Mark 11:20-25

Passage

The next day, Jesus and His disciples passed by the fig tree that Jesus had cursed the prior day.  Peter remembered what had happened and pointed out that the fig tree had actually withered up!  Jesus looks to Peter and tells him to “have faith in God.”  Jesus then begins to talk about the importance of truly believing in one’s heart.  Jesus says that a person who truly believes can say to a mountain to move and it will be moved.  Jesus’ point is that when we pray, we should pray as though we have already received that for which we pray.  Jesus also reminds us that when we pray we should also forgive.  For if we forgive others, God the Father will forgive us as well.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

The fig tree is withered.  There is a subtle point here that does not come out in the text.  The fig tree is one of several symbols that represents the Hebrew people.  In the withering of the fig tree, we have a critique upon the Hebrew people.  They had all the trappings of faith.  They knew the Law.  They were focused on teaching the Law.  They wanted people to obey the Law.  In short, they were like a fig tree that was fully and completely in leaf.  Yet, the reality is that even though the Hebrew people appeared to have righteousness under their control they weren’t actually producing fruit.  They were using the Law to enslave their brothers in sisters in a religious system that was not about a relationship with God.  They were not making disciples; they were making people who out of fear were supporting the system.  When Jesus looked for fruit among them, He found none.

What does this teaching tell us about the importance for us to bear fruit?  What does this teaching tell us about the importance of periodically looking at our life and asking whether we are bearing the fruit God desires or if we are simply having the appearance of bearing fruit?  Why is it important to learn how to make that distinction?

Second Thought:

Jesus speaks much about faith.  He makes the grand claim that a person with faith can move a mountain.  I don’t know about you, but I actually have tried this once and a while.  I have asked for a tree to be moved or some land to shift around.  I’m not talking about a whole mountain, just a little hole in the ground!  The truth is that this is not actually what Jesus is teaching here.  Jesus opens the teaching with the expression “Have faith in God.”  Another way of translating this would be “live as though you are in possession of faith from God.”  When we read that, we can see this teaching in a whole different light.  Jesus isn’t saying the faithful will have the power to do whatever they want on a whim.  Jesus is saying that the faithful will attune their hearts to God.  Once their hearts are attuned to God, they will have the power to do what the Lord desires of them.  Notice how this understanding moves from the self-monger to having our focus on God.  This passage is not about me doing miracles that I think are cool.  This passage is about my heart attuning itself to God and then being able to work miracles in the lives of the people to whom God has called me.

Why is it important to confess how we want to read this passage?  How does a proper faith-based understanding of this teaching challenge you?  Are you attuned with God?

Third Thought:

Jesus also teaches us to forgive.  Jesus tells us that we are to love the Lord our God as well as to love our neighbor.  True relationship with God is not only relationship with Him but also relationship with His people around us.  Therefore, in order to be in relationship with the people around us, we must be in relationship with Him.  The reverse is also true.  In order to be in relationship with Him, we must be in relationship with one another.  Relationship always begins in forgiveness.  In order to understand God’s forgiveness of us we must practice forgiveness to others.

Why can forgiveness be difficult?  Why does thinking about how God relates to us make forgiveness easier?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 11:27-30

NOTE: Depending on your Bible, you should note that you likely don’t have a verse 26 in this chapter.   Here’s why.  Some ancient manuscripts have this verse in them: “But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”  If you have a verse 26 in your Bible, it should read something like that.  However, as archaeology has uncovered more and more ancient manuscripts, we’ve found that the oldest manuscripts do not contain this verse.  Therefore, history seems to be indicating that verse 26 was added and became popular sometime after the original writing of Mark.  So as to not confuse the issue, most modern Bibles do not print verse 26 while still preserving verse 26 in the notes.  Then, they simply continue on with verse 27 so as to continue to match up with older Bibles that do contain verse 26.