Countdown to Calvary
The Final Week of Jesus’ Earthly Ministry
Mark 11:12-26 (NKJV)
12 Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. 13 And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 in response Jesus said to it, "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again." And His disciples heard it.
15 So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 16 And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. 17 Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a 'den of thieves.' " 18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching. 19 When evening had come, He went out of the city.
20 Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away." 22 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. 25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."
Mark 11:12-26
Turn Out the Lights, the Party’s Over!
Jesus Cursed the Tree 12-14
His physical hunger 12; humanity
Jesus hunger revealed His humanity but it also revealed that He may have spent a great deal of time in prayer the night before and didn’t have time to eat prior to leaving Mary and Martha’s home in Bethany. This also a “teachable” moment for the disciples (and us) that religion in any denomination does not feed the soul thus the “cursing” of the fruitless fig tree which was a symbol of the fruitlessness of Judaism.
His agricultural knowledge13; sovereignty
Taqsh
In Hard Sayings of the Bible by F. F. Bruce:
Was it not unreasonable to curse the tree for being fruitless when, as Mark expressly says, "it was not the season for figs"? The problem is most satisfactorily cleared up in a discussion called "The Barren Fig Tree" published many years ago by W. M. Christie, a Church of Scotland minister in Palestine under the British mandatory regime. He pointed out first the time of year at which the incident is said to have occurred (if, as is probable, Jesus was crucified on April 6th, A.D. 30, the incident occurred during the first days of April). "Now," wrote Christie, "the facts connected with the fig tree are these. Toward the end of March the leaves begin to appear, and in about a week the foliage coating is complete. Coincident with [this], and sometimes even before, there appears quite a crop of small knobs, not the real figs, but a kind of early forerunner. They grown to the size of green almonds, in which condition they are eaten by peasants and others when hungry. When they come to their own indefinite maturity they drop off." These precursors of the true fig are called taqsh in Palestinian Arabic. Their appearance is a harbinger of the fully formed appearance of the true fig some six weeks later. So, as Mark says, the time for figs had not yet come. But if the leaves appear without any taqsh, that is a sign that there will be no figs. Since Jesus found "nothing but leaves" - leaves without any taqsh- he knew that "it was an absolutely hopeless, fruitless fig tree" and said as much. Source: http://www.rationalchristianity.net/fig_tree.html
Paggim
One may first ask that if “the time of figs was not yet” then why did the master expect to see figs? Background study shows that the fig tree produces two types of figs: One, the early fig (also referred to as “winter” or “green” figs) called “paggim” which were a smaller fig produced on the strength of nutrients left in the branch during the winter, and the second was the full fig which was produced later after the leaves. So, ultimately, although it was not time for the “full” figs, if it had leaves it was communicating that it at least had early figs.
Source: http://www.yashalife.com/5/post/2013/08/fig-tree-discourse-part-1-answering-things.html
God had given Israel several opportunities to live by faith. But for them, ritualism and tradition was instrumental in their religious lives. Luke specifies with a parable about a fig farmer.
“A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard and he came looking for fruit on it and didn’t find any. He said to the vineyard keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any, cut it down. Why does it even use up the ground?’ And he answered and said to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, for this year too until I dig around it and put in fertilizer. And if it bears fruit next year, fine. If not, cut it down.’” Luke 13:6-9
His spiritual discernment 14; the tree was fruitless, zip, nada, zero with nothing on it
Since there was nothing on the fig tree, Jesus cursed (not in profanity or vulgarities) “judging” the tree for it’s fruitlessness when it should have, at least, been fruitful with the taqsh or paggim.
Jesus Cleansed the Temple 15-19
“The Temple Building - ναοσ - was a small, ornate structure which sat in the center of the temple property.
The Temple Precincts – ίερον – were four courtyards which surrounded the temple building, each decreasing in their importance to the Jewish mind. Great walls separated the courts from one another.” Source: The Preachers Outline & Sermon Bible page 226
His Disgust 15
Animals were bought and sold not only outside the temple but inside the Temple as well. Monies were exchanged for the Temple Tax every man age 20 and up were required to pay.
What Jesus saw was commercialism, exploitation, corruption, and injustice. He saw the dirt, filth, squalor, pride and hypocrisy in the lives of those running “the show.”
Ron Daniel describes it this way:
“After the Babylonian captivity, the priests saw an opportunity for financial gain in this system. As people would bring their animals for the sacrifices, these corrupt priests would say, "Oh, I'm sorry, there is a slight defect here in this dove's wing." or "Unfortunately, I can't accept this ox, for its left back hoof is a little deformed." The priests had a side deal going with the sellers. They referred the customers to them, and the priests got a commission. "You'll need to bring back an animal worthy of sacrifice - one without a defect or deformation," the priest would say, "why don't you go by Trader Tom's table there in the outer court?"
Corruption in the priesthood. Extortion of people who desired to be right with God. Prevention of the sacrifices of people who needed atonement for their sin. Inflation of the standard that God had set forth for His people.” Source: Ron Daniel Study Notes: Mark 11:1-33
His Disruption 16-17
He saw that religious ceremonies and irrelevant activities were being carried on without any meaning whatsoever. People were taking the Temple route through the Court of the Gentiles to carry out their routine duties. The Mishnah actually says, “A man may not enter the Temple Mount with his staff or his sandal or his wallet, or with the dust upon his feet, nor may he make of it a short by-path.”
“Enough,” He cried! Jesus stopped the traffic and congestion with fire in His eyes, the Word on His tongue and strength in His limbs!
"Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a 'den of thieves.' "
So, where is this scripture that Jesus quoted? It is a combination of two passages.
Isaiah 56:7
Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations."
Jeremiah 7:11
Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of thieves in your eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seen it," says the LORD.
Jesus is passionate about the Temple because it is THE place He will be worshipped in during the Millennial Reign! It is His house!
But now, we are His temple; we are the body of the Living Lord! What are you using His temple for today?
His Disapproval 17-19
The gentiles (the nations, the lost) were being dismissed and disrespected. There was no care, concern or compassion for the gentiles and their worship of the One True God. The priests had made this area a profitable marketplace for “convenience” sake. Sadly, the worship of God had degenerated into price-fixing and gouging of those coming to worship Him. It was a manipulation of the system with no one to address the problems.
So it is with our current corrupt government today. There is no one who seems to be able to fix it. But there is One! When Jesus returns He shall right what is wrong!
Jesus Conveyed the Truth 20-26
Returning from Jerusalem and standing on top of the Mount of Olives after a long day of confrontation, Peter notices the fig tree which had withered away when no fruit had been discovered on it.
A puzzling picture from God 20-21
Peter makes a remarkable statement about the fig tree. “Teacher,” he exclaims! “The fig tree is dead!”
Amazing! What once was alive with beautiful leaves and “apparently” potentially promising fruit was now dead…from the roots up!
Peter and the disciples stood amazed at the sight.
A personal faith in God 22
Jesus responded atypical in my mind. Have faith in God. Rather than addressing the dried up fig tree, he responded to the disciples to have a living faith in a Living God. No more religion. No more ritualism. Nothing but a born-again, Spirit-led, faith-driven, grace-given relationship with Jesus Christ! He is the object of our faith!
A practicing faith in God 22
It is not only a personal faith but it is a practicing faith. It is a faith which makes a difference. It is one sealed in the blood of the Lamb of God. It is not through the blood of bulls and goats but of the Righteous One.
A practical faith in God 23-24
Third, it is a practical faith. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
It is a faith which must be acted upon. It’s not theoretical but practical and down-to-earth. When problems arise which are too big for you to handle, “move the mountain” through faith in God. It’s not that the problem is too big for you (but it most certainly is!); it’s that you haven’t given the problem to the One Who is bigger than your problem. And when you give it to Him, leave it there. That’s faith…trusting in His answers and solutions to the problems
A persevering faith in God 25
While most scholars tend to say this verse found here is not in the original or oldest manuscripts, it is found in Matthew 6. So, the principle is the same.
"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:14-15
Should you want your prayers unhindered, you must forgive those who have wronged you as God has forgiven you who have wronged Him!
In conclusion, God’s love, grace and forgiveness is supplied to ALL who repent of their dead ritualistic and religious ways. Only in Jesus is there any hope for real life!
"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another. John 15:1-17
