Mark 11

Jesus now heads into Jerusalem, the center point of Jewish religious life. When he arrives, crowds greet him with joy and proclamations that the kingdom they once had under David is now on the return. What they get is better but it with not be an earthly kingdom or revolution.

Jesus leaves town for the night and, upon his return, curses a fig tree. This is odd since a) figs were out of season and b) fig trees do not sin or harm anyone. The curse seems odd until later in the chapter, we get a little (and just a little) insight as to the teaching point Jesus makes of the tree. The teaching point seems to be that no matter how cursed someone is, God can turn it around with prayer. Not just "saying our prayers" but the prayer of a believer (faith in action.) With faith, God will answer a prayer. Jesus says that plainly. He does not say that it will be answered in the way we might request. God often surprises us (we may be disappointed at first.) Jesus finishes with a statement that we need to have forgiven others when we pray. Evidently, an unforgiving spirit, blocks our prayers or the ability for our faith to see God's response.

 

Jesus makes his way to the Temple, the center of Jewish worship. The religious leaders had long made a (profitable) industry out of the worship of pilgrims to Jerusalem. Trade was allowed in the worship area. This trade included telling people that their sacrificial animal was not up to par and they should by a new one from (conveniently) their concession. Money needed to be changed for offering as well.

 

These actions enrage Jesus and he disrupts their trade saying that this is not what worship is about. Prayer should be the focal point, not trade. The religious leaders want to kill Jesus to get him out of the way be fear the people because of Jesus' popularity. The leaders want to know where Jesus gets his authority. Knowing that this is a trap (they want Jesus to say something they can use against him,) Jesus asks his own question, knowing that they are too afraid to answer. Jesus' question is similar to the one, "When did you stop beating your dog?" Either way you answer, you are put in a bad light.