Mark 11
The final week of Jesus’ life begins with the triumphal entry into Jerusalem among cries of Hosana and blessing. This chapter begins on Sunday of that week and takes us through part of Tuesday as Jesus begins to force the hand of the religious leaders in Jerusalem. Jesus knows what will happen here. He has been moving toward this for a long time. The King of Israel enters the capital city humble and riding a donkey’s colt. He is the Son of God entering the temple of God, his Father, to cleanse it and reclaim it from the hands of those who were supposed to be producing its fruit.
In the midst of this is a little incident that Jesus uses to teach some lessons on fruit and prayer.
It was the day after the great welcome he had received on Sunday. Hosana in the highest! Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord! That was yesterday. This was Monday morning and Jesus is hungry as they take the 3 mile or so hike from Bethany back into Jerusalem. There in the distance, he sees it. It’s a fig tree. It’s lush green and covered in leaves and looks like there just might be breakfast in there somewhere. Mark says that it was not the time for figs. Several commentators have argued that this being March or April means that it was not the time for fig harvest, so that figs should have been on that tree, even if they were not yet ripe. They hadn’t been picked yet, because it was early, or not the time for figs. But when Jesus comes to the fig tree, there aren’t even any unripe figs on it, only leaves. It is all leaves and no lunch. It looks good from a distance, but on closer inspection, it is all good looks and no fruit. Jesus is not impressed with the leaves. He is looking for breakfast. What fruit are fig trees supposed to produce? Figs. What is this one producing? Leaves. What does Jesus have to say about this? “May no one ever eat from you again.”
That was the end of the line for this fig tree. Even trees listen to Jesus when he speaks. The next time we meet this fig tree it is dried up from the roots. Peter says, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed is withered away!” That was Tuesday morning.
What else is happening in Jesus life during this time? Do the gospel writers put this event in here because there is nothing else newsworthy to tell? Of course not! Jesus is here in Jerusalem facing the final days before the cross. The Passover is at hand. Jesus, the sacrificial Lamb of God has come to lay down his life for us all. Jesus is here with his disciples and he is teaching them just as he is teaching others. It appears from all the gospel accounts that Jesus is especially teaching these chosen disciples. They will be the ones to whom this gospel message is entrusted. They will be the ones who will bear the fruit of the kingdom in the days to come. Jesus prepares them for this. He has spoken of bearing fruit before. Now he demonstrates clearly what happens to those who are fruitless. Leaves are not enough. Looks are not enough. An attractive appearance that hides an unproductive performance is not enough. Jesus comes looking for fruit. He always has. He always will. The Lord wants and expects fruit. What will he find when he comes to look at our lives? What will he say when he sees what we are producing?
Listen to a story Jesus told in Luke. Luke 13: 6 And He began telling this parable: "A certain man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it, and did not find any.
7 "And 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?’
8 "And he answered and said to him, ’Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer;
9 and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’"
Jesus expects fruit. John the Baptist said it too: Matt 3: 8 "Therefore bring forth fruit in keeping with repentance;
10 "And the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Then Jesus said the same thing: Matthew 7: 19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Now none of us here wants to be cut down and thrown into the fire. So what do we do to bear fruit?
Jesus said if we abide in him we will bear the fruit he expects.
John 15: 5 "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.
6 "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch, and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you.
8 "By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.
16 "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 of the Father in My name, He may give to you.
What is this fruit that Jesus expects? What does it look like? In at least some aspects bearing fruit means winning others to the kingdom. Just listen to these verses:
John 12: 24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
Romans 1: 13 And I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that often I have planned to come to you (and have been prevented thus far) in order that I might obtain some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles.
14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.
15 Thus, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.
Col. 1: 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints;
5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel,
6 which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth;
Sharing the gospel with others will produce fruit. Does Jesus tell us to share the gospel with others? Matthew 28:19-20
What happens when we don’t share the gospel with others? Do we abide in his words? Can we bear the fruit Jesus expects? But when we share the gospel, God gives the increase. And something else happens. As our faith and fruit grows Jesus says that God answers our prayers.
Lets think about what Jesus said in John 15 regarding bearing fruit and God answering our prayers.
In John 15 Jesus says 7 "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you.
8 "By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.
And 16 "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 of the Father in My name, He may give to you.
Did you notice how bearing fruit, faithfulness and answered prayers are lumped together?
Think about that. Jesus is telling us that fruitfulness and answered prayers go together.
Is God answering your prayers?
Are you bearing fruit?
Are you faithful?
All of these come together in Jesus discussion about the power of prayer.
Now think about Mark 11 where Jesus moves from the illustration of the withered fig tree that had no fruit on it to teach the disciples about the power of faith and prayer.
In Mark 11:20-25 Jesus calls for faith, prayer and forgiveness in prayer.
Peter heard Jesus curse the fig tree and today it is dried up from the roots. He shouldn’t be too surprised by now. Jesus says to the dead girl, “get up,” to the demons, “get out,” to the storm, “get quiet,” to the sick, “get well.” And whenever Jesus says something, it happens.
Peter says, “Rabbi, look! That fig tree you cursed has withered away!” Jesus says, “Have faith in God.” Actually, the Greek wording says, “Have faith of God, or from God.” This is divine faith. Basically he says, “Have God’s faith.” If you do, without doubting in your heart, but believing that those things you say will happen, you can say to a mountain, be removed and cast into the sea and it will happen.
Now what would happen if God granted you a blank check prayer life? You ask it, and he does it. What would your life look like? What would the church look like? Jesus says here that God does that very thing… if we have “faith of God.” This is a faith that God gives us to use for his kingdom and the gospel. It is not a faith of “you” so that all your desires and wishes might be fulfilled as if God is a genie in a bottle. This is a kingdom building, fruit bearing faith that Jesus expects us to receive and put to work for God’s glory.
Some of us want the power of prayer to get God to heal all our sick friends and grant safety and happiness to our kids and friends. Not that this is so bad, but we often think of this world in unspiritual ways and forget that it is not our home. Pain reminds us of that better than anything.
“Faith of God prayer” is powerful for God’s glory to bear fruit and bring souls to glory that were bound for hell. We are tempted to turn the stones to bread when we are hungry. This is not the purpose of such faith.
Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 13:2 hypothetically, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. God is less interested in mountains being moved than he is in hearts being changed and souls being saved. And there are times when God says no to even the strongest prayer of faith. Jesus in the garden prayed that the cup be taken away, but he submitted himself to the will of the Father. I would venture to say that Jesus had the ability to say no to the cup, because he told Peter that he could call and God would send the angels to rescue him. But his prayer was that not his will, but the Father’s will be done.
Just think of the fruit his life has born! He sought strength through prayer. He defeated temptation, sin, and death. And part of that came through prayer. Let me conclude with this:
Different kinds of prayer:
Duty – Pray for kings and all those in authority. Pray for the sick and for all those of whom it is our duty to pray. Time to eat. Pause, bow and pray. Bed time. Be sure to say your prayers.
These are good and wholesome. Not to be despised or designated as unfit for mature Christian faith.
Desperation – When the car is running off the road or there is a major essay question on the final exam that you didn’t expect. Or just before, during and after a terrorist or criminal act. Or the doctor says, “I have bad news.”
These can be good and wholesome too. Did not Jesus, on the night he was betrayed pray like this? Father if it is possible, let this cup pass!
Devotion – Acts 2:42 and Col 4:2 devote yourselves to prayer. And 1 Thess 5: 16 Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Deeply Dependant – Jesus often taught and exemplified this kind of prayer. Luke 18:1-14
The examples of bad prayer are:
Decorated – Pharisees: Praying to be seen by others. Prideful prayers.
Doubtful - Praying without faith. James 1:5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6 But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For let not that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,
8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Jesus tells us that prayers offered in faith are powerful. And they are to be accompanied with a forgiving heart and a fruitful life.
