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Bearing Fruit in Jesus
Mark 11:12-25
Mari Ikeda
A. Things that anger Jesus
1. Things that don’t bear fruit (12-14, Micah 7:1-2)
12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 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. 14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.
1 What misery is mine! I am like one who gathers summer fruit at the gleaning of the vineyard; there is no cluster of grapes to eat, none of the early figs that I crave. 2 The faithful have been swept from the land; not one upright person remains. Everyone lies in wait to shed blood; they hunt each other with nets.
2. False worship that is just for show (15-19)
15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts 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, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 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.’” 18 The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching. 19 When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.
B. What Jesus desires
1. Unwavering belief in God (faith) (20-23)
20 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!” 22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.
2. Seeking God in prayer (hope) (24)
24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
3. Forgiving others (love) (25)
25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
C. Bearing the fruit of love (I Corinthians 13, John 15)
4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
2 …if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. …13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Summary
We often find ourselves seeking other people’s approval rather than seeking God and we are consumed by how good we appear rather than the condition of our hearts. Jesus came into the world to teach us that there is a better, more fruitful way to live. He encourages us to receive the love of Jesus, who died for us, to love him, and to love others.
For Discussion
- Why did Jesus become so angry at the fig tree and at the temple?
- What can we do (or can’t we do) to bear the fruit of love?