Think back on your life’s most significant achievements. What obstacles did you overcome in order to succeed?
Were any of those obstacles overcome for you? In other words, did anyone else help you along the way, giving you a leg up to succeed? Was the help always welcome? Share specific experiences if you feel comfortable doing so.
Mark 11:12-14 ESV
On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.
What did Jesus expect when He approached the fig tree? Were Jesus’ expectations fair? Why or why not?
Did the tree deserved to be cursed? Why or why not?
What do you think the disciples thought when Jesus cursed that tree?
Mark 11:15-19 ESV
And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching. And when evening came they went out of the city.
Why did Jesus overturn the tables and chairs? Why did He kick people out of the temple? Did Jesus have the authority to do this? Why or why not?
What did the temple and the fig tree have in common?
How did the people respond to Jesus’ authoritative actions in temple?
Mark 11:20-21 ESV
As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.”
Jesus had been in the temple the evening before he “cleansed” it. I am thinking that he inspected and then rejected it. What do you think about that?
Here is that link to the June message where we explored the OTHER “cleansing” of the temple:
NOTE: There will be no church services on Sunday, December 29. We always give our many volunteers a well deserved week off at the end of each year. THANK YOU SO MUCH and MERRY CHRISTMAS to you wonderful VIPs who make ministry happen at The Orchard Church!