Mark 11:12-25

Intro

Open Your Bibles to Mark 11

Building Update:

Mapping out what projects

Stewardship: What projects allow us to effectively do ministry in that space, and be good stewards of what God has given us.

Timeline: This is our home for the next season let’s approach these projects appropriately. We begin to pay rent November 1st, and desire to limit the amount of time we are paying rent in two different locations in an effort to be good stewards.

Hopefully we can button that up and give you a more clear picture here soon.

Series Update:

Course Correction: This week and next in Mark… return to Mark in January and finish out on Easter Sunday.

3 Week Series called “Letters to Ascend”

How can we anchor ourselves in this season of transition.

What lessons can we learn from the early church

What if Paul were writing a letter to us?

*Pastor Brock Graham and our 2 year.

To the Gospel of Mark

Last week (Mark 11:1–11):

Jesus’ entry was intentional — every detail fulfilled prophecy.

He came as King.

The crowd wanted a warrior king, but we know Jesus is coming as the suffering servant.

Last week ended on a cliffhanger hanger with Jesus peaking in on the temple.

This week (Mark 11:12–25):

Jesus moves from Appraisal to action.

The fig tree and the temple

May his actions move our hearts to a place of worship & to action in prayer.

Read/Pray

Mark 11:12–25 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. 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. 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.”

Big Idea: Spiritual fruit comes from true faith, true worship, and true forgiveness.

1. Fruitless Faith (v. 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.

Jesus approaches the fig tree, full of leaves but empty of fruit.

Retell Story

The Significance of the Fig Tree in the Old Testament

1. Symbol of Blessing and Prosperity

To “sit under your vine and fig tree” meant peace, safety, and God’s blessing.

References:

1 Kings 4:25 — “Judah and Israel lived in safety… every man under his vine and under his fig tree.”

Micah 4:4 — future peace pictured as each person sitting under their vine and fig tree.

Meaning: A fruitful fig tree = God’s favor and covenant blessing.

2. Symbol of Israel’s Spiritual Condition

Prophets often used the fig tree (and vineyard) to describe Israel (broadly).

References:

Jeremiah 8:13 — God looks for figs but finds none; a picture of Israel’s unfaithfulness.

Hosea 9:10 — God found Israel like “first fruit on the fig tree,” but they turned to idols.

Meaning: Fruitless figs = fruitless Israel, outward appearance without covenant faithfulness.

3. Warning of Judgment

Withered or destroyed fig trees symbolize God’s judgment.

References:

Joel 1:7, 12 — locusts strip the fig tree bare, symbolizing coming disaster.

Nahum 3:12 — weak defenses pictured as ripe figs that easily fall.

Meaning: A barren or destroyed fig tree = God’s discipline for rebellion.

4. Hope of Restoration

In the future, restored Israel is pictured again as fruitful fig trees.

References:

Amos 9:14 — God promises Israel will “plant vineyards and eat their fruit.”

Zechariah 3:10 — restored peace: “each of you will invite his neighbor under his vine and fig tree.”

Meaning: Fruitful fig trees = God’s restoration and peace in the Messianic age.

The Signifigance of the Fig Tree in this Passage:

this tree is a living parable—deceptive appearances with no substance.

This is a picture of Israel—lots of activity, lots of show, but no real fruit.

Jesus is about to see the tree plaed out in the coming story in the Temple

Transition: Typically this is where I would insert application but I am going to with hold the application for two reasons:

We will see this tree again

We see this living parable applied in the next four verses.

2. False Worship (v. 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.

Lets understand the Temple Layout (Intentionality in space) (Sacred in design)

1. Holy of Holies & Holy Place

Only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies, once a year.

The Holy Place held the lampstand, incense, and bread of presence.

2. Court of Israel (Men)

Reserved for Jewish men, closer access to the altar.

3. Court of Women

Accessible to all Jews—men and women.

Contained the treasury (widow’s mite, Mark 12:41–44).

4. Court of the Gentiles

Largest, outermost space—open to all nations.

Instead of prayer, it became a noisy marketplace.

Jesus’ cleansing shows God’s heart for the nations to worship Him.

Remind Ourselves of the Purpose of the Temple

The Temple as God’s Dwelling Place

The temple was the visible sign of God’s presence among His people (1 Kings 8:10–13).

It reminded Israel that the holy God chose to dwell with them.

The Temple as a Place of Prayer and Worship

Jesus quotes Isaiah: “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations” (Mark 11:17).

The temple was meant to be a gathering place for communion with God and intercession.

Worship in the temple pointed to God’s worthiness and holiness.

The Temple as a Place of Sacrifice

Central purpose: to provide atonement for sin through sacrifice (Leviticus 17:11).

The altar showed that forgiveness and access to God required the shedding of blood.

The Temple as a Witness to the Nations

The Court of the Gentiles symbolized God’s heart for all peoples (Isaiah 56:7).

The temple was not just for Israel but a light to the nations.

How does this tie to the fig tree?

Lilke the Temple…. The fig tree looked alive but was barren.

2. The temple looked busy but was spiritually dead.

3. The temple was supposed to be a “house of prayer for all nations,” but it had become a place of profit, distraction, and corruption.

“I have so much to do that I spend several hours in prayer before I am able to do it.” - Jon Wesley

Prayer is the Work of Ministry

Worship is the Posture of the Minister

Application:

Posture of Worship vs… Posture of Sellers and buyers.

Jesus is here to confront the real problem …. The temple has become commercialized, and therefore not a true faith.

Friends, It’s possible to turn church into something God never intended—about comfort, convenience, or consumerism—when it’s really about God’s presence and His mission.

We need to guard that this isnt what our church or the church becomes… (Chairs, building, What we want from sermons, how we serve, who we serve, why we serve)

Exalting Jesus in Mark Our Savior Curses Hypocrisy (Mark 11:12–13)

Hypocrisy always keeps company with self-deception. We think we are one thing when we are actually another. And our Savior curses hypocrisy.

Transition: The temple was full but empty. The fig tree was leafy but barren. And the next morning, Jesus shows the disciples what happens to fruitless religion.

3. Faithful forgiveness (vv. 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.”

The fig tree is now withered from the roots—completely dead. Judgment has fallen.

and yet…. Jesus tells His disciples, “Have faith in God.” Real faith is alive—it prays, it trusts, it forgives.

Faith:

Faith is trusting God enough to act on His promises.

Faith is more than believing in the mind — it’s confidence that moves us toward Jesus.

Faith is powerful not because of itself, but because of the object of faith — Jesus Christ.

Faith cries out to Jesus, depends on His mercy, and follows Him in obedience.

Jesus isn’t just cursing—He’s calling His people to authentic belief.

faith that trusts God can move mountains.

Forgiveness:

Forgiveness clears the way for prayer

Jesus connects answered prayer with forgiving others (v. 25).

Unforgiveness clogs the channel of communion with God. When we are unforgiven ourselves, or unwilling to extend it

2. Forgiveness is an act of faith

our ability to forgive is in response to our faith.

Faith trusts God with both mountains and offenses (v. 22–24)..

3. Forgiveness reflects the temple’s true purpose

The temple was to be a house of prayer for all nations (v. 17).

The Temple was a place for forgiveness was made final.

4. Forgiveness foreshadows the cross

Jesus’ call to forgive anticipates His own words on the cross: “Father, forgive them.”

We forgive because we live out the forgiveness already secured in Christ.

Conclusion: The Flow of the Passage

Fig Tree → judged for fruitlessness.

Temple → judged for corruption.

Prayer → must be marked by trust in God and forgiveness of others.

Jesus is showing that real access to God is not through a busy temple marketplace, but through faith and a forgiving heart.

Closing: The opposite of fruitless faith and false worship is a life of faithful trust in God. It shows up in our prayers, in our reliance on Him, and in how we experience and live out forgiveness in our Lives.

Prayer Prompt:

Prayer Team in Back

Shorten the distance between our head and our Heart

Worship Jesus.

Pray to Jesus.