“Moving Mountains and Wilting Leaves” – MARK 11:12-26

Do you think the disciples minds’ might have wandered back to this wilting fig tree (11:20) when Jesus taught them the parable of the True Vine and the branches being cut off (John 15:1-5) if they do not bear fruit? Were they able to see the connection between the pruning of the Father and Jesus’ cleansing the temple (11:15-17)? Their minds must have been saturated by that point, so it is hard to say whether they were “connecting the dots” or not.

These two salient facets of faith are essential elements of spiritual understanding and a life of bold fruitfulness in Christ.

The power of grace should supercharge our active faith.

Sadly, some choose to “lie down” in grace instead of “standing” (Romans 5:1-2) in grace. The Jews took God’s grace for granted and did not bear fruit for Him, despite all of the advantages He blessed them with. As Jesus “demanded” figs from the tree, He has the sovereign right to demand fruit (11:12-13) and the sovereignty to pronounce judgment (11:14, 20-21). The gift of grace is calling us to run the race and bear fruit.

The gift of grace is calling us to act in faith (11:22-23) to the glory of God.

The power of grace should also cause an inward reflection that leads to spiritual cleansing. The priests and scribes looked at Jesus as a usurper of “their” authority (11:18). The bottom line is that it is HIS temple. Like the Jews, people tend to clutter our lives with needless things and unfruitful distractions (11:15-16). These things that were meant to assist the Jews in faithful observance of the temple sacrifices had become stumbling blocks (11:17). As our Lord, Jesus has the right to demand that we remove sin and distraction from our lives, which is His spiritual temple. Take a close look … many things that begin as harmless soon become avenues of robbing God!

Jesus then focuses the disciples on one of the most necessary cleansing tools – the power of prayer (11:24-26). Notice, however, where cleansing in prayer naturally leads the Christian. In Christ, by grace and through faith, the cleansing power of the blood of Christ washes those who obey the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-5, 1 John 1:7). That we need to be continually cleansed from sin by the forgiveness of our God is readily understood.

The point that Jesus makes here, is that by forgiving others we cleanse His temple, too.

Grudges and unforgiven wrongs are like dust.

It accumulates subtly, one speck at a time.

If not wiped away, pretty soon the whole temple is a mess!