Stories of the Rabbi 19

Mark 11:12-33

I. Vss. 12-19 A cursed fig tree

a. Vss. 12-14 – What is Mark trying to tell us in this scene

i. The clues come from the following verses but think about where Jesus went in vs. 11.

ii. Jesus is using the fig tree as an object lesson

iii. The temple and the religious people were supposed to be providing spiritual fruit – but, like the tree, were useless.

iv. Figs on a fig tree appear just about the same time as the leaves. Even though it was not in season, a fig tree with leaves should have fruit.

v. Read Hosea 9:10-17 and discuss

b. Vss. 15-17 The clearing of the temple

i. Like the fig tree, the temple, the place where God was supposed to reside, was turned into a marketplace.

ii. Money changers—This was the Passover, so Jews from all nations came to Jerusalem. The money changers changed their currencies to the temple currency—for a fee, of course. They then sold the animals for sacrifices. There was a lot of religious commerce happening here.

iii. Read Jeremiah 7:9-11

iv. What do we in our American / Western concept of church need to be careful of when it comes to this passage? Is the problem the money, or is it something deeper than that?

c. Vs. 18 – Obviously, Jesus was making an impact on the people, and the religious leaders wanted to kill him.

i. Consider this – The religious leaders were already furious at Jesus for including Gentiles and Samaritans in His Galilean ministry; now, he is disrupting their commerce in their own territory.

ii. The crowds – probably tired of getting suckered by the money changers – were amazed at his teaching.

d. Vs. 19 – Again, Jesus left the city. Why, like in vs. 11, did Jesus leave?

II. Mark 11:20-26 Back to the fig tree

a. Re-read vss. 12-14 to refresh on what happened to this tree

b. Vss. 20-21 – Jesus’ curse had come to pass

c. Vss. 22-26 The essence of Faith – Peter is amazed at what Jesus did

i. Jesus uses this incident to teach His followers about faith and prayer

ii. Vs. 22 – Have faith (πίστις pistis) in God

1. Faith is the trust on which actions are based—we walk in faith (trust) that God will do what He said He would do.

2. Faith (trust) is not blind but based on evidence. For example, I have been paid by my employer on the 15th of the month and the last day of the month every month for the past 15 years. I have faith that I will be paid next week. Do I have absolute certainty that I will be paid? No, many things could happen that could prevent me from getting paid. But I have faith in my company that I will be paid based upon the evidence of their faithfulness to pay me in the past.

3. This is why the first-century Christian always retold what God did for the nation of Israel when taking a step of faith – God has given us ample reason (a very long history of interaction with His people – lots of evidence) for us to put our faith (trust) into Him.

iii. Vs. 23 – Here, Jesus is speaking hyperbolically – using extreme examples to make a simple point.

1. Jesus is not sanctioning paying for mountains to be thrown into seas.

2. Jesus is telling them that their trust in Him (God) will produce great things

3. Read James 1:6, Matthew 17:20, and Luke 17:6 – discuss the similarities

iv. Vs. 24 – prayer is the source of power. It is our connection with God’s sovereignty. When we pray in accordance with the authority that we have been given in Christ, then we are praying with God’s authority and sovereignty.

1. Anything we ask for must be in this vein and not in a selfish mode. We do not pray with our authority or with our sovereignty for our desires, but we pray for God’s desires.

2. According to Barkley’s commentary, Mark is pointing out that prayer has three key aspects:

a. Prayer must be of faith (trust)

b. Prayer must be of expectation – God will do what He said he will do

c. Prayer must be of charity – we must pray righteously

3. Prayer is essentially bringing ourselves into the Kingdom of God—we are coming into God’s presence and fellowshipping with God. When we pray with someone, we both enter that kingdom. If we pray with a non-believer, we are bringing them a taste of what the Kingdom of God is like.

a. Discuss how this power and authority might affect your prayer life

v. Vss. 25 – 26 Prayer only works when we are right with God which means that we need to be right with others. Jesus is very explicit that when we are intentionally not right with others when there needs to be repaired in an earthly relationship, our prayers and faith are affected.

1. Vs. 26 is not in many early manuscripts but was tacked on later from Matthew 6:15.

III. Mark 27-33 Questioning Jesus’ authority

a. Vs. 27 Back to the temple, back to the temple courts, do you think the chief priests and teachers of the law (scribes) were happy to see Him again?

b. Vs. 28—They ask a very pointed question. Remember, just the day before, Jesus disrupted their religious, commercial system of exchanging money for religious purposes. They thought they were the authoritative interpreters of the Law. So, who did Jesus think He was coming in and overriding that Law?

c. Vs. 29 – Jesus answers them with a question (they should be used to this by now). As you read this answer, remember the context of this question through the Gospel of Mark:

i. Jesus has shown authority over the human body with healing

ii. Jesus has shown authority over demons

iii. Jesus has shown authority over the Law, especially the Sabbath

iv. Jesus has shown authority over nature – calming storms, multiplying food

v. Jesus has shown authority even when he was not present – His name has spiritual authority

d. When Jesus states: “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John’s baptism—was it from heaven or of human origin? Tell me!”

i. He is getting them to make their stand. It is obvious where He is getting His authority, but it breaks every mold of the messiah they have ever believed in.

ii. Jesus was stating through the question that His authority, like John’s, comes from the Father—it is the sovereignty of God.

e. Vss. 31-32 – they understand the stakes.

f. Vs. 33 – they take a cop-out, and Jesus leaves the question hanging in the air

g. Jesus’ authority is essential because we have that authority through the power of the Holy Spirit. The name of Jesus, when used in faithful, expectant, and full-of-charity prayer, has power. And that power is rooted in bringing the Kingdom of God into this present reality.

i. Our choice is to admit it, embrace it, and use it or not.