Глава одиннадцатая

Mark 11:1. When they approached Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, to the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of His disciples Mark 11:2. and he said to them, Go to the village that is right in front of you; entering it, you will immediately find a young donkey tied, on which no one has sat; Having untied him, bring him. Mark 11:3. And if someone says to you: why are you doing this? - answer that the Lord needs him; and will immediately send him here. Mark 11:4. They went and found a young donkey tied at a gate in the street, and they untied it. Mark 11:5. And some of those standing there said to them: What are you doing? Why are you untying the donkey? Mark 11:6. They answered them as Jesus commanded; and they released them. Jesus often came to Jerusalem at other times, but never with such glory as now. Previously, due to the envy of the Jews, He hid, but now, since the time of suffering determined by Himself had come, He goes openly, so that, if they wish, they would understand His glory and through the fulfillment of prophecies on Him, they would know the truth. And if they do not want to understand, then this circumstance will serve to condemn them even more, as those who did not believe even after such glorious miracles. For, look how many signs there are! The Lord told the disciples that they would find a young donkey; He said that they would be forbidden, and then, when the disciples said that the Lord required him, they would be allowed (to take him). For it is also important that the apostles were allowed to take away the colt; this could not have happened if the power of God had not acted on its owners, inciting them to release the foal; they were poor and working people. And you need to know that the Lord did not do this in vain, for before He did not demand a colt, but walked around Galilee and Judea many times, but He showed through this that He would prevail over the pagan peoples, disobedient and untaught, like donkeys: they were tied by their sins “on the street,” that is, in this life, “at the gate,” that is, outside the Church. But the disciples resolved them through baptism and faith, and they lifted the Lord onto their shoulders, and the apostles laid on them their vestments, that is, all the true rules of virtue. Previously, the pagans, being naked, were ugly and did lawless deeds, but from the time they were brought (to Christ) by the apostles, they learned to walk decently, and therefore Christ was raised by them. Who were the owners of the colt who forbade the apostles to take it? Without a doubt, demons. However, the apostles were stronger than them. Mark 11:7. And they brought the colt to Jesus, and put their garments on it; Jesus sat on him. Mark 11:8. Many spread their clothes along the road; while others cut branches from trees and spread them along the road. Mark 11:9. Both those who preceded and those who accompanied them exclaimed: Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Mark 11:10. Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest! As long as the common people remain unspoiled, they learn what is useful. That is why they now pay homage to Jesus, each according to his strength. But what did they say when they glorified Him? They borrowed the real song from David. The word “Hosanna,” according to some, means “salvation,” and according to others, “song.” But the first opinion is better, for in the one hundred and seventeenth psalm it is said: “Oh, Lord, save,” and in Hebrew it is written “Hosanna.” “The Kingdom of David” they called the Kingdom of Christ, firstly, because Christ came from the seed of David, and secondly, because David means strong in hand. And who else has such a strong hand as the Lord, whose hands have accomplished such wondrous deeds? But we also lay down our clothes, that is, our flesh, for the flesh is the clothing of the soul; let us submit it to the Lord. We paved the path of our life by cutting branches from trees, that is, imitating the lives of the saints. For the saints are like trees, from which the branches are cut off by those who imitate their virtue. But let our deeds, both previous and subsequent, be for the glory of God. For others in a previous life showed a good beginning; and on the contrary, their subsequent life was not like that and did not serve the glory of God. Mark 11:11. And Jesus entered Jerusalem and the church; and, having examined everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. Mark 11:12. The next day, when they left Bethany, He became hungry; Mark 11:13. and seeing from afar a fig tree covered with leaves, he went to see if he could find anything on it; but when he came to her, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not yet time to gather figs. Mark 11:14. And Jesus said to her: From now on let no one eat fruit from you forever! And His disciples heard it. Jesus entered the church and soon left it again, showing through this that He was already leaving it to desolation and plunder. He goes to Bethany, which means the house of obedience, for, leaving the rebellious and hard-hearted, he now goes with his disciples to those who obey Him. But let us also consider the story of the fig tree, for here, apparently, something strange and cruel appears. First, Jesus became hungry early; secondly, He demands fruit when the time for figs has not yet come, and also what punishes the insensitive tree. For there was a special look in what He says and does here. Until now, Jesus often performed miracles, but only to benefit people. But the disciples had not yet seen Him do harm to anyone. Now, in order to show the disciples that He can execute, and that, if He wants, He can destroy in one hour those who intend to crucify Him, He demonstrates His power over the insensitive tree. And the miracle was truly great in that the tree, so succulent, suddenly dried up; for the fig tree is juicier than almost all trees. And what He hungers for early in the morning is what He allowed to His flesh according to special consideration; and he seeks fruit prematurely on the fig tree for the purpose of, as I said above, to show the disciples that He can also punish. And this fig tree was also an image of the Jewish synagogue, which had only leaves, that is, the Law, which provided only shadow, and they had no fruit at all. But Jesus was hungry for their salvation. He says: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me” (John 4:34), and this will of God is to convert those who sin. Since the synagogue had no fruit, it was cursed and dried up, having no more prophets or teachers. Mark 11:15. We arrived in Jerusalem. Jesus, entering the church, began to drive out those who were selling and buying in the church; and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling pigeons; Mark 11:16. and did not allow anyone to carry any thing through the church. Mark 11:17. And he taught them, saying: Is it not written: “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Is. 56:7)? and you made it a den of robbers. Mark 11:18. The scribes and high priests heard this, and they sought how to destroy Him, for they feared Him, because all the people were amazed at His teaching. John also talks about Jesus’ expulsion of the money changers, but he speaks about this at the beginning of the Gospel, on the contrary, this one (Mark) speaks about it at the end. Therefore, one must think that this (last) exile was the second, which serves to greater condemnation of the Jews, since they did not convert, despite the fact that the Lord repeatedly did this to them. He calls the church a “den of thieves” because of the greed of the money changers. For a robber generation is devoted to robbery. And just as the sellers in the church traded sacrificial animals for profit, they are called robbers. “Changers” were engaged in exchanging money. The Lord also presents the prophet Isaiah as their accuser, who says: “My house will be called the house of prayer” (Is. 56:7). Let us pray so that we too will not be expelled from the church! For many come to our church in order to sell good and buy bad. There are also those who, while organizing and ruling church affairs, have tables full of money: they do everything out of self-interest. The seats of those who sell doves are also overthrown, that is, the thrones of bishops who sell spiritual gifts, for the dove is the image of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord cast out such a saint from his priesthood, for cursed is he who ordains for money. In the same way, the one who sells the grace and purity received in baptism to the devil sells his dove. For this reason he is expelled from the Church. Mark 11:19. When it became late, He left the city. Mark 11:20. In the morning, passing by, they saw that the fig tree had dried up to the roots. Mark 11:21. And, remembering, Peter said to Him: Rabbi! Look, the fig tree that You cursed has dried up. Mark 11:22. Jesus answered and said to them: Mark 11:23. have faith in God, for truly I say to you, if anyone says to this mountain, “Be taken up and cast into the sea,” and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, whatever he says will be done for him. Although Matthew says that the fig tree immediately withered and that the disciples, seeing this, were amazed, however, do not be embarrassed when you now hear from Mark that they saw the withered fig tree the very next day. What Matthew said should be understood as follows: “And immediately the fig tree withered,” - stop here; then read: “When the disciples saw this, they were surprised.” When did you see it? - not immediately, but the next day. Anyone who understands this way will not encounter any bewilderment. Notice how Christ is God here. For through the prophets the Lord says: “I... dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree blossom” (Ezek. 17:24). But marvel at God’s love for mankind in that he also gives us, who become like God through faith, miraculous power that belongs to Him Himself by nature, so that we can move mountains. The mountain is, in the spiritual sense, a proud mind, lofty and stubborn. Therefore, whoever sees himself overcome by the passion of pride, trying to expel it from himself, must seek the visitation and help of God. For he is proud who says that he does everything himself, and not with the help of God. Such a person must forbid this mountain, that is, pride, and say to it: “Rise up and be cast into the sea,” that is, into the worldly people who are in the sea of ​​this life, and the unbelievers, but let him “not doubt,” that is, let him not depart from God. For the proud man departs from God, saying: I owe nothing to God and do not need His help. Mark 11:24. Therefore I tell you: whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you receive it, and it will be done for you. Mark 11:25. And when you stand in prayer, forgive if you have anything against anyone, so that your Heavenly Father may forgive you your sins. Mark 11:26. If you do not forgive, then your Heavenly Father will not forgive you your sins. He who firmly believes, directs his heart to God and, in the words of David, pours out his soul before God, and whoever turns his soul to God, unites with Him, and his heart, being warmed (by grace), is convinced that he will receive what he asks. Anyone who has experienced this understands. And I think that everyone who is at least somewhat attentive has experienced this. That is why the Lord says that you will receive everything you ask in faith. God gives everything to a believer when he, with tears, expresses all his desires to Him in prayer and, as it were, holds on to the feet of the Lady. Do you want to get what you ask for in another way? Forgive your brother if he has sinned against you in any way. See how easy it is to receive the gift of God! Mark 11:27. We came again to Jerusalem. And as He walked in the church, the chief priests and scribes and elders came to Him Mark 11:28. and they said to Him: By what authority are You doing this? and who gave you the power to do this? Mark 11:29. Jesus answered and said to them: I will also ask you one thing; answer Me; then I will tell you by what authority I do this. Mark 11:30. Was the Baptism of John from heaven, or from men? answer Me. Mark 11:31. They reasoned among themselves: if we say: from heaven, then He will say; why didn't you believe him? Mark 11:32. but to say: from men - they were afraid of the people, because everyone believed that John was definitely a prophet. Mark 11:33. And they answered Jesus: We do not know. Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” Enraged that Christ expelled the money changers from the church, they come to Him with the question: “By what authority are You doing this?” They seemed to say to Him with reproach: “Who are you that you do this? Have You been appointed as a teacher? Have you been ordained a bishop?” They said this, trying to lead Him into difficulty, in order to catch Him. If He had said: “I do this by My authority,” then they would have stoned Him as an opponent of God, and if He had said: “(I do this) by the authority of God,” in that case they could distract the people from Him, since He recognized Himself as God. But the Lord offers them a question about John, not without reason and not with any cunning. But since John testified about Him, He asks the evil Jews about John, so that if they recognize John as the messenger of God, they would be forced to accept John’s testimony about Christ. And since they could not answer anything, He, in order to humiliate them even more, says: “and I will not tell you.” He did not say: “I do not know what to answer you,” but “neither will I say,” that is, since you are angry, I do not deign to answer you.