The Fig Tree and the Barren TempleMark 11:12-25

15 Feb 2009HPC Evening

[Intro]

“Church is heaven bound” - this is the title of the article from our local newspaper “The Leader” about our new building project.

Even today, church buildings are still a big deal in the community. Churches are often in the very center of the town serving as one of the landmarks. Our church building is located in a strategic location in the Hurstville community. It’s a war memorial building. Local people have even given us the nickname “Church on the corner”. I can imagine one day once the new building is done, alot more people will know us because of the big building in the middle of the busy Hurstville city centre.

Although the church building plays some importance in the local community, I don’t think we can fully appreciate the real significance of the temple in Jesus’ time for the city of Jerusalem.

[Context]

Two thousand years ago, the temple in Jerusalem was very, very important for the city. The temple was where the money was exchanged - maybe the equivalent of NY’s Wall street - considered the central bank of Jerusalem. It’s situated on the “capital hill” where all the powerful politicians and priests gathered. It’s “THE TEMPLE” - the place where God dwelt amongst the people; the place where the holy and secular were separated.

The temple was so important, so holy, and so massive. Jesus knows this. In Mark 11, He comes into the city three times and He goes straight to the temple. During the second visit, Jesus attacks the place. Why does He do this? What kind of trouble is He bringing on Himself?

This version of the “cleansing the temple” story is unique according to Mark’s writing style. Jesus’ dramatic action at the temple is sandwiched by the cursing of a fig tree .

Notice that this is Jesus’ last miracle in Mark. This miracle of the fig-tree is the only one that brings death, not life. So we must ask, why’s that?

The Cursed Fig Tree

Let’s look at the passage. In vv. 12-14, it says, “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.”

The cursing of the fig tree is one of the most difficult stories in the gospels. It wasn’t the season for figs, but Jesus expected figs. He then destroyed the tree with His supernatural power. You may be thinking that Jesus is being extremely irrational or bad-tempered - why does he want to curse an innocent tree?

But let’s think - if Jesus can predict where and how the disciples will find a colt, why can’t he find out whether a tree has anything edible on it or not? If He can feed five thousand, why is he so frustrated by an unfruitful tree?

Allan Mao Hurstville Presbyterian Church, Sydney Australia

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It doesn’t make sense, does it? But, if we read it as a parable, the miracle starts to make much more sense. The fig tree is often used in the OT as a symbol. The prophets often used the fig tree as a symbol of judgment. For example:

Jeremiah 8:13 "'I will take away their harvest, declares the LORD. There will be no grapes on the vine. There will be no figs on the tree, and their leaves will wither. What I have given them will be taken from them. '"

Jesus is telling this parable to make his point: this fig tree is deceitful, its leafy branches have no fruit on them. It’s the same as the temple - despite the busy activities, it’s a barren temple. Just as the fruitless tree is to be destroyed, the barren temple must be judged as well.

The Barren Temple

Now, let’s look at Mark’s description of Jesus’ radical action. In vv. 15-16, it says, “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, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.”

As I mentioned at the very beginning, the temple is at the center of the city. When Jesus enters Jerusalem, his focus is on the temple rather than the city itself.

[a picture of Jesus’ journey in Jerusalem]

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[The Temple location] The temple is built at the high point of the city at the foot hill of Mount of Olives.

[Temple Layout]

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The temple was still under construction in Jesus’ day. As you can see this white area is the Court of the Gentiles, an open-air area surrounded by porticoes with rows of massive columns. The columns are thirty feet high and it takes three people with their hands joined together to surround one of them at the base - they’re HUGE!! In this area, the business people sell sheep and doves for sacrifice and exchange foreign currency. The Sadducees oversee the business to make sure the Gentiles get proper sacrifices and offerings for sacrifice, however, they also gain profit from the transactions.

At this point Jesus is indignant and angry. He drives the animal dealers from the temple and overturns the tables of the money changers. And He says in v.17, "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.'" This place should be used for the Gentiles to pray, but now it’s being misused by the Jews for trade and profit. Jesus is angry and calls the place “a den of robbers”. These are very, very strong words. These words would have been shocking to those listening. You see, they probably expected that when the Messiah came He would purge the temple of Gentiles and the foreign gods. But instead here Jesus’ action is exactly the reverse. Imagine if Jesus was here today - instead of clearing out the Buddhist temples and Islamic mosques, He gets angry at our many church buildings!! How do you think you’d react??

The temple is meant to be the house of prayer for all nations! The temple isn’t the sole property of Israel but a witness to the nations, a place where anyone who “loves the name of the Lord [may] worship him” (Isaiah 56:6). Jesus is pointing back to the promise God made to Isaiah. He promised that the foreigners and Gentiles who’re formerly excluded are now included through Himself. The temple that rejects His people is a barren temple!

The sacrificial system of the temple are in fact a series of barriers. These systems are in a way saying to people, “Stay out - No entry!” Even today, I’ve seen some churches are very exclusive, setting up their own strict ways of worship and using the system to exclude people from different backgrounds. Through these systems the feeling to an outsider is: “sorry, because you don’t fit in and conform - you’re NOT welcome here!” I think it’s good to examine ourselves too - are we doing the same?

By clearing the sacrificial system, Jesus is attacking those that have obstructed the access for all to God. God’s house is for everyone. God accepts everyone including the outcasts - lepers, blind men, eunuchs and Gentiles! God’s church is the place for all people to come. All are accepted in God’s eyes so why can’t man accept all?

“A den of robbers” - this is the judgment Jesus makes against the barren temple, against the religious authorities who institute this wicked sacrificial system.

The Withered Fig Tree

“In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!” (vv. 20-21)

Do you still remember the parable of the sower? Those seeds that fell on rocky places would wither because they had no root. Here Peter presents us the same picture - without a root the fig tree has withered. It’s the same with the temple, there is no harvest from the temple - it’s a BARREN TEMPLE!

The Significance of the Barren Temple

What does this story teach us? What does the cleansing of temple really mean?

If we think deeply, we need to realize that Jesus isn’t just making a corrective act. This is not simply a cleaning job. He is attacking the system. It’s just like laying an ax at the root of this wicked institution. He isn’t just wanting to restore the temple. Jesus wants to close it down!! Jesus’ own body is the

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temple and it is about to be broken down. He is about to offer Himself as a ransom for many. And in three days He would be raised - a renewed temple not made with human hands. In John’s version of this temple cleansing story this point is very clear, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” (John 2:19)

It’s not the blood of animals, but his very own blood, that makes people right with God. At the moment of His death, the temple curtain is torn in two. The temple is no longer the means for people to approach God. Jesus is the only access to God. The temple is no longer the center of Israel, Jesus is the center of all His people.

Applications

How does this story challenge us? What are some practical applications that we can take home?

Sometimes, I find applications a difficult part of writing a sermon, but not for this one. In this passage, I believe that Jesus has clearly given the applications to His disciples as well as us.

In vv. 22-25, it says, "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "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. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

FAITH, PRAYER, & FORGIVENESS - these are the three things I want us to apply for tonight.

[Faith]

Responding to Peter’s observation of the withered fig tree, Jesus earnestly commands His disciples to, “Have faith in God.” He gives another symbol - the moving of a mountain - believing in yourself that you can move a mountain. Faith involves a risk. Again and again, in Mark’s gospel, he stresses the need to take this big risk, a big commitment to step out in faith. Most of the people we see in the gospel are too afraid to take this step.

Faith is the opposite of fear.Faith is the opposite of “doubting in one’s heart” (v.23).

Tonight’s episode of Jesus’ cleansing the temple comes with a call to faith in Jesus, not the temple. Jesus is the object of faith.

Perhaps you have a lot of fear in your heart too. Many things in life - our health, our ministry, our jobs, our relationships are uncertain. Lots of things can cause us to be afraid - rules, regulations, traditions, what other people think of me, and CHANGE! Any change is always going to be uncertain and involve an element of risk. For example the evening service is facing the challenge of change. There are many things we don’t know about the future of this church, this service, our ministry here - and the danger is that we react out of fear. When we walk by sight and not by faith we can get scared and paralysed by the unknown.

But friends, I want to encourage us tonight with what Jesus is saying: Trust Me. Trust Jesus. Have faith in God. Have faith in the One who knows the future - the Alpha and Omega. For God promises to go before us. He will grant us His strength and guidance as we prayerfully follow Him. He’s done His work for us.

[Prayer]

Allan Mao Hurstville Presbyterian Church, Sydney Australia

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Faith leads on to prayer. There is an inevitable connection between faith and prayer. True prayer involves making requests to God in faith - “believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. (v.23) Are you a person of faith? How does your prayer life reflect this? A person of faith believes enough to ask big things, impossible things - of God. How can we be so bold? Why do we ask? Because we’re convinced that God’s will “will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt 6:10).

Do you find that when you’re facing challenges and things that seem impossible, you become more aware of your own inadequacy and need for God? When things are going smoothly and seem to be working well, how often do you come to God in prayer and dependence?

But to be honest, regardless of whether things are going well or seem impossible, all of us don’t even know what’s going to happen tomorrow. We don’t know the future. (Just think of those in Victoria suffering from the fires). It’s only by faith that we can hold on to God’s steadfast love and unfailing promise. By faith we have confidence in our prayer that God’s got a good plan for our future. When we ask God to make His will known, He will make it known to us. He says, “whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (v. 24)

[Forgiveness]

Forgive! - Forgiveness is so crucial and necessary when we pray. “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

What a challenge for us all tonight. Is there someone that you’re finding it hard to forgive? Are there situations that you’ve held onto this week or over the years that you’ve refused to confess to God?

If we hold a grudge against someone, our relationship with God is hindered. We can’t pray sincerely. Prayer isn’t just about closing our eyes and reciting a formula regardless of what’s in our heart. Prayer is to be done in the spirit of forgiveness. Since God’s forgiven us first, forgiveness becomes the essential ground on which we approach Him in prayer.

Often we look back, we miss the golden days of Hurstville Presbyterian Church. People tell me, “I miss the days when my good friends were all here, it’ so much fun to come to church to see them.” or “We once had a wonderful night of worship, but it never happened again. We miss that so much.” It’s hard for us to let those sweet memories go. But sometimes happy memories come with feelings of disappointment. Sometimes it’s hard to let our disappointments go. When we feel hurt, it’s hard for us to forgive. Do we need to let go of the past hurts and ask God to help us move forward with Him? If we can’t forgive, how can we approach God with genuine prayer?

Buildings are significant. In three years time, God willing, our new building project will be done. In the midst of this ever changing community, amongst the high-rises filled with many many people, how do you see our church in three years time? Will it be a magnificent new building? May it never just be a magnificent building that has turned into a “barren temple”? May we take heed from tonight’s passage!

Tonight, chapter 11 reminds us that Jesus Himself is the cornerstone of the church. He’s the cornerstone of Hurstville Presbyterian church. And He’s building this church right now. Look around you - we’re the church! We’re the people of God. Only in Him is the true church found. Not in buildings, not in the temple. So brothers and sisters, let’s have faith in God. Let’s walk in faith and not fear or doubt. Let’s approach Him in prayer with forgiveness! And let’s set our hope on the One who is the true temple for all to gain access to the Living God.

Allan Mao Hurstville Presbyterian Church, Sydney Australia

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