Mark 11: From Fan to Follower
**This sermon explores the distinction between being a "fan" and a "follower" of Jesus, drawing parallels to sports fandom.** **The speaker, Nathan, uses Mark 11 to illustrate Jesus' journey to the cross and His invitation to move beyond superficial admiration to genuine commitment.** **He examines the triumphal entry, the fig tree's cursing, and the temple's cleansing within this framework.** **Nathan cautions against "moralistic therapeutic deism," where God serves merely as a cosmic butler, urging listeners to acknowledge Jesus as King and Lord.** **Ultimately, the sermon challenges the audience to confront Jesus's authority and decide whether to embrace Him fully or remain a detached observer.**
Deep Dive Podcast
From Fan to Follower: A Study Guide to Choosing Jesus as King
I. Key Concepts and Themes
Fan vs. Follower: Distinguishing between casual interest and dedicated commitment to Jesus. A fan enjoys aspects of Jesus (moral teachings, miracles) without fully surrendering to his authority. A follower submits their entire life to Jesus, acknowledging him as King and Lord.
Triumphal Entry: Jesus' deliberate and symbolic entry into Jerusalem on a colt, fulfilling prophecy and signaling his kingship. The crowd's shouts of "Hosanna" reflect a complex mix of expectations, not all of which align with Jesus' mission.
Cleansing of the Temple: Jesus' act of driving out merchants and moneychangers from the temple, protesting the corruption and commercialization of worship. This event highlights Jesus' zeal for God's house and his challenge to religious authority.
Hypocrisy: The exposure of hypocrisy within the religious elite is a major theme. The cursing of the fig tree serves as an object lesson, symbolizing the barrenness of outward religious observance without genuine faith and fruitfulness.
Authority: The religious leaders challenge Jesus' authority, prompting questions about the source and nature of his power. Jesus' response underscores the divine origin of his authority and the importance of acknowledging John the Baptist's prophetic role.
Moralistic Therapeutic Deism: A modern, distorted form of belief that reduces God to a cosmic butler who fixes problems and provides happiness. It prioritizes feeling good and being nice over genuine faith, repentance, and submission to God's will.
Kingship of Jesus: The central claim that Jesus is not merely a good teacher or prophet but the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. This requires a complete surrender and realignment of one's life to his authority.
II. People and Places
Jesus: The central figure, presented as both compassionate and assertive, fulfilling prophecy, challenging religious norms, and demanding a decisive choice.
Disciples: The followers of Jesus, learning from him and witnessing his actions.
Crowd: The diverse group of people who welcome Jesus into Jerusalem, their motivations ranging from genuine faith to political expectations.
Religious Leaders (chief priests, scribes, elders): The figures of authority who oppose Jesus, threatened by his teachings and actions.
Bethphage: The "House of Figs," a town near Jerusalem, significant because of its name's connection to the cursing of the fig tree.
Bethany: A town about two miles from Jerusalem, home to Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, where Jesus and his disciples likely stayed during this period.
Jerusalem: The holy city, the site of the temple and the center of Jewish religious and political life. The location of the Triumphal Entry and Cleansing of the Temple.
Mount of Olives: A hill overlooking Jerusalem, where Jesus began his Triumphal Entry.
III. Scripture References
Mark 11:1-11: The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.
Mark 11:12-14, 20-25: The cursing of the fig tree.
Mark 11:15-19: The cleansing of the temple.
Mark 11:27-33: Jesus' authority questioned.
Psalm 118: The source of the "Hosanna" shout.
Jeremiah 7: Prophecy related to the temple becoming a "den of robbers."
Isaiah 56:7: The temple as a "house of prayer."
Revelation 19: Jesus' return on a white horse.
John 11: The raising of Lazarus from the dead.
IV. Quiz: Short Answer Questions
What is the key difference between being a "fan" and a "follower" of Jesus, according to the speaker?
Explain the significance of Jesus riding a colt (young donkey) into Jerusalem.
What was Jesus protesting when he cleansed the temple, and who was he directly accusing?
What does the speaker mean by "moralistic therapeutic deism," and why does he consider it a dangerous position?
What Old Testament prophecies are alluded to in the Triumphal Entry and the Cleansing of the Temple?
Why did Jesus curse the fig tree, and what was he using it to symbolize?
What question did the religious leaders pose to Jesus, and what was his response?
How does the raising of Lazarus potentially influence the crowd's perspective on Jesus?
What does the speaker suggest to someone who is skeptical or opposed to Jesus and the Bible?
According to C.S. Lewis, what are the possible conclusions one can draw about Jesus, and why is it not reasonable to call him merely a good moral teacher?
V. Quiz Answer Key
A fan enjoys aspects of Jesus without full commitment, while a follower submits their entire life to his authority, recognizing him as King and Lord. A follower's life is owned by Jesus rather than merely influenced by him.
Riding a colt fulfilled Old Testament prophecies and symbolized Jesus' arrival as a humble king of peace. It signified his Messianic identity and a challenge to the existing power structures.
Jesus was protesting the corruption and commercialization of worship, accusing the Jewish leaders of turning the temple into a "den of robbers" for their financial gain.
Moralistic Therapeutic Deism is a belief system where God is a distant figure who helps with problems and wants people to be nice and happy. It is dangerous because it reduces faith to a self-serving pursuit of comfort rather than genuine submission to God.
The Triumphal Entry alludes to prophecies of a Davidic king entering Jerusalem, while the Cleansing of the Temple references Jeremiah's prophecy about the temple becoming a "den of robbers" and Isaiah's vision of it as a "house of prayer."
Jesus cursed the fig tree because it appeared to have fruit but was barren, symbolizing the hypocrisy of religious leaders who showed outward piety without genuine faith or good works.
The religious leaders asked Jesus by what authority he was doing these things. Jesus responded by asking them about the authority of John the Baptist, knowing they would be trapped by either answer.
The raising of Lazarus would have affirmed belief among those in the crowd that Jesus is a miracle worker. It could have also attracted skepticism and opposition among those who doubted his power or feared his influence.
The speaker encourages skeptics to bring their questions and accusations to God, acknowledging that God can handle their doubts and that they must eventually make a choice about who Jesus is.
Lewis argues that Jesus could only have been either the Son of God, a lunatic, or something worse. He states that Jesus did not leave open the option of being only a great human moral teacher because the claims he made about himself are too bold.
VI. Essay Questions
Explore the tension between the crowd's expectations of Jesus as a political savior and Jesus' actual mission as revealed through his actions in the temple and his teachings. How does this tension contribute to the events leading up to the crucifixion?
Analyze the significance of the cursing of the fig tree in the context of Jesus' broader critique of religious hypocrisy. How does this event foreshadow Jesus' confrontation with the religious leaders in Jerusalem?
Discuss the implications of choosing to be a "follower" of Jesus rather than simply a "fan," according to the sermon. What does it practically mean to submit one's life fully to Jesus' authority, and what are the potential challenges and rewards of this decision?
Examine the ways in which the speaker uses Old Testament prophecies to support his claims about Jesus' identity and mission. How do these prophecies contribute to the overall message of the sermon?
Evaluate the concept of Moralistic Therapeutic Deism, as described in the sermon. What are its key characteristics, and why does the speaker consider it a distortion of genuine Christian faith?
VII. Glossary of Key Terms
Hosanna: A Hebrew word meaning "save us!" but used as a shout of welcome and praise.
Bethphage: A village near Jerusalem, meaning "House of Figs."
Bethany: A village near Jerusalem, home to Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.
Colt: A young male donkey.
Triumphal Entry: Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem on a colt, marking the beginning of Holy Week.
Cleansing of the Temple: Jesus' act of driving out the merchants and moneychangers from the temple.
Hypocrisy: The practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs but behaving in a way that contradicts them.
Messiah: The promised deliverer of the Jewish people, often associated with a king from the line of David.
Prophet: A person who speaks on behalf of God, often delivering messages of warning or encouragement.
Moralistic Therapeutic Deism: A modern belief system that emphasizes being good, feeling happy, and relying on God only when needed. A "watered-down" version of Christianity which does not require obedience or dedication to Jesus.
Sanctification: The process of being made holy or set apart for God's purposes.
Kingdom of God: The reign and rule of God in the hearts and lives of people.
Religious Elite: In this context, the chief priests, scribes, and elders who held positions of authority in Jewish society and often opposed Jesus.
