This chapter begins with Jesus triumphant entry into Jerusalem which we will celebrate a week from today on Palm Sunday. I wish there were a way to get a sense of how popular Jesus was, and how big a threat he posed to Temple authority and to Roman authority. Obviously he was known by many in the crowd, but just as obviously the deserted him days later. I also wish there were some way to know what his motives were both for his very public entrance into Jerusalem, and for his confrontational cleansing of the Temple. (Speaking of the Temple does the cleansing tell us anything about Jesus attitude toward commerece, or should the passage be read more narrowly?)
If you believe, as seems plausible, that he was taking the actions he took to fulfill the Scriptures regarding the Son of Man (which Mark has quoted numerous times) then you could argue simply that he was embracing his destiny. But I have always wondered whether Jesus did indeed intend for his earthly (perhaps pre-Resurrection would be a better description) ministry to fail.
I think it is obvious that he went to Jerusalem to provoke a confrontation. The entrance, the cleansing, the combative banter with the Temple insiders would seem to support this. But what if, rather that seeking to fulfill the Scriptures, Jesus thought of this strategy as his last best chance to get the Jewish people to hear what he was saying to them. Such an interpretation makes better sense given Jesus words and actions amidst the pathos of what is about to unfold. At least to me.
By the way, anybody know what to make of the cursed fig tree? Even my Oxford Annotated says Jesus meaning is unclear.