A.C.T.S. reflection
Mark 11
1Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples 2and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. 3If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” 4And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. 5And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. 7And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. 8And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. 9And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” 11And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. 12On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. 13And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it. 15And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 16And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” 18And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching. 19And when evening came they went out of the city. 20As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 22And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” 27And they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him, 28and they said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?” 29Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me.” 31And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 32But shall we say, ‘From man’?”—they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet. 33So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Adoration
Jesus is worthy of our welcome, our worship, and our trust. In Mark 11, we see His royal authority and His holy concern that worship should truly draw people toward God.
The crowd’s cries of “Hosanna!” and “Hosanna in the highest!” give us words of praise as Jesus enters Jerusalem. Their welcome also names “the coming kingdom of our father David,” placing royal hope around His arrival. Yet Jesus comes riding a colt, a scene that invites us to marvel at authority expressed without a display of military force. In the temple, His declaration, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations,” reveals His concern for worship that honors God and welcomes the nations. Together, these scenes invite us to adore Jesus not only for His authority but also for the holy purposes He upholds.
Confession
This chapter invites us to examine whether our outward devotion is matched by a heart turned toward God. We can honestly confess empty religious habits, resistance to Jesus’ authority, and resentment we have been unwilling to release.
The fig tree has leaves, yet Jesus finds “nothing but leaves,” and its withering frames the account of His actions in the temple. Read together, these scenes warn us that the appearance of spiritual life is not the same as bearing fruit for God. Jesus’ rebuke, “But you have made it a den of robbers,” exposes how badly a place of worship can depart from its intended purpose. His command to “forgive, if you have anything against anyone” also brings the examination close to home, touching the grievances we carry into prayer. We can confess these things without hiding, asking God to replace outward appearances and guarded resentment with sincerity and mercy.
Thanksgiving
We can thank God that prayer is not reserved for a privileged few: His house is meant for all nations. We can also be grateful that Jesus teaches us to trust our heavenly Father and brings forgiveness into the center of our life with Him.
The words “a house of prayer for all the nations” give us reason to thank God for the breadth of His welcome. Jesus defends the temple’s calling as a place of prayer rather than allowing its misuse to go unchallenged. His simple instruction, “Have faith in God,” directs His disciples toward Someone dependable rather than toward their own strength. His reference to “your Father also who is in heaven” reminds us that prayer takes place within a relationship marked by both mercy and responsibility. We can be thankful that Jesus teaches us not merely to ask for things, but to live before the Father with trust and forgiving hearts.
Supplication
Ask God for a faith that rests in His power rather than your own ability to control what happens. Ask Him to make your life fruitful, your worship sincere, and your heart willing to forgive.
Jesus’ instruction, “Have faith in God,” gives our requests their starting point: our confidence belongs in God Himself. The vivid picture of a mountain being “taken up and thrown into the sea” encourages us to bring even seemingly impossible burdens before Him. His words about “whatever you ask in prayer” invite bold trust, not confidence in a technique for controlling God. The next command, “whenever you stand praying, forgive,” shows that such prayer must also make room for mercy toward others. We can therefore ask for help with our deepest needs while also asking God to change us into people who trust Him and extend forgiveness.
Prayer prompt
In your own words, praise Jesus for His authority and His welcome, and tell Him honestly where your heart needs renewal. Bring Him your needs, and ask for help trusting God and forgiving anyone whose wrongs you are still carrying.
Make this reflection your own
Reflect on Mark 11Reflections on this page are generated with AI to guide your own prayer — always read the passage yourself first. Scripture quoted from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.