Jesus has come to Jerusalem for the last week of his life. The whole last third of the gospel is taken up with one week of Jesus' life. The final week, which culminates in his death and resurrection. He's here in the final week of his life, he has now entered a series of confrontations with the Jerusalem leaders - the chief priests, elders, the scribes.

We have come in Mark's Gospel to the last week of Jesus' life. Starting with the present text, Jesus will now begin a series of encounters with the Jewish authorities, which will culminate in his arrest and execution. In this first encounter, the Jewish authorities confront Jesus about his actions on the previous day, when he protested in the temple.