Faith and Prayer

Introduction

Misunderstandings happen sometimes. A person says something and it is taken to mean something else. Confusion reigns when communication falters. An incident happened in Waterford Township, Michigan in May 2000 that illustrates this well. Misunderstandings and confusions are not new. Even with Jesus there was confusion and misunderstanding. Heading to Jerusalem the disciples are expecting a revolution. Entering Jerusalem with the shouts of acclamation from the pilgrims heading to Jerusalem for the Passover just intensifies the belief that the revolution is going to begin soon. But things are not as they seem. In our text Jesus is going to make a pronouncement of judgment but his words are misunderstood. We will take a look at his words and try to discern Jesus’ truth.

A Fig Tree and the Temple

This section in Mark 11 is debated, misunderstood, and questioned. What often happens is that a focus is given that Jesus does not intend. Just as the disciples misunderstood his miracle and his words, so we, too, can misunderstand if we are not careful. Jesus and the disciples are heading to the temple. Mark records the story of the fig tree, but the story is broken up by what is commonly called the cleansing of the temple. We must take this text as a whole in order to understand what Jesus is wanting to convey to his disciples and to us.

Heading to the temple, Jesus is hungry. Seeing a fig tree with leaves, he goes to see if there is any fruit on the tree. Finding no fruit he curses the tree. His disciples hear the words. Mark informs us that this is not the season for figs meaning that no figs should have been on the tree. Now the questions begin. Did Jesus not know about the fig season? Why would he curse a tree that isn’t supposed to have fruit? Is Jesus confused about the growing season? He isn’t confused. Fig trees when in leaf have a green fig which is usually not eaten. It can be eaten, but it isn’t as sweet as a regular fig. This tree has no figs. In other words, there are no pre-figs and as a result the tree will not produce the edible figs. Mark records that it was not the season of figs for time purposes. The pre-figs should have been on the tree. The tree is all show and no substance. The leaves are on the tree but there is no fruit. So Jesus curses the tree.

The group heads into the temple area. Immediately Jesus begins driving out those who are buying and selling there. He overturns tables and benches. Things scatter. It is quite a scene. People stop what they are doing. Mark gives us a valuable clue in verse 16. Jesus does not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. He impedes the sacrificial practices for a brief time. This is the Passover. Lots of activity. He briefly impedes the sacrificial practices and he tells us why. The temple was to be a place of prayer but it has been made into a den of robbers.

Often the explanation is that Jesus is trying to recover the intent of God for the temple. Either he is trying to open the Court of the Gentiles for prayer or he is trying to reclaim the purity of the sacrificial system. He is trying to do neither. In order to appreciate Jesus’ words, we must read the text that he is quoting: Jeremiah 7:1–29. It is a long text, but one which we must read. The point of Jeremiah’s text is the temple has become a sham. It is used as an excuse to sin. Stealing, murder, adultery, and idol worship are done and then sacrifices are brought to the temple. The temple has become a place providing a false sense of security. Like the fig tree it is show with no substance. As a result God says in Jeremiah that he is pronouncing judgment against his people and against the temple. The Lord has abandoned his people.

Jesus stops the sacrificial practices briefly for the same reason. He is making the point that God has abandoned his people. The sacrifices no longer mean anything. The people no longer listen to God. They are a stubborn people. The end is near. Just as in the days of Jeremiah so it is now, the temple is about show not substance. This is a pronouncement of judgment rather than a cleansing to reclaim the intent of God for sacrificing. Jesus knows that his death is coming. He knows that his death will put an end to the need for sacrificing. He doesn’t want Israel to reclaim sacrificial practices. He wants them to see and understand that their hearts are not with God.

The next day walking again to the temple, the fig tree is completely withered. Peter announces that the curse took effect. Jesus says “have faith in God.” Don’t look to the temple for your faith. If anyone says to this mountain to be tossed into the sea, it will be done. Which mountain? This mountain. Is Jesus speaking of the Mount of Olives to quote Zechariah 14:4 or is he speaking of the temple mountain as a further indication that the temple is to be destroyed? It could be either. Both have the same effect: judgment.

In contrast to the temple, prayer is the avenue by which one can communicate with God. The promise of verse 24 is not a blanket statement suggesting that all of our whims will be granted. Rather, Jesus is setting up a contrast in which prayer is to be seen as the means by which one approaches God rather than through a sacrificial practice which is more about action than substance.

Application

The application for us from this text is challenging. First, outward form is no substitute for substance. Rituals and traditions are comforting. There is a sense of security which comes when we know what to expect. But knowing what to expect can translate into lack of substance. God’s people trusted in the temple. They trusted in what was expected. And when Jesus came they found him to be at best a pest and at worse a troublemaker. Don’t skim over verse 18. Jesus’ words were not lost on the religious leaders. They will murder him before the week is done. They trusted in religious practices and traditions and rituals, but their hearts were not turned to God.

Sunday morning is comfortable. The rituals and traditions are firmly in place. We know how things will go. We find security in ritual. This is not a call to change our assembly in some significant way so that we get excited again about God. It is a call to remind us that if our hearts are not turned to God then the rituals are meaningless. What good is a tree with leaves that produces no fruit? It looks nice but it has no value. What good is an assembly that looks good if the hearts of the people are not turned to God? Such an assembly has no value.

Second, prayer is our connection with God. The temple had become a barrier to one’s relationship with God. No longer did one only go through a priest; now one had to exchange money, buy only designated animals for sacrifice, expend larger sums of money just to get through the ritual. God was getting shoved away by the accumulation of traditions and rituals within the very instrument intended to bring him closer. Enough. Jesus gives his disciples and us the answer for connection: prayer.

Judgment has been pronounced and the remedy was to connect with God on a personal level through prayer. So we pray with confidence. We pray knowing that God is listening. We pray with a sense of expectation. We know that God wants to do what is best for us so we pray trusting God to do what is best for us. We pray with a forgiving spirit. We forgive those who have wronged us and we know that God will forgive us.

Is your heart turned to God? Do you trust in him? How is your prayer life with God? Are you connected with him?

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