SCRIPTURE: Mark 11
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
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.’” [Mark 11:17] Why does Jesus curse the fig tree? The tree wasn’t at fault, it wasn’t the season for fruit. Is the mounting pressure as they approach Jerusalem getting to Jesus? Does He have anger management issues? Look at Him in the temple, what about patience or self-control as the fruit of the Spirit?
The answer lies in who Jesus is (the messiah, authorized by God to judge and restore Israel), and where He is (Jerusalem, God’s fig tree [Hosea 9:10; Micah 7:1-4; Nahum 3:12], from whom God expected the fruit of faith and obedience). The cleansing of the temple is sandwiched between the cursing of the fig tree, and the discussion regarding the withered fig tree. This is an acted-out parable, a picture of God’s anger and frustration with His people. The temple as a den of robbers is the exact opposite of what God intended it to be, a place of blessing for the nations.
God sets up Israel to be a place where all people can be restored to God. The house of prayer for all nations is another way of saying that God’s desire is that all people be restored to Him in loving fellowship. But Israel (and the church today) often become barriers to God’s blessing. They hinder, rather than help, people from finding God. They are focused on their own advantage, blessing. They see their selection by God as a privilege rather than a responsibility.
The fruit that God expects from us is grace, mercy, love, compassion, generosity, justice. Instead we are often as self-centered, self-serving, self-motivated as the world around us. And though God is often patient, the time does come when He releases His anger and justice, and punishes His fruitless, loveless people.
Today we need to ask ourselves whether the church (modern day Israel) is a place for the nations, or a den of robbers? Being a house of prayer is not just a call for the church to pray, but a call to reach out to the nations so that they too can be restored to God. This includes prayer on the part of the church, but involves so much more – sharing the blessing of God with all people! Question, is church as we experience it more focused on serving its own needs, or on sharing the blessings of God with others?
PRAYER:
Lord, make us fruitful, blessing everyone we meet everyday, with Your love.