Mark Reading Plan – W11D2
Week 11 | Day 2 | Mark 11:12-17
Check out all the previous readings here.
Pray
Thank God for something in your life and ask Him to speak to you through your reading and reflection today.
Bible Reading (read these verses three times slowly)
The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 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. Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.”
On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts 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, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 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.’”
Reflection & Questions
What a strange story this is… Jesus curses a fruitless fig tree! Why did Jesus do this and why does Mark include it here?
To understand, you need to know that a fig tree with leaves was supposed to have fruit. So as Jesus approached this fig tree from a distance and saw leaves, he assumed it would have fruit, but crucially – it didn’t. It was an imposter.
Then in the very next paragraph, we’re told that Jesus entered the temple courts. From a distance, there was a lot of activity; people entering and leaving, lots of conversations going on. It would appear the people were very active in their walk with God. But on closer inspection – the temple wasn’t being used as a place of prayer, but as a market. There was a lot of activity, but no true fruit. So just like Jesus cursed the fig tree, he passionately cleanses the temple.
How often, we can look busy with religious activity, and yet we aren’t producing any real fruit. We’re not really changing and we’re not really on mission for Jesus. Take to heart from these verses how passionate Jesus is about this contradiction. He wants us to be fruitful followers of Him.
- Are you producing the fruit of a changed life? How do you know?
Pray
Talk to God in response to the reading today. Ask Him to search your heart.
Worship Song
You could use this worship song to worship your Good Father today.
Bible Reading
The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 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. Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.”
On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts 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, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 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.’”
Reflection and Questions
What a strange story this is…Jesus curses a fruitless fig tree! Why did Jesus do this and why does Mark include it here? ”
To understand, you need to know that a fig tree with leaves was supposed to have fruit. Ya know, like any good fruit tree should have! So as Jesus approached this fig tree from a distance and saw leaves, he assumed it would have fruit, but it didn’t. It wasn’t a good tree at all! ”
Then in the very next paragraph, we’re told Jesus entered the temple courts. The temple back then was kind of like our church is today. From a distance, it looked like there was a lot of activity; people entering and leaving, lots of conversations going on. Just by looking at it, it seemed like everyone was definitely there to praise God and learn more, right? But once Jesus got closer and went inside – He saw that the temple wasn’t being used as a place of prayer, but as a market to buy and sell things. There was a lot of activity, but no actual good things happening. So just like Jesus cursed the fig tree, He very clearly lets the people in the temple know how wrong they were.”
Is it possible to ever look like you’re doing the right things, but you aren’t doing much at all? Like have you ever been cleaning your room, but really you’re just moving a pile of dirty clothes from your bed onto your chair? Or have you ever been reading your Bible, but you’re actually just day dreaming and thinking about something else? We need to make sure that when we’re doing something for Jesus, we are being really focused on what it is that we’re trying to do! Whether thats praying, serving, reading our Bibles, or anything else – make sure you are doing things for Jesus on purpose, and not just going through the motions.
Prayer
Talk to God in response to the reading today. Ask Him to help you focus on doing the right thing for the right reasons.
Bible Reading
The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 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. Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.”
On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts 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, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 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.’”
Devo Focus
Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it. Vs.14
Devo
Have you ever been hangry? So hungry that it makes you a little angry? In the first part of the story, it might seem that Jesus is a bit hangry, but it turns out there’s a bit more to his anger than just being hungry!
What a strange story this is…Jesus curses a fruitless fig tree! Why did Jesus do this and why does Mark include it here?
To understand, you need to know that a fig tree with leaves was supposed to have fruit. So as Jesus approached this fig tree from a distance and saw leaves, he assumed it would have fruit, but crucially – it didn’t. It was an imposter.
Then in the very next paragraph, we’re told Jesus entered the temple courts. From a distance, there would have seemed to be a lot of activity; people entering and leaving, lots of conversations going on. It would appear the people were very much active in their walk with God. But on closer inspection – the temple wasn’t being used as a place of prayer, but as a market. There was a lot of activity, but no true fruit. So just like Jesus cursed the fig tree, he passionately cleanses the temple.
How often, we can look busy with religious activity, and yet we aren’t producing any real fruit. We’re not really changing and we’re not really on mission for Jesus. Take in from these verses how passionate Jesus is about this contradiction. He wants us to be fruitful followers of Him.
- Are you producing the fruit of a changed life? How do you know?