SERMON OUTLINE:
(A). The outburst.
•(1). The reason for his anger.
•(2). The direction of his anger.
(B). The tree.
•(1). The problem - Fruitlessness
•(2). The lessons – Faith& Prayer.
(C). The Temple.
•(1). Corruption.
•(2). Cleansing.
SERMON BODY:
Joke:
• A vicar was talking to one of his parishioners.
• He said
• "When you get to my age you spend a lot more time thinking about the hereafter."
• "What do you say that", enquires the parishioner.
• The vicar replies
• "Well, I often find myself going into a room and thinking what did I come in hear…after."
This morning’s passage will make you think:
• Not necessary about the hereafter;
• But about why Jesus behaved the way he did.
• We see Jesus acting ‘out of-character’ on two occasions;
• I say ‘out-of-character’,
• Perhaps another side of his character would be a better description.
• On at least two occasions Jesus got angry;
• And acted in a way which might surprise the casual reader of the New Testament.
Note:
• Anger is a God given emotion;
• Most of us however misuse our anger.
• And our anger boils over into wrong words and wrong actions and that leads on to sin.
• The New Testament says in Ephesians chapter 4 verse 26: “In your anger do not sin.”
• The KJV renders it, “Be angry, but sin not.”
• Controlled anger is not wrong or sinful it is a God given emotion.
• But it needs to be used carefully!
(A). The outburst.
Ill:
• The great Italian conductor Arturo Toscanini was legendary for his fits of rage.
• The librarian of one of Toscanini’s orchestras;
• Was particularly vexed by the maestro’s habit of throwing valuable musical scores;
• At the musicians when angry.
• Watching closely, the librarian observed that Toscanini’s first act when enraged;
• Was to take his baton in both hands and try to break it.
• If the baton snapped,
• Toscanini usually calmed down and rehearsal continued.
• If the baton did not break,
• He began hurling scores.
• The librarian’s solution?
• He made sure the conductor had a generous supply of flimsy batons on hand for rehearsal!
In today’s passage we see Jesus getting angry:
• Toscanini’s anger was often an uncontrolled outburst.
• In contrast the anger of Jesus is both controlled and purposeful.
(1). The reason for his anger.
• The reason for his anger
• Was the sad spiritual condition of the nation of Israel.
• They had religion in abundance but no real relationship with God;
• In fact Jesus often criticised them (in particular their leaders);
• By saying: “These people honour me with their lips but their hearts are far from me!”
• (Matthew chapter 15 verse 8).
ill:
• The reason for his anger is that he cared!
• Like a loving parent saddened and heartbroken;
• By the foolish actions of their rebellious children.
• So Jesus reveals his concern & disappointment by revealing his anger;
• Elsewhere he described the nation as “Sheep without a shepherd” (Mark 6:34)
• And with tears he wept and said they were like:
• Chicks without the mother hen (Matthew 23:37)
• Jesus was heartbroken by the spiritual condition of the nation;
• We see an illustration of that in these verses.
(2). The direction of his anger.
• Note the direction of Jesus’ anger is aimed at:
• The barren fig tree (vs 12-14).
• And the corruption that was found in temple courtyard (15-19).
Note: that these two instances are linked:
• The cursing of the fig tree and the cleansing of the temple;
• Are what we call symbolic acts;
• They were visual illustrations; figurative acts;
• Showing us the sad spiritual condition of the nation of Israel at this time.
• In spite of its many privileges and opportunities the nation of Israel had;
• Sadly the nation were was outwardly fruitless (i.e. like the tree);
• And the nation was inwardly corrupt (i.e. like the temple).
Note:
• This is one of the few times (I can only think of one other);
• Where Jesus used His miraculous powers to destroy something in nature.
• First time he used his power to destroy and drown some pigs (Mark 5:13),
• He sent demons from a possessed man into the animals & they ran off the edge of a cliff.
• Second time is in this passage when Jesus uses his power to destroy a tree (Mark 11:21).
• A tree that is barren, unable to produce fruit.
• For Jesus to act in such a way,
• Must cause us to ask stop and ask ‘why?’
• Let’s look at the passage for some answers.
(1). The tree (vs 12-14 & 20-26).
(1). The problem of the tree – fruitless.
• At first sight this is a puzzling miracle;
• The fig tree produces leaves in March or April and then starts to bear fruit in June,
• With another crop in August and possibly a third crop in December.
• So many people find it rather puzzling of Jesus to expect fruit out of season;
• But a little bit of research shows;
• That the expectation of Jesus to find fruit was not wrong;
Quote: one commentator writes:
• “Jesus encounters this fig tree on his walk from the city of Bethany;
• To the capital city of Jerusalem during the Jewish Passover holiday.
• He sees this fig tree in full leaf from a distance.
• Fig trees were extremely common in ancient Israel, even as they still are today.
• And fig trees are unique from most other trees
• Because they produce fruit before they produce leaves.
• So the fact that this tree has leaves suggests that some kind of fruit will still be on it,
• Either leftover figs from the summer harvest or immature figs that were also edible.
• So even though the formal fig season was over,
• It wasn’t at all unreasonable for Jesus to find something on this tree.
• But Jesus finds nothing but leaves,
• Which tells us that this is a sterile fig tree, a fig tree that doesn’t produce any figs”.
• So the expectation of Jesus to find fruit on the tree was not wrong;
• But sadly this tree was sterile, barren, it was unable to produce fruit!
Surprisingly this incident is the last recorded miracle of Jesus in Mark’s Gospel;
• You might expect Mark to finish on what we would call ‘a big one’;
• i.e. Jesus walking on the water.
• i.e. Or Jesus feeding 5,000 people or some dramatic healing.
• But surprisingly he chooses to record this miracle - where Jesus curses a fig tree.
• As the last recoded miracle in his gospel;
Actually this miracle fits perfectly into Mark’s gospel at this point in time:
• Remember that Jesus is heading towards Jerusalem (spiritual capitol of the nation);
• And what happens with the tree is a perfect example of the nation’s spiritual condition.
• i.e. What we have in this incident is a sermon in picture form.
• i.e. It is a bit like a parable acted out before the disciples.
• The tree represents the nation of Israel.
• Throughout the Old Testament, the fig tree is associated with the nation of Israel.
• (Jeremiah 8:13; Nahum 3:12; Hosea 9:10).
Quote: The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah chapter 8 verses 11-13.
“They offer superficial treatments
for my people’s mortal wound.
They give assurances of peace
when there is no peace.
12 Are they ashamed of these disgusting actions?
Not at all—they don’t even know how to blush!
Therefore, they will lie among the slaughtered.
They will be brought down when I punish them,
says the LORD.
13 I will surely consume them.
There will be no more harvests of figs and grapes.
Their fruit trees will all die.
Whatever I gave them will soon be gone.
I, the LORD, have spoken!’”
• These words were spoken by the Hebrew prophet Jeremiah;
• Around five hundred years before the birth of Jesus.
• It was a message of judgment against the nation of Israel.
• The people of Jeremiah’s generation were minimizing the seriousness of their sins,
• They were downplaying their rebellion towards God.
• So God says he’ll judge Israel,
• And like a fig tree with no figs, Israel will wither and die.
• 500 years after Jeremiah the prophet spoke those words it is Déjà vu;
• Once again the people of God have lost their reality and are spiritually dead.
• And once again their fruit tree is barren and withered.
The problem with the tree in this incident was it contained no fruit!
• Now the main function of any fruit-tree is to produce fruit.
• ill: A healthy apple tree will produce apples.
• ill: A healthy plum tree will produce plums.
• ill: A healthy fig tree will produce figs.
• But this tree is not healthy!
• Verse 12 tells us it was in ‘leaf’ and it had plenty of ‘leaves’.
• But it was of no real value or purpose – it was all show!
• The tree was a thing of beauty - it had plenty of ‘leaves’.
• ill: A bit like blossom on an apple tree
• The nation had their religion;
• The temple, the priests the garments, the ceremonies, the feats etc
• It was a thing of beauty.
• But sadly it had no life,
• Because it was barren, spiritually corrupt and dead.
(2). The lessons – Faith & Prayer (20-26).
• The next day as Jesus and his disciples leave Jerusalem;
• They pass by the tree that Jesus cursed.
• The disciples note that it is completely dead
• Verse 20 tells us it was ‘withered from its roots’.
• Out of this situation;
• Jesus chooses to teach the disciples a couple of lessons.
Notice Jesus used this miracle to teach his disciples two important lessons:
(1). A lesson on faith (vs 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”.
• Jesus said, "Have faith in God,"
• Meaning, "Constantly be trusting God; live in an attitude of dependence on Him."
• The problem with the nation was they had no real faith in God;
• They went through the ceremonies and motions of religion;
• They had what appeared to be a deep religion (“lots of leaves”)
• But deep down they were ‘fruitless’,
• They were living for themselves and not God.
• So Jesus tells his disciples to ‘keep it real’.
• It is not outward piety that counts;
• But inward reality!
• So Jesus said, "Have faith in God,"
• Meaning, "Constantly be trusting God; live in an attitude of dependence on Him."
Jesus then draws upon Jewish imagery:
• In Jewish metaphors a mountain signifies something strong and immovable,
• It stands for a problem that is in the way (i.e. Zechariah 4:7).
• Jesus is teaching that these mountains/problems;
• Can only be moved and overcome by trusting God.
Question: Do you have a mountains/problem in your life today?
Answer:
• I know the answer is Yes!
• Because we all have mountains/problems in our lives.
• Well you have a choice.
• You can handle them all by yourself or you can bring God into the equation!
• Jesus said, "Have faith in God,"
• Meaning, "Constantly be trusting God; live in an attitude of dependence on Him."
• That does not mean that your mountains/problem will disappear overnight;
• But it means you are drawing on a source greater than yourself!
• Whatever the problem big or small;
• "Constantly be trusting God; live in an attitude of dependence on Him."
(2). A lesson on Prayer (vs 24-26).
Ill:
• I like the prayer of the man who prayed:
• “Lord, so far today, I am doing all right. I have not gossiped, lost my temper,
• Been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish or self indulgent.
• I have not whined, sworn.
• However, in a few minutes time;
• I am going to get out of bed and I will need a lot more help after that.”
“I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. 25 But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”
• This is one of many lessons Jesus taught on prayer;
• Here he emphasises that if you want your prayers answered two things are necessary.
(A). EFFECTIVE PRAYER REQUIRES FAITH.
• Quote: Henry Ward Beecher
• “It is not well for a man to pray cream and live skim milk”.
Effective prayer requires faith.
Ill:
Edna Butterfield says;
• My husband, Ron, once taught a class of mentally impaired teenagers.
• Looking at his students’ capabilities rather than their limitations,
• Ron got them to play chess, restore furniture and repair electrical appliances.
• Most important, he taught them to believe in themselves.
• Young Bobby soon proved how well he had learned that last lesson.
• One day he brought in a broken toaster to repair.
• He carried the toaster tucked under one arm,
• And a half-loaf of bread under the other.
(B). EFFECTIVE PRAYER REQUIRES FORGIVENESS (VS 25-26).
True prayer involves forgiveness as well as faith.
• As well as being in fellowship with your Father in heaven;
• God expects us to be in fellowship with our brother and sisters on earth.
• Jesus taught this principle when he taught what we call the Lord’s prayer:
• (see Matthew 5:21-26; 6:14-15; 18:15-35).
Ill:
• The first word in "The Lord's Prayer" is our-"OUR Father which art in heaven"
• And not "MY Father which art in heaven."
• Though Christians may pray in private,
• No Christian ever prays alone;
• For all of God's people are part of a family;
• And how we relate to each other will affect the effectiveness of our prayers!
• The real proof that we are right with God;
• Is that we are right with each other!
• Question: If you are not getting your prayers answered;
• Is it because you are not right with someone!
(2). The Temple (vs 15-19)
(1). Corruption.
• The temple should have been God’s showpiece:
• It was a place set apart for the worship of God.
• But by the time of Jesus;
• It had become a place of corruption, a place to make money!
• The majority of religious leaders spelt Temple: ‘RIP OFF!!!’
The reason it was corrupt and people were being ripped off was twofold:
• (1). Every Jewish pilgrim over nineteen was required to pay a temple tax,
• That in itself was not wrong.
• But the religious leaders insisted it be paid in a certain type of coinage.
• And they charged the people extortionate rates to exchange their money into temple coinage
• (2). Animals for sacrifice had to be inspected before they were offered.
• In the temple you could buy suitable animals for sacrifice.
• You were allowed to bring your own animals;
• But surprise, surprise these animals never passed the inspection;
• So you always ended up paying extortionate prices for temple animals to sacrifice.
• Going to the temple meant a double rip-off:
• You needed temple coins and temple animals.
• ill: Arthur Daley & Del Boy would have been proud of those religious leaders!
No wonder Jesus described the temple as ‘a den of thieves’.
• Quote: Campbell Morgan points out that ‘a den of thieves’.
• Is the place to which thieves run when they want to hide.
• The religious leaders were using the temple and its religious services;
• To ‘cover up’ their sin and hypocrisy.
Note: What also so enraged Jesus as he entered the temple was:
• Instead of people worshipping God,
• All he found was people being conned and ripped off.
• Instead of praise and prayer to God,
• There was only the sound of profit and commerce.
• Instead of finding the glory of God,
• Jesus found the corruption of the human heart.
(b). Cleansing.
• Jesus responded by overturning the tables of the money changers;
• And driving out the animals.
• He caused complete chaos.
• Notice: He acted this way for 3 reasons:
(1). God’s house was being desecrated.
• Truth and honesty had been replaced by greed and corruption.
• & those priests who should be helping people come close to God were alienating them.
(2). To show that the whole paraphernalia of animal sacrifice was now irrelevant:
• A number of prophets had stated this: Isaiah, Jeremiah. Hosea.
• Declaring that God had no pleasure in them
Quote: 2 examples:
• Hosea 5 verse 6:
• “With their flocks and herds they shall go to seek the Lord, but they will not find him”.
• Hosea 8 verse 13:
• “They love sacrifice; the sacrifice flesh and eat it, but the Lord has no delight in them”.
(3rd reason). Is found in verse 17 – “house of prayer for all nations”
• Verse 17: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’
• But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’
If you and I were a visitor to Herod’s Temple at the time of Jesus:
• You would have a found a building,
• That consisted of a series of rectangular courts within each other:
• The large outside rectangular court was the Court of the Gentiles,
• Which measured 450 meters by 250 meters.
• That is as far as you and I could enter,
• Beyond that court it was Jews only.
• Any Gentile (non-Jew) entered on pain of death.
• So the only place you and I could go to worship was the Court of the Gentiles.
• It was in this Court;
• Which was supposed to be ‘an open window’ for all the other nations to look through:
• That this sham took place!
• This was the one place where the Jews should have been meeting the Gentiles,
• And sharing how they too could come and worship and experience the living God,
• Instead any Gentile searching for truth would not find it there,
• All they found were the religious merchants trading in a market place.
So Jesus drives out the moneychangers and stall holders:
• He would not have “His Father’s House”
• Polluted by the religious leaders money-making enterprises:
• The condition of the temple,
• Was a vivid indication of the spiritual condition of the nation.
• Their religion was a dull routine, presided over by worldly minded men,
• Whose main desire was to exercise authority and get rich.
