HAVE FAITH IN GOD

Mark 11:11-25  

Key verse 11:22

“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered.

Read verse 11. After arriving in Jerusalem, where did Jesus go? Why? Read verses 12-14. How did Jesus curse the fruitless fig tree in the presence of His disciple? Why was Jesus displeased with the fig tree?  How was this fig tree like the condition of the temple at that time? (Isa. 5:2)

Read verses 15-19. What did Jesus do when He went to the temple in Jerusalem? Think about God's purpose for his city and people (Isa. 2:3; Exo 19:6a).  What did Jesus teach about the true meaning of the temple? (17) 

Read verses 20-21. As Jesus and his disciples walked along, what did Peter notice? Why was he surprised? How was this event a warning for the Israelites?  

Read verses 22-23.  How did Jesus respond? (22)  What does it mean to have faith in God? What did Jesus teach them about the power of faith? (23)  Why must we overcome doubt?  How can we?

Read verses 24-25. What is the relationship between faith and prayer? (24, 25) Why is forgiveness important in prayer?

HAVE FAITH IN GOD

Mark 11:11-25

Key verse 11:22

“‘Have faith in God,’ Jesus answered.”

Introduction:

In today’s passage, Jesus again helped his disciples to have faith in God because without faith they cannot serve God properly. Without faith they cannot overcome the corruption of the world and their sinful desires.  For the coming year, we pray that we may do impossible things for God through faith.

1. Read verse 11. 

ANSWER:

Mar 11:11  Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

After arriving in Jerusalem, where did Jesus go? Why? 

ANSWER:

Verse 11a “Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple.” Jesus entered Jerusalem in order to obey the will of God. He was determined to suffer and die on the cross to save us from sin and death. When he arrived in Jerusalem, he went into the temple courts directly. He immediately applied himself to God’s work. He focused on fulfilling the Scriptures as the servant of God.

This shows what kind of Messiah he is. He did not go to Herod’s palace first but to the temple, thereby showing that he is a spiritual king, not a political one.

Verse 11b “He looked around at everything” When he came into the temple, he examined everything, especially its present status. It was like a diagnostic radiologist who scrutinized many things in the X-Ray images to make a diagnosis.

Verse 11c, “but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve” Jesus did not do something in the temple immediately. Rather, he wanted to retire for the evening with his 12 disciples in order to pray and decide what to do. So, he went out to Bethany which is located 2 miles east of Jerusalem.

Read verses 12-14.

ANSWER:

Mar 11:12-14  The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry.  13  Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.  14  Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it.

How did Jesus curse the fruitless fig tree in the presence of His disciple? 

ANSWER:

Jesus said in v.14, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” Jesus showed them his authority as the Lord and the Judge. This shows that we must bear fruit in season and out of season, the fruit that Jesus is seeking in our lives. Also, his 12 disciples heard what Jesus said to the tree distinctly. He intended to educate them about his Lordship.

Why was Jesus displeased with the fig tree?  

ANSWER:

It did not have fruit that Jesus was seeking. 

Jesus is looking for fruit from us. Through remaining in Jesus, we can bear much fruit (Jn 15:5). Faith in him is, in itself, one important fruit he is seeking (see verse 22). 

How was this fig tree like the condition of the temple at that time? (Isa 5:2)

ANSWER:

Isa 5:2  He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines. He built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress as well. Then he looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit.

“Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf” (13). The fig tree is representing the Israelite people who had been chosen from out of all nations to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. They were supposed to be a shepherd nation and a Bible teaching nation. But they were self-centered and ignorant and indifferent about the core desire of God. Also religious leaders looked pious on the outside. But they were corrupt inwardly. They were supposed to produce fruit. But there was no fruit.

2. Read verses 15-19. 

ANSWER:

Mar 11:15-19  On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves,  16  and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.  17  And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: "`My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it `a den of robbers.'"  18  The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.  19  When evening came, they went out of the city.

What did Jesus do when He went to the temple in Jerusalem? 

ANSWER:

See verses 15 and 16

Think about God's purpose for his city and people (Isa 2:3; Exo 19:6a).  

ANSWER:

Isa 2:3  Many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Exo 19:6a  you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.

As God’s chosen people, the Israelite leaders should have had God’s purpose in their hearts. But they did not. When they should pray for world salvation, they prayed for their own welfare. They ignored God and his broken heart for perishing people. They virtually robbed the people who came to the temple, requiring them to pay excessively high prices for animals to use for sacrifice or to change their money. Jesus took immediate action to go through a radical surgery in order that they may restore God’s purpose and presence in the temple.

What did Jesus teach about the true meaning of the temple? (17) 

ANSWER:

Mar 11:17  And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: "`My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it `a den of robbers.'"

Isa 56:7  these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations."

Jer 7:11  Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the LORD.

The temple, according to Isaiah 56:7, was supposed to be the place where all peoples on earth would come and worship God. It was supposed to be the place where people can pray for the salvation of all peoples on earth.

Jesus came to restore God’s purpose for his people. As Jesus challenged the religious leaders to repent, Jesus challenges us to repent. We are the temple. 1Co 6:19-20 reads, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;  20  you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” God wants to restore his holy purpose in our lives.

1Ki 8:41-43 illustrates the motive of King Solomon who had built the temple, “As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your name --  42  for men will hear of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm -- when he comes and prays toward this temple,  43  then hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name.”

3. Read verses 20-21.

ANSWER:

Mar 11:20-21  In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots.  21  Peter remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!"

As Jesus and his disciples walked along, what did Peter notice?

ANSWER:

He found out the withered fig tree from the roots that was cursed by Jesus the day before. Just one day interval, it had happened that way.

Why was he surprised? 

ANSWER:

He was surprised because he was shocked at the drastic outcome with the word of Jesus. Maybe he was more interested in the power per se. 

How was this event a warning for the Israelites?

ANSWER:

The fig tree represents either the Israelite people or the religious leaders who didn’t repent truly. 

It became a clear warning for the Israelites so that they needed to bear fruit before God. Taking the message of warning is far better than being judged. John 15:6 taught us that we bear fruit by remaining in Jesus. We do not bear fruit but Jesus bears fruit through us when we abide in him. 

4. Read verses 22-23.  

ANSWER:

Mar 11:22-23  "Have faith in God," Jesus answered.  23  "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, `Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.

How did Jesus respond? (22)  

ANSWER:

Mar 11:22  "Have faith in God," Jesus answered.

Jesus understood Peter’s desire for power to be great. 

What does it mean to have faith in God? 

ANSWER:

God should be the only object of our faith. Utter dependency on God is the secret to a powerful life. We do not become powerful through believing in ourselves or various other things. Rather, it is only when we believe in God alone and depend on him alone, that he can exercise his power through us. He becomes our vine and we become his branches.

God teaches us the importance of having faith in God alone through many years of trails. His teaching continues until we learn it.

What did Jesus teach them about the power of faith? (23)  

ANSWER:

Mar 11:23  "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, `Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.

Faith in God brings about an impossible achievement because God works through our faith. A “mountain” represents an immovable object. Jesus wanted them to have faith that moves mountains. This kind of faith is one that overcomes our human limits. The word “anyone” means that we all can experience the power of God in our life as long as we completely depend on God.

Jesus focused on training Peter to have absolute faith in the power of the gospel.  This training was necessary because the disciples of Jesus had to conquer the whole world with the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul also said, “I can do everything through him [Christ] who gives me strength.” (Php 4:13)

Faith connects us to God’s power and authority. In order to log into our own on-line banking account to pay the bills, we must first enter our ID and password. This ID stands for God’s word of promise. The password is our own absolute faith in the word. With these two things God can open wide our heavenly bank account to our disposal to do his work powerfully.

When we think about our own abilities and limitations, it is impossible for us to do anything for God. But what about God? God is the Almighty Creator of heaven and earth. There is nothing that the Almighty, Creator God cannot do. A mountain is too big for me to move. But God can move any mountain. Jesus wants his disciples to have faith that moves mountains.

Why must we overcome doubt?

ANSWER:

Doubt is the enemy of faith. Doubt is like flaming arrows of the devil. He keeps shooting doubts in our hearts. Eph 6:16 reads, “In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” Our natural thought produces doubts as well. In order to have faith in God, we must fight against doubt. We cannot avoid this battle.

How can we?

ANSWER:

By resisting against doubt as soon as it enters into our hearts. Jesus said, “…does not doubt in his heart…” (23). Doubts attack our heart. When very small doubts enter our heart we tend to ignore them because they do not bring about any visible result. But leaving doubt in our hearts is like leaving one needle-sized hole in a dam. The dam surely will be destroyed sooner or later if there is a hole, no matter how small that hole is.

By holding the word of God in high esteem, far above our own reason and experience, and by trusting it with all our heart and especially obeying it (Pro 3:5, Isa 55:9, Ro 10:17, Jn 8:31-32). 

5. Read verses 24-25. 

ANSWER:

Mar 11:24-25  Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.  25  And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

What is the relationship between faith and prayer? (24, 25) 

ANSWER:

Prayer is the expression of our faith. Prayer is believing. It is like needle and thread. If one prays without believing, nothing will happen. He is like Jacob in Genesis who prayed for God to protect him from the hand of his brother Esau but still suffered from tremendous fear because he prayed without believing. Jesus emphasized the importance of believing in prayer, saying “believe that you have received it” (24).

Why is forgiveness important in prayer?

ANSWER:

God’s answer to our prayer is limited if we do not forgive others. If we do not forgive others, our relationship with God is not restored because our heavenly Father cannot forgive our sins. So his answer will be limited.  If we do not forgive others, our Father will also hold our sin against us. 

We can forgive others by believing in Jesus on the cross who said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luk 23:34). God nailed his one and only Son to the cross in order to forgive our sins. Through his Son's ransom sacrifice, God gave us the grace of forgiveness. Our sins are forgiven, and we have become the precious children of God. Therefore, we can forgive others' sins when we remember God’s grace.

 Figs do not ripen until June. But Jesus may have been looking for early figs (Heb. bikkuwr, Isa 28:4) which are buds that form while the leaves of the tree come forth in March. Although they are only marginally edible, people do eat them.

 Deu 14:24-26 permits the Jews to sell animals for making sacrifices to those who traveled from far away. But they should not have been doing this in the temple itself. According to Edersheim, the sons of the High Priest, Annas ben Seth, set up this market in the temple and profited from it. They charged outrageous prices for the sale of the animals for sacrifice. They effectively prevented worshippers from buying animals at a cheaper price from outside the temple by requiring the animals brought in to be examined for Levitical fitness by inspectors called “mumcheh” who also charged a fee. The temple authorities also refused to accept offerings made with Roman coins because the portraits on the coins were considered idolatrous. So people had to change their Roman money into Tyrian shekels. And the money changers also charged for their services.

Have Faith in God

Mark 11:12-25

Key verse 11:22

“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered.

Look at verses 12-14:

12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.

This scene seems strange. Why did Jesus curse the fig tree like this? It seems unfair to curse the tree for not having fruit out of season. It also seems strange that Jesus was so upset about it. Perhaps the disciples thought things like this when they heard Jesus curse the tree. 

Look at verses 15-16. 

When Jesus arrived at the temple in Jerusalem, he found people buying and selling animals and changing money. It looked like a marketplace, but this market was a temple-based economy. Jews and God-fearing people from around the world traveled to the temple in Jerusalem, traded their foreign currencies, and bought animals to sacrifice to God. It was big business. Not only did many merchants and traders make a living through this trade, but the leaders in charge of the temple made a lot, too. 

When Jesus saw this scene, he was not pleased. He drove out everyone who was buying and selling. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and he would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. Before Jesus arrived, the temple area was a noisy marketplace, but after he arrived it was strangely quiet. The only sound that could be heard was that of people praying and Jesus teaching the Word of God. 

In verse 17, Jesus explained why he did this: 

And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written:

   “‘My house will be called 

   a house of prayer for all nations’?

   But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”

Jesus cleared the temple because of his love for his Father. Jesus’ desire was to see the temple used as his Father had intended it.  

Jesus quoted the word of God from Isaiah and Jeremiah. Let's take a look at Isaiah 56:6-7:

And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD 

   to serve him, 

to love the name of the LORD, 

   and to worship him, 

all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it 

   and who hold fast to my covenant— 

7 these I will bring to my holy mountain 

   and give them joy in my house of prayer. 

Their burnt offerings and sacrifices 

   will be accepted on my altar; 

for my house will be called 

   a house of prayer for all nations.” 

Through the prophet Isaiah, God had foretold of a day when people from all nations on earth--not just Jews, but Gentiles--would come to the temple to pray. The temple would be a house of prayer for all nations. It would be a holy place where people could come and restore their relationship with God and have joy. God said, "I will give them joy in my house of prayer." This was the vision that Jesus longed to see fulfilled. 

Jesus loved his Father. Jesus nurtured his love for his Father through meditating on the word of God and through prayer. If you are like me, you want to see things as Jesus did, but the busyness of life makes it difficult. That’s why a house of prayer is so important. We need a quiet place and time to come and spend with God. We need some time to meditate on God’s word. As we come to God like this through the Holy Spirit, God gives us joy. As the joy of God rises in our hearts, the burdens and problems of life begin to lose strength. When this happens, we can begin to share Jesus’ longing to see our Father’s kingdom come. We can share our Father’s desire to see people from all nations coming to God. 

What does God want in 2011?  He wants all nations to come into his House so that he can give them joy. This is a big vision, but it is fulfilled one person at a time. God wants you and I to come to his House. When we do this, it is natural to want to see our Father’s vision fulfilled. Then we can pray sincerely for all nations. First come to God; then think about God’s vision. Think about the people of Brazil. Our Father longs to see all of them come into his House. Consider the people of Africa. Before we go to God’s house and pray, these places are just places; when we are in the House of prayer, we share our Father’s heart and vision. May God bless us to do so. 

By Jesus' day, however, many people had lost sight of God's purpose for the temple. To them, the temple was a means to make money. Instead of thinking about God and helping others to know God better, many of the locals in Jerusalem, including spiritual leaders, were thinking about how to maximize profits. When Jesus saw this, it reminded him exactly of the situation in the days of the prophet Jeremiah, when God said to the people of Judah: 

9 “‘Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, 10 and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, “We are safe”—safe to do all these detestable things? 11 Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 7:9-11)

In the days of Jeremiah, people thought that they could live unrepentant, sinful lives and then come to the temple and be forgiven. They though, "We are safe," but it didn't make sense. Is the temple a sanctuary for sinners to come, offer some sacrifices, feel better about themselves, and then continue sinning? They were treating God's house as a den of robbers. A robbers den is a safe place for robbers to escape to, store their loot, and relax. 

In Jesus' day, the temple had again become like a den of robbers. Not only were people counting their loot, which they got by overcharging foreigners, but people were coming to the temple with the thought that they could buy a dove for five bucks, offer it as a sacrifice, and be right with God; no repentance necessary; no sincere prayer offered. 

When Jesus looked at the temple, with people buying and selling and making offerings without repentance, he was angry, and he put a stop to it. He drove out everyone who was buying and selling; he turned over money tables; he stopped people from carrying merchandise through the temple courts, leaving the temple quiet for the first time in a long time. Suddenly, you could hear people praying; you could hear Jesus' voice as he taught the people the word of God. When Jesus was there, the temple was restored to a house of prayer. 

Indeed, Jesus can quickly clean out a corrupt temple. If Jesus can do this with the temple in Jerusalem, he can do so in my heart. 

The beginning of a new year is a good time to clean out junk. Clear your home, your office, you car, your computer of all the clutter that's built up over the past year, and you will feel good. Most of all, take some time at the beginning of this new year to clear your heart of the unnecessary and harmful stuff that's been piling up over the past year. Clear away everything unnecessary; everything that hinders; everything that corrupts; everything that isn't where it belongs. Take some time to let Jesus come in and clear out the temple of your heart, and God will give you joy in his house of prayer.  

Now, let's see what happened to that fig tree Jesus cursed. Look at verses 20-25. 

The next morning, Jesus and his discipled walked past the fig tree Jesus had cursed the previous day, and they saw that the tree had withered from the roots. Peter was surprised. He said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! the fig tree you cursed has withered." Even though Peter had heard Jesus curse the fig tree the day before, he thought it was just a figure of speech; he never expected anything to actually happen to the tree, especially so soon. In fact, it is impossible for a tree to wither that quickly from the roots. Clearly, this was a miracle. 

In response to Peter, Jesus said, "Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain,‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

Jesus used this event to teach his disciples the power of believing prayer. Jesus summed up his lesson in four words: "Have faith in God." When we have faith in God, we expect to receive what we ask for in prayer. Jesus says, "whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." 

No wonder Jesus was so upset to see the house of prayer for all nations turned into a den of robbers. When God's people pray with believing hearts, God works powerfully in answer to their prayers. Jesus' disciples must learn to pray, but most of all they must have faith in God. When we have faith in God, asking and receiving in prayer is natural; without faith, prayer is cold and mechanical. Jesus' four words, "Have faith in God" is the secret to a powerful prayer life. 

What does it mean to have faith in God?  It means at least two things. First, it means to believe that God exists. Second, it means to believe that nothing is too hard for God. 

As we look ahead to what 2011 will bring, we can see things two ways. On the one hand, we can see things the way people typically do--they look ahead and hope things work out OK. On the other hand, we can see things the way Jesus wants us to--by faith in God. Have faith in God, and we can move from hope to certainty, believing that God will give us whatever we ask for. With faith in God, God can do great things through us. Even though we are "out of season," we can bear good fruit for God's glory. 

There is, however, one thing that could hinder us and prevent God from working powerfully through us in 2011: unforgiveness. Look at verse 25: "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” Part of the cleaning up process at the beginning of this new year must include clearing away unforgiveness from our hearts. For many of us, there is one or more persons who have sinned against us. Naturally, we tend to "hold" something against them. But Jesus says we need to let go and forgive so that our Father in heaven may forgive our sins. 

In conclusion, in 2011 we have the opportunity to experience the joy of fellowship with God, to bear good fruit, and to see our prayers answered. We just need to do one key thing: "Have faith in God." May God bless us do so in 2011. 

One word: Have faith in God.