Mark 11:27ip, 32ip the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders, feared the people:

IP stands for in part. I parsed the verses to highlight this important issue of fear of man. These were the leaders of the temple, their spiritual leaders, so why were they in fear of man?

They themselves did not fear God and were in rebellion. They abused their power and used the people to their own gain. Now comes Jesus speaking truth and they could feel the seeds of rebellion against their position.

This is what happens when you live a life without fear of God. Understand me, a proper reverent fear. Not that you see God as a destroyer but as a Father who means what He says, keeps His Word, and will not tolerate rebellion in His House.

The chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders used fear tactics to control the people. There are plenty of examples within the bible which can be twisted to convey an improper message about who God is and what His intensions are for the people. It is all centered around “you must”.

Do the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of today’s churches still use those tactics? Sadly the answer is yes in some religions. If you have a relationship with Jesus, you hear the truth and the truth sets you free from the fear of man because you are not in rebellion against God.

You only get to speak boldly for God if there is no rebellion in your heart.

Mark 11:16 And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.

4G stands for four gospels. Each one is written from the author’s perspective of Jesus. He was Savior, Servant, Man and God. There are minor variances within the telling of this last week before His death and resurrection. Each telling has a way of completing the picture for us.

The most glaring difference for me has always been John’s telling of the casting out of the merchants. While the synoptic gospels all have the event during the last week, John tells his tale up front in his gospel. This and other renderings distinguish John’s gospel so that it is not included as a synoptic. Those three follow a general outline which match up very well in their telling.

John’s gospel was written when he was very old. He was far removed from the event so that his gospel while inspired also was built on the memory of the youngest apostle. It may well be that this event might have impressed on him a root cause for the leaders of the temple to want Jesus dead.

Jesus was a threat to those leaders much earlier than the last week of His life. They conspired to kill Him much earlier, setting traps and trying to bait Him from the first days of His ministry. So I am left with this issue of John’s telling order. I ask myself if my own feelings about the life of Jesus are in order, or do certain parts place a heavier impression on my soul?

During Sunday school this past week one participant took the study to the Cross. Now the study was not about the Cross but something within that study stirred up images of the Cross. That person was alone in that emotional appeal, but we cannot deny the sincerity of the moment.

While out of order, it was not out of place.