Memory Text: Mark 10:45 NRSV “For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."”

Sunday, May 15 Foolish Request
Mark 10:32-45 20th Century NT “32 ¶ One day, when they were on their way, going up to Jerusalem, Jesus was walking in front of the Apostles, who were filled with misgivings; while those who were following behind were alarmed. Gathering the Twelve round him once more, Jesus began to tell them what was about to happen to him. 33 "Listen!" he said. "We are going up to Jerusalem; and there the Son of Man will be betrayed to the Chief Priests and the Teachers of the Law, and they will condemn him to death, and they will give him up to the Gentiles, 34 Who will mock him, spit upon him, and scourge him, and put him to death; and after three days he will rise again." 35 James and John, the two sons of Zebediah, went to Jesus, and said: "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask." 36 "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. 37 "Grant us this," they answered, "to sit, one on your right, and the other on your left, when you come in glory." 38 "You do not know what you are asking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup that I am to drink? or receive the baptism that I am to receive?" 39 "Yes," they answered, "we can." "You shall indeed drink the cup that I am to drink," Jesus said, "and receive the baptism that I am to receive, 40 But as to a seat at my right or at my left—that is not mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." 41 On hearing of this, the ten others were at first very indignant about James and John. 42 But Jesus called the ten to him, and said: "Those who are regarded as ruling among the Gentiles lord it over them, as you know, and their great men oppress them. 43 But among you it is not so. No, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 And whoever wants to take the first place among you must be the servant of all; 45 For even the Son of Man came, not be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."”
Ellen G. White, Desire of Ages, p. 548 - John and James were to share with their Master in suffering; the one, first of the brethren to perish with the sword; the other, longest of all to endure toil, and reproach, and persecution.

Monday, May 16 Blind Bartimaeus
Mark 10:46-52 NKJV “46 ¶ Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 48 Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 49 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, "Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you." 50 And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. 51 So Jesus answered and said to him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" The blind man said to Him, "Rabboni, that I may receive my sight." 52 Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.”
Mark 10:46 COMMENTARY BY MATTHEW HENRY This one is named here, being a blind beggar that was much talked of; he was called Bartimaeus, that is, the son of Timeus; which, some think, signifies the son of a blind man; he was the blind son of a blind father, which made the case worse, and the cure more wonderful, and the more proper to typify the spiritual cures wrought by the grace of Christ, on those that not only are born blind, but are born of those that are blind.

Tuesday, May 17 The Triumphal Entry
Mark 11:1-11 MKJV “1 ¶ And when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent out two of His disciples. 2 And He said to them, Go into the village over across from you. And as soon as you have entered into it, you will find a colt tied, on which no one of men has ever sat. Untie it and bring [it]. 3 And if anyone says to you, Why do you do this? Say that the Lord has need of him, and immediately he will send him here. 4 And they went, and they found the colt tied by the door outside, in a place where two ways met. And they untied him. 5 And certain of those who stood there said to them, What are you doing, untying the colt? 6 And they said to them even as Jesus had commanded. And they let them go. 7 And they brought the colt to Jesus, and they threw their garments on it. And He sat on it. 8 And many spread their garments in the way, and others cut down branches off the trees and scattered [them] in the way. 9 And those going before, and those following, cried out, saying, Hosanna! Blessed [is] He who comes in [the] name of [the] Lord! 10 Blessed [is] the kingdom of our father David, who comes in [the] name of [the] Lord! Hosanna in the highest! 11 And Jesus entered into Jerusalem and into the temple. And when He had looked around on all things, the hour already being late, He went out to Bethany with the Twelve.”
Mark 11:8 COMMENTARY ROBERTSON NT WORD PICTURES Branches (stibadas)… A litter of leaves and rushes from the fields. It was the public proclamation of himself as the Messiah, now at last for his "hour" has come. The excited crowds in front and behind fully realize the significance of it all. Hence their unrestrained enthusiasm. They expect Jesus, of course, now to set up his rule in opposition to that of Caesar, to drive Rome out of Palestine, to conquer the world for the Jews.
Zechariah 9:9 KJ21 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, thy King cometh unto thee! He is just and having salvation, lowly, and riding upon an ass and upon a colt, the foal of an ass.”

Wednesday, May 18 A Den of Thieves
Mark 11:12-19 MKJV “12 ¶ And on the next day, they going out of Bethany, He was hungry. 13 And seeing a fig-tree with leaves afar off, He went [to it], if perhaps He might find anything on it. And when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not [the] season of figs. 14 And Jesus answered and said to it, No one shall eat fruit of you forever. And His disciples heard. 15 And they came to Jerusalem. And entering into the temple, Jesus began to cast out those who bought and sold in the temple. And He overthrew the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 16 And [He] would not allow any to carry a vessel through the temple. 17 And [He] taught, saying to them, Is it not written, "My house shall be called the house of prayer for all nations?" But you have made it a den of thieves. 18 And the scribes and the chief priests heard. And they sought how they might destroy Him. For they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His doctrine. 19 And when evening came, He went out of the city.”
Mark 11:17 COMMENTARY THE FOURFOLD GOSPEL The caves in certain sections of Palestine have been immemorially infested with robbers, and Jesus, because of the injustice of extortion practiced by the merchants, likens the polluted temple to such a den. The dickering and chafing and market talk were probably not unlike the grumbling and quarreling of thieves as they divide the booty .

Thursday, May 19 Jesus Curses the Fig Tree
Mark 11:12-14 NKJV “12 ¶ Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. 13 And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 In response Jesus said to it, "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again." And His disciples heard [it].”
Mark 11:14 COMMENTARY THE FOURFOLD GOSPEL Our Lord here performed a miracle of judgment unlike any other of his wonderful works. The reader can hardly fail to note how perfectly this fig-tree, in its separation from the other trees, its showy pretensions, its barrenness of results and its judgment typifies the Jewish people.
Mark 11:20-26 NRSV “20 In the morning as they passed by, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21 Then Peter remembered and said to him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered." 22 Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God. 23 Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you. 24 So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 "Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses." 26”

Friday, May 20 For Further Study
Ellen G. White, Desire of Ages, p. 571 - Never before in His earthly life had Jesus permitted such a demonstration. He clearly foresaw the result. It would bring Him to the cross. But it was His purpose thus publicly to present Himself as the Redeemer. He desired to call attention to the sacrifice that was to crown His mission to a fallen world. While the people were assembling at Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, He, the antitypical Lamb, by a voluntary act set Himself apart as an oblation. It would be needful for His church in all succeeding ages to make His death for the sins of the world a subject of deep thought and study. Every fact connected with it should be verified beyond a doubt. It was necessary, then, that the eyes of all people should now be directed to Him; the events which preceded His great sacrifice must be such as to call attention to the sacrifice itself. After such a demonstration as that attending His entry into Jerusalem, all eyes would follow His rapid progress to the final scene.