July 16, 2023
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Mark? Here’s today’s reading:
Mark 11 (NIV)
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’ …..Continue Reading
We learn a great deal from the fig tree in this chapter. The tree appeared to have fruit but when they arrived there was nothing so Jesus cursed it. We shouldn’t just appear to live a life faithful to God…we should produce fruit. God should be truly glorified in all we do, not just on the surface show, resulting in nothing.
We also learn about faith to move mountains from this same tree. Jesus cursed the tree and it alone withered and died. When asked by His disciples, Jesus told them it was by faith and belief that it was done and that they too have the ability to do the same. That we too have the ability to do the same if we believe! I wonder how often I put God’s ability to help me or change something in a limited box? Another chapter leaving me praying, Lord help my unbelief and sincerely depend on you and your power and presence in my life in ALL things big and small.
The dead fig tree. Thinking being along with the temple becoming a marketplace. The fig tree and the temple were both dead Jesus was a great example of prayer vs22-25. Jesus always prayed with Gods interest in mind. Not what I will but what you will. What a joke. These religious leaders constantly trying to trap Jesus into saying something that will claim him guilty. Jesus answers their question with a question. Their non answer proves they had no interest in knowing the truth
Mark 11
Mark 11
The lesson of the fig tree….I’m thinking of George Mueller who lead an orphanage and prayed and thanked God for the food that was non-existent. And after he gave thanks there was a knock on the door from a milk truck (I believe) that had broken down. Rather than have it spoil asked if the orphanage could use it. This testimony stuck with me as I’m amazed by this man’s faith. I wonder if … to the degree we have faith is to the degree we see God move.
Absolutely!
I have thought about that a lot lately, too, Renee. When we pray do we believe and have faith that God will answer? Are we looking for the answer? I’ve been writing down my prayers so that I can see when and how God answers.
Mark 11
Jesus sends two of His disciples to get a colt that is tied up and no one ever sat upon before. Jesus will ride this donkey into Jerusalem. Jesus knew where the colt would be. The people proclaim Him their king as He enters. Thinking that the coming Messiah would come as king to rule on earth. They didn`t realize that He would come first as the Lamb of God. Including His disciples. This is why they didn`t understand when He spoke of His death and resurrection. Then on the next day Jesus was hungry and went to a fig tree but it didn`t have any figs. It is mentioned that this was not the time of figs. I think that Jesus knew that but used it as a teaching moment. He then cursed the fig tree. Often times the fig tree in scripture was used as a symbol for Israel. So perhaps Jesus used this fig tree to speak to Israel that salvation is now going to the gentiles. For Israel had rejected their Savior. Then He also used it to teach prayer. That by faith in Christ when they pray to pray with all faith believing. And their prayers will be answered. In between the events of the fig tree Jesus enters the temple. Jesus shows His righteous anger and over threw the tables and cast out those that bought and sold in the temple. For they had made a place of prayer a den of thieves. And the temple was to be holy and the things in it were to have been clean. Latter Jesus and His disciples came back to Jerusalem and entered the temple. Again the chief priests, scribes, and the elders tried to trap Jesus with His words. They hated Him so bad that they wanted to kill Him. He had disrupted their money making business and broke the sabbath on many occasions doing healings, gathering food to eat on the sabbath, and teaching contrary to what they believed. Also He claimed to be the Son of God. So in their eyes He had to go. Even in this passage when they try to trick Him they fail once again. He gives them a question instead and they can`t be honest so they say that they don`t know. What hypocrites they were. May we as Christians be always true to our word. And walk in His wisdom. That we delight in the things of God.
What a bold statement the triumphal entry is. Jesus knew exactly what He was doing and how the people would react because He knew He was the Messiah, even if not the Messiah the people thought He was. And I am always struck by people just being ok with the disciples taking the colt after they say the Lord needs it. I imagine divine orchestration is happening here but it could be prior arrangements or just Jesus’ popularity at this point. And the crowds respond with praise and palms which is fitting for a king. And yet Jesus shows next that He is more concerned about doing something right than winning a popularity contest and clears that temple. It is important to recognize that it was not so much what they were doing that Jesus had a problem with (unless the robbers is a reference to unfair monetary practices), but where they were doing it. The temple was a sanctified place not meant for common activity, and some believe that they were conducting their business in the courts of the Gentiles….and that is why Jesus says that the temple is to be a place of prayer for all nations. The court of the Gentiles showed that God even welcomed them to worship Him, but the Jews thought little of them.
And the fig tree is quite an interesting account. I agree with Dennis that Jesus is using what He wouldn’t expect to teach a lesson. Plants, like believers, should bear fruit, and if they don’t, then what is the point? God is more gracious with us than Jesus is with the fig tree, but He does call us to bare fruit for His kingdom. It is also an opportunity to talk about our access to God’s power through prayer. And how awesome that access is!
And the chief priests, etc ask a good question this time. But Jesus is not ready to answer or respond to those who really are not teachable. And how wise He is to bring up John. He shuts them up as well as reenforcing the ministry of John and causes these leaders to be confronted by their rejection of him as well.
I shudder when I read about the chief priests, scribes and elders questioning Jesus’ authority. When I think about Jesus’ equality with the Father, I recoil when I think about men questioning Him. I’m waiting for lightning to strike them. All that He is doing demonstrates who He is and by what authority He is acting, they should be prostrate on their faces before Him.
Faith is so important in the Christian life. If we pray without doubt, believing that God can and will grant us what is in accordance to his will (what is best for us), we will receive it. It is also important to think about who we hold resentments against before we pray and forgive them as God has forgiven us. With this practice, our minds are cleared to focus on the things of God as we go before the Father.