Jesus Cleanses the Temple (Mark 11:11–26)

 

Jesus Cleanses the Temple (Mark 11:11–26)

How do we forgive and love? In this world, the easiest things to do are to hate, judge, and envy. However, the most difficult things are to forgive and love. Therefore, God showed the example of His holy love, which was giving up His only begotten Son on the cross. God’s love is the laying down of one’s own life.

In Mark 11:11–26, Jesus cleanses the temple and curses the fig tree. Jesus became a sacrificial offering on the cross so that we might love God and love our neighbor. He also gave us faith in God and blessed us to forgive and love our neighbor.

Jesus Curses a Fig Tree (Matthew 21:18–19)

11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve. 12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it. (Mark 11:12–14)

Why did Jesus curse that fig tree? It was not yet the season for fruit. There are various reasons why a fig tree might not bear fruit. It could be a lack of nutrients, or it could be diseased. Jesus, the Creator who made all things in heaven and on earth, could not have been unaware of this fact. For whatever reason, He would not curse the fig tree He created.

Fig trees sometimes bear fruit along with their leaves, or the fruit may appear after the leaves emerge. Therefore, this cannot be the problem. However, the problem is pretending to have fruit when there is none. Because of this, Jesus cursed it. This is clearly a warning against those, like the Jewish religious leaders, who have only the outward appearance of religion but no fruit. They did not recognize Christ, who came as the Son of God, but instead sought to kill Him.

Bearing fruit is very important, so one must bear fruit (Matthew 6:21). There is good fruit and there is bad fruit. It is either one or the other. If one does not bear good fruit but bears bad fruit, they are cut down and thrown into the fire (Matthew 7:19). God judges each person according to what they have done (Romans 2:6). This means that one is judged not by their outward appearance, but by the fruit they bear (Matthew 7:20).

7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism. (Romans 2:7–11)

How do we bear good fruit? In the parable of the sower, Jesus taught that the seed that fell on good soil grows and produces a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or a hundred times (Matthew 13:8). A good heart is a soft heart, a heart that receives the word and responds to it. It is a heart that understands the word, repents, and obeys. It is a heart that longs for the word of God. It is a heart that asks questions to understand the meaning of the word, like the disciples. It is a heart that gives to the needy and prays; it is a heart that does not judge others and enters through the narrow gate of the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 6:4, 7:1, 7:7, 7:13–14).

However, fruit is not stored up on this earth, but in heaven. The rewards of this world are visible: honor, wealth, and success. It is having things go as planned and obtaining comfort. However, the rewards of heaven are invisible: love, joy, peace, and patience (Galatians 5:22). The rewards of heaven are entering into God’s rest and reigning with the Lord. It is also enduring hardship, pain, sorrow, and shame. The rewards of this world will perish, but the rewards of heaven are eternal.

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:19–20)

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” 18 The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching. 19 When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city. (Mark 11:15-19)

Why did Jesus cleanse the temple? It was because the temple, where justice and righteousness should flow like a river, had been corrupted into a den of merchants. According to the ordinances and laws of Moses, the people brought offerings and came to the house of God to offer sacrifices. When they brought cattle, sheep, or goats to offer as sacrifices, they had to undergo inspection by the priests of the temple. This was to keep the regulation of offering sacrifices without blemish as per the law. However, the priests rejected the animals that were brought and instead accepted only the animals sold in the temple. In this process, they gained significant margins.

Moreover, they collected the temple tax, but they rejected the Roman coins bearing the image of the emperor—which were common in the market at the time—and accepted only the temple coins. They made a significant profit in this money-changing process. In this way, the religious leaders were desperate to exploit the people and gain unjust profits. In the name of God, they were busy filling their own bellies. The people had no other choice and could only be exploited helplessly.

The temple of God is a house of prayer. People come to the holy temple and, through intimate fellowship with God the Creator, receive the grace of His love (burnt offering), joy (grain offering), peace (fellowship offering), and forgiveness of sins (sin offering) (Leviticus 1-5). No one living under sin can stand before the holy God. However, God looks at the blood of the animal, welcomes the worshiper, and pours out the necessary grace abundantly. Here, the blood of the animal is the blood of the worshiper, and ultimately it points to the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

However, the people cannot offer sacrifices without the help of the priests. Sprinkling blood on the altar and processing and burning the animal are all the duties of the priest. God made the tribe of Levi priests and gave them the responsibility of leading the people to come to the Lord and have fellowship. Since this duty was given to them by the unilateral grace of God, it was appropriate to carry it out with justice and righteousness before the Lord (1 Samuel 12:3; 2 Corinthians 12:17-18).

However, they used the duty of the priest to obtain unjust profits (1 Samuel 2:12-17). Even in the days of Jesus, the priests still exploited unjust profits from the people in the name of the law of Moses and the name of the priest. Even today, there are not a few people who exploit others mentally and materially and gain unjust profits in the name of religion and in the name of God. They act like wolves in sheep's clothing as so-called false teachers.

Therefore, Jesus cleansed the temple. As the owner of the temple, Jesus drove out all injustice and evil and made it clean. Cleansing the temple is cleansing people. This is because the temple is not a building, but a person. God has made man a holy temple in which He dwells (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). The temple of the holy God must be holy (Leviticus 20:26).

However, a person cannot make himself clean. Because human corruption stems from sin, it cannot be cleaned without the forgiveness of sins. Because sacrifices offered with the blood of animals cannot wash away human corruption, they must be offered repeatedly every year (Hebrews 9:9-10). That is why the Lord Jesus Christ, as the Son of God, took the sins of this world upon Himself and died by shedding His blood. Jesus' cleansing and purifying the temple means that the Lord would die on behalf of the sins of this world.

And Jesus did not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. This is the prohibition of temple sacrifices any longer. This is because the Christ sent by God has come to this land. The Mosaic sacrifice is a shadow of the sacrificial sacrifice of Jesus Christ who is to come. Since the real scapegoat who takes away the sins of the world has come, there is no longer a need to offer shadow sacrifices (Hebrews 10:10). The sacrificial blood of Jesus is the power and authority to forgive the sins of this world once and for all.

And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10:10)

The chief priests and the teachers of the law did not know at all why Jesus cleansed the temple, but rather sought to kill the Son of God. However, they could do nothing because the people were amazed at what the Lord had done. Because they hardened their hearts, they were filled with hatred and murderous hearts even after seeing what the Son of God did, let alone being moved.

The Withered Fig Tree (Matthew 21:20-22)

20 When they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from its roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!” 22 Jesus replied to them, “Have faith in God. 23 I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” 26 (None) (Mark 11:20-26).

How is believing in God a power? It is easy to hate and judge. But forgiveness is difficult. The Son of God, Jesus Christ, came to this world to forgive sins. God's commandment is to love one another. If you do not forgive, there is no fruit to store up in heaven. Hatred, murder, jealousy, strife, complaining, and resentment are bad fruits. Those who bear bad fruit wither from the roots like the fig tree.

Then how do you bear the fruit of forgiveness? It is faith in God. Forgiveness is not something that seems impossible as moving a mountain. Just as Jesus loved this world by dying, we cannot love others unless we die. However, faith in God is the power that moves mountains. There should be no doubt in faith. Absolute faith is required. If you doubt even a little, the mountain will not move.

What kind of faith is it? It is to believe that Jesus Christ, sent by God, died on the cross. It is also to believe that we died with Christ by faith. Therefore, I believe that I have been washed clean and sanctified by the merit of Christ's precious blood. Since I have been made holy anew by the blood of Christ, I have stood boldly before the throne of God's grace and have intimate fellowship.

In fact, there is no one who can love their enemies except God. God demonstrated His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Therefore, we can love our enemies through the power of God who indwells within us. This is to believe it.

Amen!

July 19, 2026

Buffalo Livingstone Church ©2026, David Lee Ministries ©2026 – All Rights Reserved.

Scripture quotes are from the NIV.

 

Hosanna! Blessed Is He Who Comes In The Name Of The Lord! (Mark 11:1-11)

 

Hosanna! Blessed Is He Who Comes In The Name Of The Lord! (Mark 11:1-11)

What is the good news of great joy that will be for all the people? The angel from heaven said it was that today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11). We encounter good news, both great and small. There are joys like graduation, finding a job, promotion, marriage, childbirth, health, and travel. Nevertheless, it is true that there is an empty corner in the heart.

In Mark 11:1-11, Jesus entered Jerusalem for the Passover festival. The people shouted and cheered, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" Jesus came to die on the cross soon to fulfill the will of the heavenly Father and to save this world from sin and death with his blood.

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem (Mark 21:1-11; Luke 19:28-40; John 12:12-19)

1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.'"

4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, "What are you doing, untying that colt?" 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go (Mark 11:1-6).

Mark 11-16 are a record of the last week (eight days) of the Lord's life, from when Jesus entered Jerusalem for the Passover, died on the cross, and rose again. Mark devotes more than one-third of the total volume to this final week out of Jesus' three and a half years of earthly ministry, and other gospels are similar. This reflects that Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection are the core of Christ's ministry.

Jesus knew in advance that this Passover was the last festival he would spend on this earth (Luke 22:16, 18). That means that now, as God's time came, he was to be sacrificed as the Passover lamb as the Christ. This day was predetermined, scheduled, and planned by God before the ages began (1 Peter 1:20; Revelation 5:6). Jesus was incarnated on this earth in obedience to his heavenly Father's will, and he also obeyed even to the point of bearing the cross and sacrificing himself (Philippians 2:6-8).

And Jesus prepared a colt in advance that had never been ridden before, in order to fulfill the prophecy of the prophet Zechariah. He sent two of his disciples and commanded them to bring the colt. The disciples obeyed, went as Jesus said, saw the colt tied there, and brought it.

9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 10 I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the warhorses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth (Zechariah 9:9-10).

Entering as the King of Israel

Jesus is the Lord of heaven and earth and the Creator. Jesus is the owner of all things. Jesus came as King. However, his kingship is different from the kings of this world. The kings of this world rule over, oppress, and crush people with armies and police power. They control people arbitrarily, treat them roughly, exploit them, and habitually oppress them (Matthew 20:25; Mark 10:42).

However, Jesus rules with humility and righteousness. Jesus is gentle and humble in heart, so anyone who comes to him finds rest for their souls (Matthew 11:29). The Jewish leaders loaded the people with heavy burdens of the law, while they themselves were guilty of hypocrisy by not lifting a finger (Matthew 23:4). But Jesus gives anyone who comes to him the gift of freedom, rest, and peace through the truth of the blood of the cross.

31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32).

In fact, Jesus is majestic and is in honor, glory, and power, as transfigured on the mountain (Mark 9:2). When God descended on Mount Sinai amidst thunder, lightning, thick clouds, and the trumpet blasts of the archangels, Moses and the people were afraid and trembled (Exodus 19:16). If Jesus were to reveal his appearance as the Creator, no one could stand before him (Isaiah 6:5).

However, Jesus came riding on a colt as a humble King to save this world that had fallen under sin. Although Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords, he hung on the cross like a criminal in our place, and became as someone who was nothing (Philippians 2:7). To obtain the treasure (Israel) and the pearl (the church) that God the Father prepared before the ages, Jesus sold all that he had (gave up his life) and bought them with that price (Matthew 13:44-46; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Therefore, now is the year of the Lord’s favor (Isaiah 61:2). The Spirit of the Lord God descended upon his Son, Christ, anointed him, and made him the Lord of salvation. Jesus preached the beautiful gospel to the poor, healed the brokenhearted, and proclaimed freedom for the captives and release for the prisoners (Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18-19). Jesus opened this passage in the synagogue at Nazareth, read it, and proclaimed that the word had been fulfilled in their ears (Luke 4:21). He grants eternal life to anyone who accepts the grace and love of God who sent Christ, at any time (John 3:16).

However, Jesus, who ascended into heaven, will come again (Acts 1:11). At this time, Jesus will come as the Judge of all, separating, judging, and condemning those who are stubborn and do not believe. This day is the day of glorious victory where God's righteousness and justice stand upright and vindicate all who believe. He will remove all sorrow and pain and crown them with the oil of joy.

2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor (Isaiah 61:2-3).

Hosanna! Blessed Is He

7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" 11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve (Mark 11:7-11).

The people gathered in Jerusalem saw Jesus coming on a colt, welcomed him enthusiastically, received him as King, and cheered. They raised their voices, "Hosanna" (Save us!), "Blessed is he," expressing their respect and obedience to the King. They welcomed Jesus as the Savior who comes in the name of the Lord. They also considered that the kingdom of their father David was coming through Christ.

How did they react like this? Jesus spent three Passovers in Jerusalem during his public ministry. However, people were quiet during the first two times, but it was completely different when he entered Jerusalem for the third, that is, the last time. It cannot be seen that Jesus prepared this in advance.

People witnessed and experienced the ministry of Jesus Christ during the past three and a half years. He proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom, taught, healed various diseases, cast out demons, and performed signs and wonders. The rumors about Jesus spread to the whole village, and wherever the Lord went, people formed crowds. In the hearts of the people, they considered Jesus of Nazareth to be John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the prophets (Mark 8:28).

Israel Longed for the Messiah

After the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by Babylon in the 6th century B.C., Israel had a burning desire for the Lord of salvation. Seventy years of Babylonian captivity passed, and some returned to Jerusalem to rebuild a small temple; in the 1st century A.D., a second temple was built by Herod. In Jesus' time, the Temple stood in Jerusalem, but the people groaned under heavy taxes and oppression under Roman colonial rule.

After Judah was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, there was no king. After the return from exile, Judah was ruled by governors like Zerubbabel. Judah rebuilt its walls and temple, but it was controlled, interfered with, and oppressed by surrounding powers, becoming a battlefield for great powers. Following Babylon, the Persian and Greek empires ruled the Mediterranean coast, and in the 1st century, this entire region was placed under the grip of the Roman Empire.

Therefore, Israel eagerly longed for a Savior who would raise up a powerful and strong nation like the kingdom of King David. Every time a great leader appeared, they expected and welcomed them to build a kingdom like King David's. However, seeing that there was nothing Jesus of Nazareth could not do, they expected Him to be the Messiah sent by God and enthusiastically welcomed Him.

The Law and the Prophets are full of prophecies that the Messiah would come and liberate His people from the oppression and bondage of the Gentiles (Genesis 49:10; Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2; Isaiah 9:6, 61:1-2, 42:1-4; Zechariah 9:9). The names "Messiah" or "Christ" do not appear in the Old Testament. However, He is described as a Branch (Isaiah 11:1; Jeremiah 23:5), Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), the Anointed One (Daniel 9:25), Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14), the Ruler from Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), and the Son of Man (Daniel 7:13-14).

The Suffering Servant Christ Will Come

Furthermore, God’s Messiah is described as a suffering servant. God chooses His servant, in whom His soul delights, gives him His Holy Spirit, and he will bring forth justice to the nations (Isaiah 42:1-4). Also, God formed him from the womb to be His servant, to bring Jacob back to the LORD, to gather Israel to Him, and makes him a light for the Gentiles to bring salvation to the ends of the earth (Isaiah 49:1-6).

Above all, God’s Christ, in order to suffer as a servant and obey the Father even to death, was subjected to shame, beating, spitting, and was despised, rejected, and forsaken (Isaiah 50:4-11, 52:13-53:12). God’s Christ grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground; He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him (Isaiah 53:2). This is the image of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was arrested, interrogated, sentenced to death, hung on a cross on Golgotha, and suffered.

At that time, the people gathered in Jerusalem enthusiastically welcomed Jesus of Nazareth, expecting that the kingdom of David would soon be established. However, the sad fact is that after a few days had passed, after Jesus had been condemned by religious leaders as deserving of the death penalty, their attitudes suddenly changed and they shouted to crucify Jesus (Matthew 27:22; Mark 15:13-14; Luke 23:21-23). Instead, they asked for the murderer Barabbas to be released.

What is the problem? The Messiah they anticipated was a king with mighty power. This is a false gospel. They wanted a Messiah who would suppress Rome, establish Israel as the sole superpower, and command the world, not a Messiah who would die a miserable death on the cross. Even Jesus' disciples found it very difficult to accept the suffering servant Christ in this respect. However, through Jesus, who rose again on the third day from among the dead, they accepted the suffering Christ prophesied by the Law and the Prophets and spread the gospel of salvation of the 1st century to the whole earth.

Amen!

July 12, 2026

Buffalo Livingstone Church ©2026, David Lee Ministries ©2026 – All Rights Reserved.

Scripture quotes are from the NIV.

 

Teacher, I Want To See (Mark 10:46-52)

Teacher, I Want To See (Mark 10:46-52)

God rests (Genesis 2:2-3). The way to enter God's rest is to open one's spiritual eyes. It is to open the eyes of the heart to see, realize, believe, and obey, knowing the fact that God is alive and the love of the cross through which He sent His Son. This is truly seeing. Believing is seeing. Through faith, one sees the kingdom of God, and through obedience, one continues to open their spiritual eyes.

In Mark 10:46-52, Jesus caused a blind beggar to see. The compassionate Jesus showed mercy to the blind beggar who was seeking mercy, blessed his faith, and gave him the blessing of opening his eyes to see and follow Christ.

Jesus, Son Of David, Have Mercy On Me!

46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:46-47)

Jericho was the first city that Israel, led by Joshua, surrounded for seven days and brought down (Joshua 6). As Jesus came to this earth as the Christ, now facing His final entry into Jerusalem, He walked the path that His ancestors had walked. Entering the promised land means entering the rest that God has covenanted.

However, this is a shadow of God fulfilling His covenant. God promised Abraham that He would give him this land (Genesis 15:18). However, God's promise is perfectly fulfilled through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:8). Jesus' entry into Jerusalem was to receive the baptism of death on behalf of the sins of this world. God looks at the blood of Christ and grants eternal life and rest to everyone who believes (1 Peter 2:24).

Believing Is Seeing

Bartimaeus, who was blind and a beggar, heard that Jesus of Nazareth was coming. Bartimaeus means son of Timaeus. He was an anonymous beggar and a blind man who could not see. He called Jesus of Nazareth, "Jesus, Son of David." And he cried out, "Have mercy on me." The Son of David means God’s Christ (Matthew 1:1). Although he could not see, he believed that Jesus was the Christ sent by God, the Messiah of Israel.

The author, Mark, compares this blind beggar with Jesus’ disciples. Although the disciples saw Jesus with their physical eyes, their spiritual eyes were veiled, and they did not know the Christ of suffering. When Jesus repeatedly told them that He would suffer at the hands of the elders and chief priests, be killed, and rise again, they did not understand and were afraid to ask. Instead, they expected Jesus to receive glory and establish an earthly Messianic kingdom, and their concern was about who was the greatest and who would occupy the seats at His right and left (Mark 9:34, 10:37).

However, the blind beggar pleaded, "Have mercy on me." He acknowledged his own condition of not being able to see and came to the Lord Jesus Christ to beg. He admitted the fact that he could not see without God’s merciful grace. Above all, he believed in and welcomed Jesus of Nazareth from Galilee as God’s Christ. He was blind in the flesh, but he saw the kingdom of God with the eyes of his spirit. He was a person who was poor in spirit.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3).

You Cannot See God With The Eyes Of This World

The prophet Isaiah prophesied long ago: They will see but not perceive, and hear but not understand (Isaiah 6:9-10). Then, Isaiah asked God, "For how long?" The LORD God answered him, "Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant, until the houses are left deserted and the fields ruined and ravaged" (Isaiah 6:11-12).

This teaches us that what is in this world cannot save. What is in this world will decay, perish, and disappear (1 Peter 1:4). How can something that will disappear and perish save? What is in this world refers to everything good to look at and worth boasting about, including wealth and high positions. Therefore, what is in this world is not an object of dependence.

Furthermore, this world is under the power of sin that does not acknowledge God and opposes Him. The world not only tolerates hating, comparing, envying, slandering, harming, lying, deceiving, and murdering, but also says that those who do such things are righteous (Romans 1:29-32). This world is ruled by the devil, the prince of the power of the air. The devil is a murderer, a liar, and the father of lies (John 8:44). Therefore, the apostle John warned not to love this world.

15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever (1 John 2:15-17).

Believing And Obeying Jesus Is Seeing

However, God left a holy seed as a stump in this land (Isaiah 6:13). The holy seed refers to the Lord Jesus Christ. Those who rely on and love this world will perish, but those who believe in and obey the Lord Jesus Christ will receive eternal life. Jesus Christ gave up His own life to save this world.

Following the example of Jesus, dying to oneself and disappearing is the way to open one's spiritual eyes. Although Jesus is the Creator who is equal to God, He emptied Himself, took the form of a servant, and became nothing by hanging on the cross and dying. Jesus taught that if anyone wants to come after Him, they must deny themselves (Mark 8:34). Here, "self" refers to the old man in Adam who opposes God.

Just as we are redeemed from sin through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, our old man under sin must die. This is because a person trapped under sin does not submit to God but opposes Him. Fully submitting to God is the way to salvation. Then, God opens the windows of heaven and pours out spiritual and holy blessings. He pours them out like a spring of water that gushes forth forever.

13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:13-14).

People Rebuke The Blind Man

48 Many rebuked him and asked him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” (Mark 10:48-49)

People rebuked the blind man because they thought he was a hindrance to Jesus’ schedule. This world treats poor and weak people harshly. This world has a strong tendency to evaluate people by their economic value. However, Jesus said that welcoming one such child is welcoming Christ himself (Mark 9:37). Also, Jesus said that if you give even a cup of water to one of these little ones, there will be a reward in heaven for it (Mark 9:41).

In fact, no one can stand before God, and no one is worthy of receiving grace (Eph. 2:8). Humans have fallen under sin, and every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart is only evil all the time from childhood (Gen. 6:5, 8:21). God called Abraham by unilateral grace and made him the father of the covenant (Gen. 12:2-3). As promised, God saved his descendants from the abuse and oppression of the King of Egypt through Moses and led them to the promised land. However, they eventually wanted to establish a human king. At this time, God spoke through Samuel.

7 And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.” (1 Sam. 8:7-8).

The circumstances and appearance of Israel represent all people. They experienced the Almighty God who was with them, crossing the Red Sea and the Jordan River like dry land after God’s plagues fell on the land of Egypt, eating manna that fell from heaven for forty years in the wilderness, and providing the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire. The walls of Jericho fell, and they drove out the Canaanites and took possession of the land (Josh. 6:20). Nevertheless, Israel forsook God and repeatedly acted rebelliously by following idols (Judg. 2:11).

Call Him

However, the man shouted all the more and begged the Lord Jesus. Jesus heard the man’s plea and answered, “Call him.” God answers anyone who comes to him and asks for mercy. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matt. 5:4).

God heard the groaning of his people who had been trapped in the bondage of slavery in Egypt for four hundred years (Ex. 2:24). God brings about justice for those who are wronged quickly (Luke 18:8). In this world, it seems that the wicked and arrogant prosper, and that evil rules over good (Ps. 73:3-9). It is not so at all. God is holy and good forever. There is nothing that can deceive God’s flaming eyes. God judges everything with justice and truth (Ps. 73:17-19).

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you (Matt. 7:7).

Your Faith Has Healed You

50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. 51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” 52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road (Mark 10:50-52).

The disciples did not know what they truly wanted. However, this blind man knew that what he wanted was to see. This refers not only to opening physical eyes to see this world, but also to opening spiritual eyes. He wanted to escape from the darkness of not being able to see and to see clearly.

Jesus blessed his faith, and he saw clearly and followed the Lord. Although he was a blind beggar, he believed that Jesus, who came as the Son of David, was the Christ. He came before Jesus and begged, “Have mercy on me.” Jesus does not look at the outward appearance, but looks into the heart. He saw the desire in his heart to wait for God’s Messiah. For he recognized Jesus Christ, whom God had sent, with the eyes of faith and came before him.

It is not easy for a blind man to find his way. However, the spiritual eyes of faith go beyond physical obstacles. Seeing with the flesh is not everything. Seeing by faith is everything. We come to the Lord Jesus Christ daily by faith and seek mercy. We were bought by Christ with the price of his blood (1 Cor. 6:19-20). The merciful God bestows boundless mercy on those who seek mercy.

Amen!

July 5, 2026

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Scripture quotes are from the NIV.