- Chapters: [[Mark 11]]:12-25 # The King In The Temple - For this passage, let's be really careful about the context - [[Mark 11]]:1-10 is all about the king prophesizing the [[Old Testament]] ([[Zechariah]]), riding in the temple on a donkey to save. But [[Malachi 3]] said "I will send my messenger who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord will come to your temple... to put you on trial" - Now this passage in [[Mark 12]] is the temple judgement from [[Malachi]] # The Judgement - Fig rolls: 3 layer sandwich - Fig v 12-14 - Temple 15-19 - Fig 20-25 - Shock of [[Jesus]] cursing the fig tree is likened to Him cursing the temple # The fruitless religion Jesus hates (12-14) - [[Jesus]] being hungry here is an unusual detail - [[Jesus]] is looking for fruit, but is angry when he finds nothing where they should be - Context: at this time of year, you should still expect to see fruits growing. But it is leafing without fruit - He makes sure his disciples hear him curse the tree - In [[Old Testament]], fig trees are a symbol of [[God]]'s people ([[Jeremiah 8]]: "There will be no figs on the tree" depicting turning away from God) - Leafy but fruitless -- this is exactly how [[Jesus]] finds his people when he enters the temple ## The temple (15-19) - “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.’” - Just a few days ago he rode in gentle and lowly on a donkey. But now he is furious and authoritative - The status quo of the temple is buying and selling with money changing - Quoting [[Isaiah 56]]: "... for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations" - [[Jesus]] is not clearing the temple of gentiles, but clearing it *for* them - Question we should ask ourselves: - Sunday service -- are we going just for keeping up appearances, or for genuine nourishment? - Serving -- do we actually enjoy it, or just going to look good? - Are there christian commands I won't obey? - Leaf without fruit -- appearance without nutrition - So what do we do about it? Bring it to [[Jesus]] in faith # The fruitful religion [[Jesus]] hungers for (20-25) - [[Jesus]]'s response to being told the tree has withered: "Have faith in [[God]]" - [[Peter]]'s question is veiled -- "is there still a way to [[God]], if the temple is cursed?" - [[Jesus]] answers that question directly: Yes! - Emphasis on faith, and belief - How? The clue is in the fig tree - [[Mark 13]]:2, [[Mark 14]]:58, and many more -- the temple will be destroyed, and replaced in its roots by [[Christ]] - How to interpret the mountain promise? - Option 1: a general mountain. If you trust [[God]], even things that seem impossible will be possible - Option 2: a specific mountain, [[Mount Zion]] the mount of olives in [[Jerusalem]]. See [[Zechariah 4]]: "will split the mountain in half" when the Lord comes. So to pray for the mountain to be moved is to pray for the Lord to come. And if the Lord has come you don't need a temple to find him: he's here - Either way the point is the same: the temple's time is up; have faith in God. There is a house of prayer for all nations -- it's in [[Christ]] - This links to verse 25: forgiveness can still be received provided you forgive others. Because being able to forgive others is a sign that your faith has fruit in your life. Receiving forgiveness from [[God]] first gives the fuel to forgive others - Verse 12: [[Jesus]] is hungry. What is he hungry for? Faith in [[God]]!