Fig Tree And Faith Series

INTRODUCTION

• SLIDE #1

• Today we continue with our series, Deep Thoughts with Jesus. Today, we get the chance to lean in and listen to Jesus teach His disciples an important lesson on the issue of faith.

• We face so many tough obstacles in life that it is easy to forget who we serve and to whom we belong.

• When life throws difficulties our way, it is easy to give up, or forget who is by our side.

• WE get stressed and depressed easily at times. We can feel like a failure if we are not careful.

• Life was good for the disciples up to this point. Sunday was an exciting day; however, the disciples were going to face obstacles they never dreamed because they were just a few days away from Jesus going to the cross.

• SLIDE #2 MAP

• The context of this event is as follows:

• On Sunday, we have what is called the Triumphal Entry, this is where Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and was hailed as a king. The disciples would have been riding high.

• Jesus stayed in Jerusalem that week, but at night he would travel to Bethany.

• On Monday, when He and the disciples were returning to Jerusalem from Bethany, He came across a fig tree.

• SLIDE #3

• Mark 11:12–14 (HCSB) — 12 The next day when they came out from Bethany, He was hungry. 13 After seeing in the distance a fig tree with leaves, He went to find out if there was anything on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And His disciples heard it.

• After Jesus condemns the fig tree, they go on to Jerusalem where Jesus cleanses the temple.

• That evening, Jesus and the disciples went back to Bethany.

• On Tuesday morning, they are returning to Jerusalem. This is where our text takes place.

• SLIDE #4

• Mark 11:20–21 (HCSB) — 20 Early in the morning, as they were passing by, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. 21 Then Peter remembered and said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that You cursed is withered.”

• So, Peter points out the tree that Jesus had condemned.

• Now it is time for Jesus to teach us something.

• The deep thought for today is simple, ANY DIFFICULTY CAN BE OVERCOME BY FAITH.

• Sounds churchy, does it? Jesus is going to use this fig tree to teach the disciples an important lesson concerning faith; hence, Fig Tree and Faith.

• SLIDE #5

• Mark 11:22–23 (HCSB) — 22 Jesus replied to them, “Have faith in God. 23 I assure you: If anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.

• SLIDE #6

SERMON

I. The significance of faith.

• The disciples were going to undertake something that looked more difficult than moving a mountain would be.

• The immorality of the gentile world, the bigotry and prejudices of the Jewish people toward the gentiles would seem like insurmountable obstacles in their path to success.

• With the impending crucifixion of Jesus, these men needed to understand the power and significance of faith.

• They needed to know that their faith in Jesus would be superior to any and all obstacles they would face.

• Think about it. Jesus was going to leave His mission of saving the world in their hands.

• This was and still is a serious mission.

• DO you ever get overwhelmed by the world you live in?

• Imagine you are one of the 12, and Jesus is counting on you to share Him with the whole world.

• GUESS WHAT, YOUR MISSION IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THAT OF THE 12 in the sense that we are called to take Jesus to a lost world.

• Jesus offers an object lesson.

• When Peter saw the fact that the tree was withered from the roots up, he knew that what happened was intervention by God.

• A tree usually doesn’t dry up from the roots up in less than 24 hours and die.

• The word CURSED Peter uses in verse 21 DOES NOT MEAN THAT JESUS dropped some 4 letter words on the tree, but rather that He devoted the tree to destruction.

• The disciples heard Jesus curse the tree and therefore they knew what had happened to it.

• Jesus is trying to get them to see that with FAITH all things are possible!