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11:1  When they had gotten close to Jerusalem, near the two villages of Bethphage and Bethany and the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of His followers ahead of them.
11:2  Jesus: Go to that village over there. As soon as you get into the town, you’ll see a young colt tied that nobody has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it back to Me.
11:3  If anybody stops you and asks what you’re doing, just say, “The Lord needs it, and He will send it back right after He’s done.”
11:4  Everything happened just as Jesus had told them. They found the colt in the street tied near a door, and they untied it.
11:5  Bystanders: What are you doing?
11:6  They answered as Jesus had instructed and were allowed to take it,
11:7  so they brought the colt back to Jesus, piled garments on its back to make a comfortable seat, and Jesus rode the animal toward Jerusalem.
11:8  As they traveled, people cast their cloaks onto the road and spread out leafy branches, which they had brought from the fields along the way.
11:9  People walked ahead of them, and others followed behind. People (shouting): Hosanna! Rescue us now, Lord! Hosanna! Blessed be the One who comes in the name of the Eternal One!
11:10  And blessed is the kingdom of our father David, which draws closer to us today! Hosanna in the highest heavens!
11:11  To the sound of this chanting, Jesus rode through the gates of Jerusalem and up to the temple. He looked around and saw that evening was coming, so He and the twelve went back to Bethany to spend the night.
11:12  The next morning, when they departed Bethany and were traveling back to the city, Jesus was hungry.
11:13  Off in the distance, He saw a fig tree fully leafed out, so He headed toward it to see if it might have any ripe fruit. But when He reached it, He found only leaves because the fig season had not yet come.
11:14  As the disciples listened, Jesus pronounced a curse on the tree. Jesus: No one will ever eat fruit from your branches again.
11:15  They continued into Jerusalem and made their way up to the temple. Upon reaching the temple that morning, Jesus dealt with those who were selling and buying animals for sacrifices and drove them out of the area. He turned over the tables of those who exchanged money for the temple pilgrims and the seats of those selling birds,
11:16  and He physically prevented anyone from carrying anything through the temple.
11:17  Jesus (to those who were listening): Didn’t the prophets write, “My house will be called a house of prayer, for all the people”? But you have made it into a “haven for thieves.”
11:18  The chief priests and the scribes heard these words and knew Jesus was referring to them, so they plotted His destruction. They had grown afraid of Him because His teachings struck the crowds into astonishment.
11:19  When evening came, [Jesus and His followers] left the city again.
11:20  The next morning on the way back to Jerusalem, they passed a tree that had withered down to its very roots.
11:21  Peter (remembering): That’s the fig tree, Teacher, the one You cursed just yesterday morning. It’s withered away to nothing!
11:22  Jesus: Trust in God.
11:23  If you do, honestly, you can say to this mountain, “Mountain, uproot yourself and throw yourself into the sea.” If you don’t doubt, but trust that what you say will take place, then it will happen.
11:24  So listen to what I’m saying: Whatever you pray for or ask from God, believe that you’ll receive it and you will.
11:25  When you pray, if you remember anyone who has wronged you, forgive him so that God above can also forgive you.
11:26  [ If you don’t forgive others, don’t expect God’s forgiveness.]
11:27  As they arrived in Jerusalem and were walking in the temple, the chief priests, scribes, and elders came to Jesus
11:28  and asked Him a question. Leaders: Tell us, who has given You the authority to say and do the things You’re saying and doing?
11:29  Jesus: I will answer your question, if you will answer one for Me. Only then will I tell you who gives Me authority to do these things.
11:30  Tell Me, when John was ritually cleansing through baptism for the forgiveness of sins, was his authority from heaven or was it merely human?
11:31  The priests, scribes, and elders huddled together to think through an answer. Leaders (to themselves): If we say, “It must have been from heaven,” then Jesus will have us. He’ll ask, “Then why didn’t you listen to him and follow him?”
11:32  But if we say, “John’s cleansing was only human,” the people will be up in arms because they think John was a prophet sent by God.
11:33  (responding to Jesus) We don’t know what to tell You. Jesus: All right, then don’t expect Me to tell you where I get the authority to say and do these things.