Jerusalem was Like Pharaoh?
by Eric Engelmann
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WHEN are we?
Late in the ministry of Jesus. After the triumphal entry into Jerusalem. A matter of days before His crucifixion during the upcoming Passover. This is weeks before the apostles receive power from the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
Where are we?
On a road coming into Jerusalem from Bethany on the east. Jerusalem itself is east and north of Egypt.
Why are we here now?
We're going to look at what Jesus says about a mountain being thrown into the sea by faith. We're going to compare that to the story of the Egyptian Pharaoh in Moses' time who sank in the sea like a stone. I want to investigate this question: "How is the mountain Jesus talks about like Egypt's Pharaoh?"
Have we been here and now before?
No. But we might return in another episode. The view from this time and place -- when Jesus talks about this mountain being thrown into the sea -- has some other comparisons I want to look at.
Some History
In the time of the Exodus, Moses performed a lot of signs and plagues in Egypt to confront the inhabitants' pride. The object was to show the descendants of Jacob that the Most High was faithful. He remembered Jacob's descendants. He was changing their government. God's faithfulness was unwavering. The Most High even listened to Moses' prayers to end some of the plagues Pharaoh suffered. Even after patiently warning Pharaoh, the Most High ultimately destroyed the firstborn sons, attacking Pharaoh's hope for an heir. Pharaoh still attacked Israel after their release, so the Most High made him sink in the sea like a stone.
More than fourteen hundred years later, it is considered normal to have money changers in the temple's court of the gentiles during certain feasts.
Jesus has performed a lot of signs in His ministry. Jesus had also confronted the pride in Jerusalem that refused to come to Him to have life.
Jesus made the triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The crowd -- including children -- shouted, "Hosanna". The next day Jesus went toward Jerusalem and cursed a fig tree because it didn't have any fruit. The apostles didn't notice anything immediately and Jesus and the apostles went on. They spent the day in Jerusalem, where Jesus asked, Isn’t it written, "‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations?'"
The Scripture
Mark 11: (19-23)
Verse 19 When evening came, he went out of the city. 20 As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away from the roots. 21 Peter, remembering, said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered away.” 22 Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God."
NOTE: Another way to translate that command is, "Have the faith of God." God does not doubt in His heart but believes what He says.
Verse 23 "For most certainly I tell you, whoever may tell this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and doesn’t doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is happening; he shall have whatever he says."
– Mark 11:(19-23)
That’s the end of the passage.
What mountain was Jesus talking about? I think it was the pride that dismissed the prayers of the gentiles and kept feeding on the so-called knowledge of good and evil.
In the near future…
Some leaders of Jerusalem will ask Jesus by what authority He's acting. Jesus will reply that He won't tell them. Even after patiently warning the leaders of Judah, the best question they will come up with will be to question Jesus' authority. That question will be too little, too late.
In a matter of days, Jesus will rise from the dead and ascend. During the feast of Pentecost, the apostles will be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Throughout the early part of the book of Acts, Peter and the apostles will stay at Jerusalem and follow the instructions of the Angel of the Lord: “Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.”
Further in the future, Roman armies will besiege Jerusalem and level it.
At the same time, Jesus' name will be trusted by Jews and gentiles. His good news will fill the earth for many centuries to come.
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