Mark 11

As they got near Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples,

saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you go into it you'll find a colt tied there, that nobody has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.

If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”

They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it,

some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?”

They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go.

When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it.

Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they'd cut in the fields.

Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David. Hosanna in the highest heaven.”

Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple courts. He looked round at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

The next day, as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry.

Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he got to it, he found nothing but leaves, because it wasn't the season for figs.

Then he said to the tree, “May nobody ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.

When they got to Jerusalem, Jesus went into the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He turned over the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves,

and wouldn't let anyone carry goods through the temple courts.

And as he taught them, he said, “Isn't it written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you've made it a den of robbers.”

The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, because they were afraid of him — the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.

When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.

In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots.

Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look. The fig tree you cursed has withered.”

“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered.

“I'm telling you straight, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and doesn't doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it'll be done for them.

So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you've received it, and it'll be yours.

And when you stand praying, if you're holding anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

But if you don't forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your sins.

They came again to Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him.

“By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you the authority to do this?”

Jesus answered, “I'll ask you one question. Answer me, and I'll tell you by what authority I'm doing these things.

John's baptism — was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me.”

They talked it over among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he'll ask, ‘Then why didn't you believe him?’

But if we say, ‘Of human origin’ —” They were afraid of the people, because everyone held that John really was a prophet.

So they answered Jesus, “We don't know.” And Jesus said, “Then I won't tell you by what authority I'm doing these things either.”