The Gospel of Mark
Chapter 11: Overview
Chapter 11 opens with Jesus' arrival in the Jerusalem area (11,1) though he does not arrive in Jerusalem and enter the Temple until 11,11.
Mark gives a few references to the days in these chapters: "the following day" (11,12) and then "in the morning" (11,20). That gives Jesus two overnights outside the city. The next mention of time after that is the approach of the Passover in 14,1 and 14,12. It is the Gospel of John which says that Jesus' arrival in Bethany was "six days before the Passover" (Jn 12,1) and as a result provides the traditional timetable for Holy Week.
More notable perhaps are the movements of Jesus. He arrives in Jerusalem for a quick visit to the Temple (11,11) before going away for the night. There is then a visit the following day (11,15) before Jesus again goes out of the city (11,19)
What is important is that once Jesus enters the Temple again in 11,27 he remains there until his departure in 13,2. We will consider the significance of this visit when we read chapter 12. The first episode of his extended visit to the Temple is part of this chapter, 11,27-33.
Jesus going in and out of the Temple in this way enables Mark to use the the fig tree as a commentary. Here we have a good example of a Mark sandwich. In the morning, Jesus curses the fig tree (11,14) and the following morning, it is dead (11,20). In between, Jesus cleanses the Temple (11,15-19). The fig tree thereby provides a commentary on the Temple. (What might seem a bit odd is that there is no mention of the fig tree when they were on their way home in the evening (11,19).)
Matthew by contrast removes the sandwich has the fig tree withering at once (Mt 21,19) before Jesus returns to the Temple.
Chapter 11: Reading Plan
With that in mind, we can read the chapter with the following pages:
- 11,1-11: The arrival into Jerusalem
- 11,12-25: The fig tree and the Temple
- 11,27-33: Authority
We can now return now to the main page and begin our reading.