Am I Bothered?
Opening Prayer
Lord God, match my dedication with my deeds, and lead to a new understanding of trust in You.
Read MARK 11:12–21
12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.
15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”
18 The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.
19 When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.
20 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
“I will take from you your hearts of stone and give you tender hearts of love for God” (Ezek. 11:19, TLB). Ask the Lord to soften your heart as you engage with his Word.
It has been said, “You only know what you really believe when the hour comes and you have to stand up for it.” It’s easy to dodge the hour, evidencing belief less strong than we protest. Jesus’ belief and behavior are in perfect harmony, to the point of surprising and even disconcerting us by the forcefulness of his belief put into action. Cursing a fig tree and causing mayhem in the Temple don’t sit right in a culture like ours, which puts such high value on the acceptance of everything, being shocked by nothing and keeping calm whatever the circumstance.
Jesus is moved by what he believes should be, set against the reality he sees. The Temple, in part, was intended to express God’s desire to engage with people from all nations (17). The Court of the Gentiles (almost certainly the location) was a place for Gentiles to come and worship—but how could they worship when their space was taken up with racketeering? Overpriced sales of sacrificial animals, fraudulent rates on Roman coins exchanged for Temple-tax money, the space used as a shortcut for delivery services (16): this abuse could not be quietly ignored or negotiated. Yes, such heavy-duty response brings animosity (18) and this is not Jesus’ default response, but what’s the choice? Beside it our responses look insipid. Seldom are we so moved.
The cursing of the fig tree is the acted parable or prophetic sign-act of his judgment on leadership in the Temple. A fig tree in leaf should have meant figs to eat. “The absence of green fruit means that the tree’s appearance is deceptive” (Larry Hurtado). Pretense of fruitfulness is deadly.
Apply
How might Jesus react to the church and to your local congregation? What would cause him pain and even anger? How can these issues be addressed?
Closing prayer
Lord, I am often tempted, when I am in difficult situations, to go along so that I can get along. Forgive me, and strengthen my resolve to be faithful to You in stressful times.
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