbed him and murdered him and threw his body out of the vineyard.  9 "What do you suppose the owner of the vineyard will do?" Jesus asked. "I'll tell you — he will come and kill them all and lease the vineyard to others.  10 Didn't you ever read this in the Scriptures?
'The stone rejected by the builders
has now become the cornerstone. 
11 This is the Lord's doing,
and it is marvelous to see.'   " 
12 The Jewish leaders wanted to arrest him for using this illustration because they realized he was pointing at them — they were the wicked farmers in his story. But they were afraid to touch him because of the crowds. So they left him and went away. (NLT)
You would think that if the Pharisees saw that they were the ones being wicked they would turn to God whom they said they were following. But pride and selfishness can be hard to overcome. Pride makes you self-confident and hard hearted -- making you believe that you need no one but yourself. Pride makes you define yourself by your position or your job or your abilities but all that is nothing more than vanity and chasing after the wind. Your lives are to be defined by being in Christ, according to God’s standard and not by the world’s standards or views. We are who we are be because of Christ and His finished work on the cross.
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Mark 12:5-8
 5 The next servant he sent was killed. Others who were sent were either beaten or killed,  6 until there was only one left — his son whom he loved dearly. The owner finally sent him, thinking, 'Surely they will respect my son.' 
7 "But the farmers said to one another, 'Here comes the heir to this estate. Let's kill him and get the estate for ourselves!'  8 So they grabbed him and murdered him and threw his body out of the vineyard.
(NLT)
Here Jesus is painting a picture of His own death. The religious leaders of His days were the wicked farmers, the blood of all the prophets was on their hands and Jesus was the son. There are times in our walk that we must stop and evaluate our walk and ask “Am I walking with Christ or living for myself?”, “Is my focus on me or on Jesus?” or “Is Jesus in control or me?” We must always remember our position in Christ and let Christ have first place over everything else. Jesus is the heir to the vineyard and we are His workman therefore seek out Jesus everyday.
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Mark 12:1-5
Then Jesus began telling them stories: "A man planted a vineyard, built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country.  2 At grape-picking time he sent one of his servants to collect his share of the crop.  3 But the farmers grabbed the servant, beat him up, and sent him back empty-handed. 
4 "The owner then sent another servant, but they beat him over the head and treated him shamefully.  5 The next servant he sent was killed. Others who were sent were either beaten or killed, (NLT)

This passage speaks of what the Jewish leaders had been doing for hundreds of years to those prophets that God continually sent to His people. They beat them or killed them. God’s love is long-suffering or very patient but we should not take advantage of God’s love or patience. What these wicked farmers did not realize was that this vineyard did not belong to them but they thought that is should be theirs. Everything on this earth and in this universe belongs to God, was created by God for Jesus. It was never intended to be for us but we are to take care of what rightfully belongs to Jesus. As Christ followers, even our own lives belong to Jesus. We need to praise God for allowing us to be partakers with Jesus in His creation. We need to always speak the truth of God even if it is to our own hurt. God is glorified through our obedience to Him. God is glorified through our good stewardship of what belongs to Him. Use what you have to bring glory to God as He guides and directs you in its usage.

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Psalm 34:8-18
The Lord a Provider and Deliverer
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good.
Oh, the joys of those who trust in him!
9 Let the LORD's people show him reverence,
for those who honor him will have all they need.
10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,
but those who trust in the LORD will never lack any good thing.
11 Come, my children, and listen to me,
and I will teach you to fear the LORD.
12 Do any of you want to live
a life that is long and good?
13 Then watch your tongue!
Keep your lips from telling lies!
14 Turn away from evil and do good.
Work hard at living in peace with others.
15 The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right;
his ears are open to their cries for help.
16 But the LORD turns his face against those who do evil;
he will erase their memory from the earth.
17 The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help.
He rescues them from all their troubles.
18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
he rescues those who are crushed in spirit.
(NLT)

Psalm 150:1-6
A Psalm of Praise
Praise the LORD!
Praise God in his heavenly dwelling;
praise him in his mighty heaven!
2 Praise him for his mighty works;
praise his unequaled greatness!
3 Praise him with a blast of the trumpet;
praise him with the lyre and harp!
4 Praise him with the tambourine and dancing;
praise him with stringed instruments and flutes!
5 Praise him with a clash of cymbals;
praise him with loud clanging cymbals.
6 Let everything that lives sing praises to the LORD!
Praise the LORD!
(NLT)

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Mark 11:26-33
The Authority of Jesus Challenged
27 By this time they had arrived in Jerusalem again. As Jesus was walking through the Temple area, the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the other leaders came up to him. They demanded, 28 "By whose authority did you drive out the merchants from the Temple? Who gave you such authority?"
29 "I'll tell who gave me authority to do these things if you answer one question," Jesus replied. 30 "Did John's baptism come from heaven or was it merely human? Answer me!"  31 They talked it over among themselves. "If we say it was from heaven, he will ask why we didn't believe him. 32 But do we dare say it was merely human?" For they were afraid that the people would start a riot, since everyone thought that John was a prophet. 33 So they finally replied, "We don't know."
And Jesus responded, "Then I won't answer your question either."  (NLT)
Jesus does not like those who ride the fence or who are lukewarm. He would rather have you believe completely or not at all. Jesus always lets it be your choice.  The Pharisees knew Jesus was the Son of God deep down but their love of the world was more important than Jesus and His blessing. They wanted man to believe they were godly but inside they were nothing more than an open sewer. In Revelation 3:15-16 Jesus says, "I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other!  But since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth! (NLT) Therefore turn your heart to Jesus and let it be on fire for Him.

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Mark 11:20-25
20 The next morning as they passed by the fig tree he had cursed, the disciples noticed it was withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered what Jesus had said to the tree on the previous day and exclaimed, "Look, Teacher! The fig tree you cursed has withered!"
22 Then Jesus said to the disciples, "Have faith in God.  23 I assure you that you can say to this mountain, 'May God lift you up and throw you into the sea,' and your command will be obeyed. All that's required is that you really believe and do not doubt in your heart.  24 Listen to me! You can pray for anything, and if you believe, you will have it.  25 But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too." (NLT)
As always Jesus take an opportunity to teach His disciples. Jesus also has things to teach us if we are willing to listen. Bluntly, “Have faith in God.” If you want to be able to accomplish God’s will in your life you must have faith. Look what Jesus says here, “All that's required is that you really believe and do not doubt in your heart.” Sound familiar, Pastor Jim just spoke on what happens went we doubt it basically stops our faith in its tracks. If you missed his message last Sunday go to http://www.bluemountainchurch.com/ and listen to it, good stuff. Jesus emphasizes it even more to the disciples “Listen to me! You can pray for anything, and if you believe, you will have it.” If we believe it will happen, then why doesn’t it happen? Doubt, even the smallest amount in the back of your head can hinder your faith. Is all doomed because we doubt? No, we need to keep moving forward, we need to keep looking up to Jesus and we must keep fighting to overcome our doubt and put our total trust and faith is Jesus Christ who is the author and finisher of our faith.

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Mark 11:14-19
Jesus Clears the Temple
15 When they arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the merchants and their customers. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the stalls of those selling doves, 16 and he stopped everyone from bringing in merchandise. 17 He taught them, "The Scriptures declare, 'My Temple will be called a place of prayer for all nations,' but you have turned it into a den of thieves."  
18 When the leading priests and teachers of religious law heard what Jesus had done, they began planning how to kill him. But they were afraid of him because the people were so enthusiastic about Jesus' teaching. 19 That evening Jesus and the disciples left the city. (NLT)
The Pharisees had forgotten what the Temple was really about. They used the Temple to make themselves rich. They cheated the people out of their hard earned money so they could live a lavish lifestyle. But what did Jesus say the Temple was for? He said “My Temple will be called a place of prayer for all nations.” The Temple was to be used by everyone for a place to come to seek God, to pray to God and to worship God. The religious leaders missed it. Why? Because of selfishness. Now you are the temple of the Holy Spirit and you can seek, pray and worship anytime and anywhere. Give thanks to Jesus and praise his name.

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Mark 11:12-14
Jesus Curses the Fig Tree
12 The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus felt hungry. 13 He noticed a fig tree a little way off that was in full leaf, so he went over to see if he could find any figs on it. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. 14 Then Jesus said to the tree, "May no one ever eat your fruit again!" And the disciples heard him say it. (NLT)
On Wednesday we will see more of an explanation of this but here we can ask ourselves a couple of important questions, am I bearing fruit in my life for Christ? Are my leaves green and flourishing but no fruit? Jesus was not angry with the tree but disappointed. We are to produce fruit in our lives “in season and out of season.” We are to become fishers of men. We may not be called to be an evangelist but we are all called to witness. We are all called to bear fruit. If we are not bearing fruit through faith then we are of no use to our King. Not something fun to think about but nevertheless true. We should be encouraged when God shows us areas of our lives that need to change or where we need to grow or who we should be witnessing to. By this we know God loves us and wants to use us. Looking inside ourselves may not always be fun but the end result is that it brings glory to God when we change and become more like Jesus.

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Mark 11:8-11
8 Many in the crowd spread their coats on the road ahead of Jesus, and others cut leafy branches in the fields and spread them along the way. 9 He was in the center of the procession, and the crowds all around him were shouting,
"Praise God!
Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
10 Bless the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Praise God in highest heaven!"  
11 So Jesus came to Jerusalem and went into the Temple. He looked around carefully at everything, and then he left because it was late in the afternoon. Then he went out to Bethany with the twelve disciples. (NLT)
During Jesus’ time when a King went to war he rode a horse but when there was peace he rode into the city on a donkey. The people believed that Jesus was the Messiah, which He was, but they did not fully understand scripture. The Old Testament shows the mountain peaks and not the details of the valleys. They believed that Jesus was going to step up His Kingdom at that time but He was not going to yet for it was just the peak of the mountain and there was more to finish before His true reign.
The praise was warranted and still is. We should still be praising God for the coming Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Jesus entered the courts to examine everything, to see if the matters pertaining to the divine worship were properly conducted.  Having examined everything.  He saw the abuses which he afterward corrected. Jesus did not correct them right away, because it may be observed that God is slow to anger; that he does not at once smite the guilty, but waits patiently before he rebukes and chastises.
Sin is a series matter and it caused our Savior to go to the Cross. We should not take sin lightly but to repent of our sins and follow our Savior in obedience.

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Mark 11:4-7
4 The two disciples left and found the colt standing in the street, tied outside a house. 5 As they were untying it, some bystanders demanded, "What are you doing, untying that colt?" 6 They said what Jesus had told them to say, and they were permitted to take it. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it, and he sat on it. (NLT)
The saying fits this passage “God’s Will done God’s Way receives God’s Provision.” When we do what Jesus wants us to do, the way Jesus wants us to do it then it bring glory to God the Father. We are to be a blessing to others as Jesus was. Follow Jesus and you will never be disappointed.
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The Triumphal Entry
As Jesus and his disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany, on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. 2 "Go into that village over there," he told them, it here.  3 If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, 'The Lord needs it and will return it soon.' “(NLT)

Jesus never leaves us in the dark. He may not tell you all the steps at once to take but He will tell you when the time is right. He will tell you to “Go” when you need to go, He will tell you the place “there” and He will send you in His name. He leads and we follow. He holds the plans in His hands and we are to go with Him in faith believing. The disciples did not question Jesus but obeyed His word and that is what we need to do as well, obey His word. Jesus has come to be our King therefore let’s follow Him in faith.

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Mark 10:46-52
Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus
46 And so they reached Jericho. Later, as Jesus and his disciples left town, a great crowd was following. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road as Jesus was going by. 47 When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus from Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 48 "Be quiet!" some of the people yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
49 When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, "Tell him to come here."
So they called the blind man. "Cheer up," they said. "Come on, he's calling you!" 50 Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.
51 "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked.
"Teacher," the blind man said, "I want to see!"
52 And Jesus said to him, "Go your way. Your faith has healed you." And instantly the blind man could see! Then he followed Jesus down the road.   (NLT)

This is interesting, Jesus told Bartimaeus to “Go your way. Your faith has healed you.” But look at what Bartimaeus did, he followed Jesus. He could have gone off and did whatever he wanted but instead he followed Jesus. He came to Jesus by faith and he was healed by faith and then he followed Jesus by faith. It takes faith to come to Jesus when He calls. It takes faith to ask Jesus for what you want or what His will is for you. And it takes faith to follow Jesus wherever He takes you. Put your faith in Jesus and follow Him by faith.

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