The Fig Tree and the Temple

It was the Monday morning of His last week, and when Jesus was walking to the Temple (the Passover festival was ready to begin) two unusal things happen that are seemingly unrelated.  Before looking into it more closely, I had no idea why the two would be connected, and really didn't understand the part with the fig tree.

First, the fig tree.  Jesus was hungry, and when he saw they fig tree he expected it to have fruit on it to eat.  Figs were a popular source of food, and each tree grows fruit twice a year (in Spring and Fall).  So when Jesus saw the budding leaves, he expected to see fruit too.  When there was no fruit, Jesus cursed it...which was an acted out parable about genuine faith, which relates to the next situation - the clearing of the temple.

So Jesus walks into the temple and there's lots of people buying and selling things, doing business with all the travelers in town for Passover.  There were animal stalls set up in the temple court, making it almost impossible to worship.  Imagine walking into church on a Sunday morning expecting to sit in your seat and hear the message/series for that week and instead there's a flea market going on.  You had the expectation of worship...but are left wanting.

The fig tree and the temple are the same example of being fruitful in appearance, but spiritually barren.  (For more on the "fruit" reference, see Galations 5:22)  We can end up the same way...having a religious life, but lacking substance.  Like the Pharisees, we can mistakenly follow all the rules and make sure we look good in the eyes of the world, yet not allow the love of Christ to change our hearts and our lives.

The Possibilities

There are loads of commercials out there exclaiming "Rethink Possible", "Everything is Possible", "Anything is Possible"...and doesn't it make you think that products x, y, and z will automatically come through with their promises?  But then, if you look at the word possible, you wonder if they really considered the meaning of the word before putting it as a slogan to define their product. 

possible

adj.

1. Capable of happening, existing, or being true without contradicting proven facts, laws, or circumstances.

2. Capable of occurring or being done without offense to character, nature, or custom.

3. Capable of favorable development; potential

4. Of uncertain likelihood.

 

The Bible defines possible as capable of existing or of being done.  Both definitions use the word "capable", in other words, not a guaranteed end result...a definite maybe.

 

Mark 9:23 tells us through Jesus' words "Everything is possible for him who believes".  It can be very easy for people to assume that this statement means we can automatically get what we want if we just believe strongly enough.  Unfortunately, too many people fail to realize what Jesus is really saying here...simply, that nothing is too difficult for God.  Through our faith in Him we can have everything we need to serve Him, and sometimes we are blessed that our desires fall in line with His will and we receive what we ask for.  However, we will never get to a point in our lives where we have enough faith to meet our needs on our own.

Anyone?

So does anyone have any verses that we've read over the weekend that stood out to you...made you think...or didn't understand?  Maybe we can find some encouragement, some insight, or some answers that we wouldn't have otherwise...