Today's reading is from Mark 11 -
Mark mentions the temple "area" in vs 15. The significance of that is that when a person entered into the "area" of the Temple, the first thing they stepped into was the area for the "ethne" - the nations, the Gentile area. It was the only part of the Temple area that Gentiles were allowed in. It was also the biggest part of the Temple area, and a Jew had to go through it to get to the part that contained the Temple building itself.
When Jesus arrives at the Temple he sees bustling traffic. He sees the money changer tables, doing a huge business in taking the money of foreign pilgrims so that they might purchase animals and grain for the sacrifices they came to offer to God. Thousands of people came to the Temple during the Passover - from all over the Roman world. The first century historian, Josephus, wrote that during Passover one year, some 255,000 lambs were brought, sold and sacrificed at the Temple area. The throngs of people within that area made it a confusing, noisy, smelly mess.
Did anyone notice Jesus that day? Did anyone see him begin to angrily overturn tables of money? When did the turmoil begin to become very public? Mark says, Mark 11:15-17 (NIV)
15 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.'"
Jesus was appalled that the very place that God had said to Solomon would be a place for all of the nations to come to for Worship, had turned into a merchandising mall.
The day this all occurs, Jesus had done an odd thing (by our quick observations). He had walked past a fig tree, and because it was in leaf, but had no figs, he spoke a curse over it...Mark 11:14 (NIV)
14 Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it.
It seems such an odd thing at first glance. Why get mad at the tree? The fig tree came to blossom during this time of the year, and little nodules of figs began to appear with the sign of first blossoms. Yet when those nodules didn't appear, it was a sign of something seriously wrong with the tree - most like a decay had set in and the tree was dying.
Growth without fruit was a sign that decay was in process, and therefore, long-term, it was only going down hill. The tree looked good on the outside, but it was not going to do what it was meant to do. What was going on in the temple that day was a picture of that tree - fruitless, decay had set in, there was nothing good going on and it was going down hill fast.
The disciples with Jesus would go back and see that fig tree again. This time Peter makes a comment to Jesus and his response is important to see... Mark 11:20-26 (NIV)
20 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!"
22 "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.
24 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.
The tree is a symbol of a religion without faith. And that faith is practical in it's outcomes. It is a faith that asks and believes, and it's a faith that is sincere...first looking within to see if it's genuine in it's motives, attitudes, and desires. Religious activities account for nothing when they have no fruit bearing from God. The work of the Spirit is clear... He produces love, joy, peace, long-suffering, discipline, humility, self-control...and these will never come about by mere religiosity.
Tomorrow is a day of worship gathering all around the earth. Wherever we are, let's approach it as a day that is given over to God..to love him, and to love others, seeking the very fruit of being a temple of God that each of us is called to be.
Peace
If you're reading through-the-bible-in-a-year with me, today's reading is from 2 Samuel 19, 20, 21.
Mark mentions the temple "area" in vs 15. The significance of that is that when a person entered into the "area" of the Temple, the first thing they stepped into was the area for the "ethne" - the nations, the Gentile area. It was the only part of the Temple area that Gentiles were allowed in. It was also the biggest part of the Temple area, and a Jew had to go through it to get to the part that contained the Temple building itself.
When Jesus arrives at the Temple he sees bustling traffic. He sees the money changer tables, doing a huge business in taking the money of foreign pilgrims so that they might purchase animals and grain for the sacrifices they came to offer to God. Thousands of people came to the Temple during the Passover - from all over the Roman world. The first century historian, Josephus, wrote that during Passover one year, some 255,000 lambs were brought, sold and sacrificed at the Temple area. The throngs of people within that area made it a confusing, noisy, smelly mess.
Did anyone notice Jesus that day? Did anyone see him begin to angrily overturn tables of money? When did the turmoil begin to become very public? Mark says, Mark 11:15-17 (NIV)
15 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.'"
Jesus was appalled that the very place that God had said to Solomon would be a place for all of the nations to come to for Worship, had turned into a merchandising mall.
The day this all occurs, Jesus had done an odd thing (by our quick observations). He had walked past a fig tree, and because it was in leaf, but had no figs, he spoke a curse over it...Mark 11:14 (NIV)
14 Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it.
It seems such an odd thing at first glance. Why get mad at the tree? The fig tree came to blossom during this time of the year, and little nodules of figs began to appear with the sign of first blossoms. Yet when those nodules didn't appear, it was a sign of something seriously wrong with the tree - most like a decay had set in and the tree was dying.
Growth without fruit was a sign that decay was in process, and therefore, long-term, it was only going down hill. The tree looked good on the outside, but it was not going to do what it was meant to do. What was going on in the temple that day was a picture of that tree - fruitless, decay had set in, there was nothing good going on and it was going down hill fast.
The disciples with Jesus would go back and see that fig tree again. This time Peter makes a comment to Jesus and his response is important to see... Mark 11:20-26 (NIV)
20 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!"
22 "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.
24 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.
The tree is a symbol of a religion without faith. And that faith is practical in it's outcomes. It is a faith that asks and believes, and it's a faith that is sincere...first looking within to see if it's genuine in it's motives, attitudes, and desires. Religious activities account for nothing when they have no fruit bearing from God. The work of the Spirit is clear... He produces love, joy, peace, long-suffering, discipline, humility, self-control...and these will never come about by mere religiosity.
Tomorrow is a day of worship gathering all around the earth. Wherever we are, let's approach it as a day that is given over to God..to love him, and to love others, seeking the very fruit of being a temple of God that each of us is called to be.
Peace
If you're reading through-the-bible-in-a-year with me, today's reading is from 2 Samuel 19, 20, 21.
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