Is Jesus Lord over your religion?

It’s challenging to think through an easter series - the story is the same and while the message is just as impactful today as it was nearly 2000 years ago it’s easy for us to get lulled into a re-run. But when we look closely at some of the things that Jesus did and taught - it seems like there are areas where it can impact us profoundly. As I was reflecting on the message of Easter and passion or holy week, it seemed like we should ask the question

“What is Jesus Lord over?”

The challenge is that the question is too big

Jesus is Lord over everything - and yet what does that mean for me.

some of us may may think - Jesus isn’t my Lord, I’m the boss of me

Today, Friday in our Tenebrae service, and next Sunday on Easter - we’re going to be consider that question - what is Jesus Lord over? - by asking a couple of specific questions - beginning with…

Is Jesus Lord over your religion?

Open your bibles to Mark 11.

Summary of Passion week from Mark’s perspective

The Triumphal entry - likely the Sunday before Easter - we call it Palm Sunday because Jesus rode into town on a donkey, while people waved palms and lined the road. Mark tells us that he went into the temple, looked around, and then returned to where he was staying outside of town (Bethany) (Mark 11:11).

Monday - Jesus returned to Jerusalem - curing the fig tree on the way - and “cleansed the temple”

Tuesday - Discussed the fig tree with the disciple and faith - He returned to Jerusalem and the Temple and began to be questioned by the religious leaders and also entered into some teaching sessions (Mark 11:27-12:44)

Tuesday evening - Jesus left the temple and Jerusalem to return to Bethany and began teaching his disciples on the Mount of olives about the end times and the destruction of the temple (Mark 13).

Wednesday - the leaders begin to plot against Jesus. Jesus remained in Bethany - and ate with Simon the Leper and was anointed, Judas began to conspire with the religious leaders

Thursday- Jesus and his disciples return to Jerusalem, Lord’s Supper is instituted, Jesus arrested.

I find it interesting that the events of Monday and Tuesday became so pivotal in the outcome of the week. On these two days, Jesus pushed against their religious ideals and even as they pushed against his authority and increasing popularity.

Let’s look at Mark 11:12-25.

So, Mark presents three scenes or pericopes in an interesting order. They seem to form a sort of sandwich.

Scene 1: Jesus Curses the Fig Tree (12-14)

Scene 2: Jesus cleanses the temple (15-19)

Scene 3: Jesus teaches his disciples about the fig tree (20-25)

Just as a sandwich contains bread which encompasses the central identifying substance of the sandwich, so too in these three scenes, the first and the third activities bracket the central activity - which is the identifying activity.

In this first scene we find Jesus cursing a fig tree.

Scene 1: Jesus Curses the Fig Tree (12-14)

Mark 11:12–14 ESV

On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. And 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. And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.

Let’s reflect on a couple of things here.

It was likely morning - Jesus should have just eaten breakfast (unless the hosts in Bethany were so overwhelmed with Jesus and his disciples that they did not have enough food) - why was he hungry? Mark may be urging us to look beyond his hunger pains. He seems to be prompting us to not make a hasty judgment.

Mark tells us that it was not the season for figs. Which begs the question, “is Jesus being vindictive?” Several commentators have noted that figs are normally ripe in the fall. This would have been spring time. But fruitful fig trees would have had evidence of some fruit - something called paggim in Hebrew - almost like immature buds that would have been edible. In essence, this would have provided evidence that there was fruit. Jesus found none of that on this tree.

It seems like Mark is urging us to look beyond the fact that Jesus may have been “hangry”. He was seeing the tree as something more important than just a source of food. We may have a clue into that from the night before.

Look briefly back at verse 11.

Mark 11:11 ESV

And 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.

This was the night before. Jesus was able to assess what was happening. I think he made some observations and some internal judgments.

Incidentally, it makes me wonder, what would Jesus see, think about if he were to walk through our halls or enter into this space or sit in our community groups. Would he find fruit?

This brings us to the second scene.

Scene 2: Jesus cleanses the temple (15-19)

Mark 11:15–19 ESV

And 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. And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. And 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.” And 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. And when evening came they went out of the city.

So Jesus and his disciples go back into the city the next day - likely on Monday. They make their way to the temple area (Edwards).

Herod’s Temple

layout of temple - possibly still under construction - started 20BC

Court of Gentiles (500 yards by 325 yards) - enclosed by a portico of columns - 30 feet high and big enough around for three people to barely be able to connect hands around the circumference of the columns (roughly 35 acres)

Court of women

Court of Israel - for circumcised Jewish males

Holy of Holies (the tallest building)

Commerce (either in the court of gentiles or just outside)

buying and selling of animals

exchanging of coins - from roman coins to temple coins - 1/2 shekel tax

Massive scale - Josephus noted that during one passover in AD 66, 255,600 lambs were sacrificed.

So, Jesus sees some of what is happening and begins to turnover the tables. He likely did this in a strategic place to get the attention of the appropriate people. You can imagine a single person doing something in a small part of a football stadium would have hardly caught people’s attention.

His turning over the tables becomes an object lesson for him to begin teaching. - “my house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations…but you have made it a den of robbers.”

Some of this commerce was necessary for torah-compliant sacrifices to happen. Something about what they were doing was raising unnecessary barriers to true worship. One commentator said:

“He does not clear the temple of Gentiles, but for them.”

The table turning and teaching get the notice of the chief priests and scribes, prompting them to look for a way to destroy him. Mark writes that they were afraid of Jesus because of the crowds.

As evening approached, Jesus and his disciples departed back for Bethany.

This brings us to the final scene which happens on the next day…

Scene 3: Jesus teaches His disciples about the fig tree (20-25)

Mark 11:20–25 (ESV)

As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots.

And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.”

And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God.

Truly, 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.

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

And 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.”

So as they return to town the next day, Peter is amazed - Jesus simply spoke and now this tree is completely withered - like Roundup to a weed. Peter’s observation creates an opportunity for Jesus to teach.

We often summarize something that Jesus says here with “faith can move mountains.” But notice, he says - “this mountain.” He’s referring to a singular mountain.

Is it possible that he’s referring to the Temple Mount, to Mount Zion?

Imagine that you’re trapped in a religion that says - you must meet certain expectations. Your animals have to meet our standards. Your money has to measure up.

You’re always guessing - am I good enough? Have I done enough to be accepted?

Yet Jesus says “Have faith in God.”

I do wonder if Mark has positioned these three scenes for us here to help us understand that Jesus was tossing the religion of the status quo into the sea and replacing it with faith. That faith would be based in the object of the faith - God - and not in the ethnicity or acquiescence of the worshipper.

In the current system, a devout Gentile would not be able to get close to the real action.

His next comments talk about prayer and relating to God and each other.

ask

believe

forgive

So, in light of this scene sandwich

How should we respond today?

Our religious practices should be guided by Scripture and not man-made scripts.

Our culture is constantly changing. Scripture is consistent.

Consecration vs. Consumerism

When we choose a consumeristic set of religious actions, we choose things for our preferences rather than submitting to our creator.

we worship when it convenient and not adjusting our schedules around the assembly of God’s people.

Biblically Guided Morality vs. not Moralistic Therapeutic Deism

MTD is a way of thinking that suggests that God wants us to be happy or feel good. He is out to make our lives easier. He is for us, no mater what.

Biblically guided morality understands that God’s intention is for His glory and our holiness.

Truth vs. Tradition

where do our traditions betray the truth of the gospel or God’s Word?

where do new traditions or fads also betray Scripture? (several years ago there was a movement called “emergent” that introduced all sorts of religious practices that were inconsistent with Scripture.

Providence vs. Politics

where is our mission usurped by our politics?

God’s plan/providence should inform our politics/practices - not the other way around.

When we really dig into some of the political issues of our day, when our views are guided by scripture, I think we’ll find that biblically informed view will not be limited to one party, which makes living in a representative democracy challenging as we try to prioritize biblically minded views with the available candidates.

Our religious practices should be based on faith, not on fulfillment.

we are called to holiness but Jesus is our fulfillment

For some in Jesus’ day - no matter how much they did, they would always be outsiders. (The structure of the temple courts, Jesus death tore down dividing walls)

On a related note…

Our religious practices should be inviting.

When Jesus talks about the house being a house of prayer and not a den of robbers - he is quoting from Isaiah 56. In that chapter, Isaiah specifically points to two groups of people who would have been excluded from worship - eunuchs and foreigners - and yet Yahweh welcomes them because they have chosen to live in ways that please him. It’s as though they have come by faith and are trying to live in righteousness. God is inviting them. it seems in Jesus’ day - these people were being excluded.

Who are we excluding? Are there people that we intentionally do not invite?

LGBTQ

People with questionable backgrounds

are we putting up barriers for them to come? - this is not an adjustment in holiness or God’s standard, but in how we invite people to come - part of the challenge is that we are all judged, we are all sinful. As humans, we have a tendency to judge other people’s sins more severely than our own - and yet sin is sin. Sin is still an a-front to God. Sin is still an offense to God’s holiness

lying

falsifying taxes

lustful glances or thoughts

pride

selfishness

greed

envy

all of these are equally bad before the Lord. Are we changing the standard for some people and yet holding ourselves to a different standard?

If you’re not yet a follower of Christ you still have religious practices and views

are you limiting your relationship with him, your religion to what is comfortable? Are you excluding yourself from His grace because you think you have to perform in certain ways?

we are urged to come empty - in fact that’s the only way we can come - completely dependent on God’s grace

We are urged to come to Jesus - Jesus alone is the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through him. (John 14:6).

Once we come, we are urged to grow in our understanding of His holiness and how he wants us to live.

Are you adjusting to Him or forcing Him (the God of the universe), to adjust to you? - He is the creator

Closing thoughts

There are really a lot of ways that we can think through this. I hope that wrestling through Jesus’ actions here will foster some good discussions in the Community Groups that are meeting this week.

I think when we look back at these three scenes, we can summarize that:

The exclusive temple practices betrayed God’s intention for His house.

In response,

May our religious practices submit to God’s intention for His house - which is ultimately His people.

Let’s pray.

Benediction

2 Corinthians 13:14 “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

Read: Mark 11:12-25.

What peaked your interest in the text and the sermon?

What may have given you pause or caused you concern? Why?

Why do you think Jesus cursed the fig tree?

What was his application of that cursing?

How does that relate to His cleansing the temple?

How should we respond to what Scripture is teaching?

Questions from Kids’ Connection

Topic: Spiritual Gifts: The Purpose

Scripture: Romans 12:4-5; Acts 4:32-37.

What is the purpose of the spiritual gifts?

What surprised you about what you learned in Kids Connection?

How does the purpose of the spiritual gifts apply to us today?

How do you see spiritual gifts being used in Kids’ Connection?

Sources

Edwards, James R. The Gospel according to Mark. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos, 2002.

Garland, David E. Mark. The NIV Application Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996.

Grassmick, John D. “Mark.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.