Hanging out with Jesus XIX: Passion for the
Mission
Mark 11 Key
‘Have faith in God’ (v. 22)
Jesus
triumphantly entered Jerusalem
in style on a mission unstoppable. He rode a borrowed donkey. Crowds surrounded
him shouting Hosanna, blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord. Word viral buzzed through Jerusalem that Jesus was in town. On this visit, Jesus would be falsely accused
and crucified. He however demonstrated boldness and passion to accomplish his
mission (Mark 11). Interestingly, much
as he had passion for the mission he also had a mission for his passion. The
two are interdependent. Passion fuels the mission and the mission ignites the
passion. His dedication to completing the
mission to give his life for the salvation of humanity aroused and stirred the
passion he displayed. No wonder this
last week of Jesus’ earthly life is traditionally referred to as passion week.
At
Bethpage and Bethany near Jerusalem, he sent two disciples to go into
the village and fetch him a donkey. They would see the donkey tied to a door
and were to untie it and bring it to Jesus.
If anyone asked questions, they were to answer that the Lord needed it
and would bring it back. It was exactly
as Jesus instructed. Why would people
let their donkey be taken away? It could
have been unusual favor on Jesus. But it also could be that he had established
strong networks of trustful relationships. It is noteworthy that the donkey had never
been ridden before. That it was able to
do the work without tipping the Lord over is a great miracle. The many who were cheering him as he entered Jerusalem would be
cursing him within five days. That is called the fickleness of human praise.
However, looking into the future, one who humbly rode a donkey into Jerusalem
with followers praising will ride a royal white horse into Jerusalem in triumph
with knee bowing and every tongue confessing he is Lord, at his second coming.
It was
Passover the greatest of the Jewish feasts. Jews from all over made their pilgrimage to Jerusalem. So the city
must have had many visitors. People in
the city were puzzled at the style of his arrival. The people praising and
singing had expectations of political deliverance. The critics were watching
carefully and suspiciously. Jesus knew
what was about to happen. Scripture was being fulfilled. The donkey for its
part was lost at what this all meant. It
was being ridden for the first time. It was being covered with nice cloth,
hearing all the praise and stepping on people’s garments and tree branches
spread on its way. The entry into Jerusalem had brought out
what is at the heart of being disciples - to give it all away in praise (1
Peter 2:9). The donkey enjoyed the lime
light and the garments as long as it carried Jesus. A fact it dared not forget
and a reminder to all servants of God never to forget that it is all because of
Jesus.
Jesus
visited the temple for the first three days and retreated for the night to Bethany. The first day he
simply observed the situation (v.27).
The second day he cleaned up the temple. On the third day, he was
quizzed by chief priests, scribes and elders in the temple. During these days, three things greatly
disturbed him.
1) The prayer less house of the Lord
The temple
was intended for prayer. People perhaps came to Jerusalem with hopes to be able to offer
prayer in the temple. Instead, it had become a center for commerce, and money
changing. He drove out the traders, and
turned the tables of moneychangers and declared the correct purpose of the
house. My house shall be a house of prayer for all people (v.17; Isaiah 56:7).
It had become ‘a den of thieves’. The
merchandisers were ripping off people. They were also stealing time and space
for prayer to God. Jesus came to restore to the temple and human lives kingdom
purpose, basics and priorities. The
church as the temple of the Lord is also a house of prayer. Its members become like moneychangers when
they come to worship and pray with hearts that are far from God and holy
things. When they sit in pews and allow their minds to become busy elsewhere.
When prayer is relegated to the fringes of the church life. When focus is diverted from God to programs,
buildings, money, and leaders. It is
easy to say our music is great, our numbers have grown, our finances are more,
our programs and prayer seminars are well attended. Nevertheless, do we pray? The
statement, a church is as big as the people who attend its prayer meetings, is
not far from the fact.
Jesus’
passion is seen in his clear and high quality choices. He chose to be hot
rather than be cold in his attitude to pleasing God. His position was not
ambiguous. There was no room for Luke warmness in his heart. When he felt for Jerusalem, he was moved
to tears. When he saw multitudes, he was filled with compassion. When he set
for Jerusalem, he
was focused and undeterred. He was so moved by the abuse of the temple that his
spirit groaned and his indignation took radical action that left people
speechless. Looked at Jerusalem
and brought moved to tears. What ever he did, he reached a point of complete
victory. Half-heartedness and apathy
give the enemy an upper hand. Great victory for the nation of Israel could have been secured
through Joash had he been more passionate about what he did (2 Kings 13:18,
19).
2) The
fruitless fig tree
Jesus was
hungry and attracted to a fig tree with leaves but lacking fruit. Promising but
disappointing. He cursed it for not
having fruit out of season. It must
however be noted that it was off season for the main harvest but time for first fruits, a small amount of
fruit that ripens before the main crop.
God expects the fruit of Spiritual growth and obedience in the lives of
his people. The fruit of readily receiving and searching Scriptures (Acts
17:10-11). Especially when it is off-season.
When it is not convenient. When you think it is too much. When you are under
extreme pressure. When in the troughs
of life. What fruit comes out when for example your patience is tested? Do you
do the work of evangelism in season and off-season?
The fig
tree also had a prophetic significance regarding Israel. How they had failed to show the fruit of
repentance.
3) The faithless
prayer
The
necessity of prayer is unavoidable in walking with God because people need
God. Prayer is the expression of
dependence on God. When they saw the
cursed fig tree dried up Peter drew Jesus’ attention to the tree (v. 21). Jesus did not sound surprised. He knew the
fig tree would never bear fruit again. So he took the opportunity to use what
had happened to illustrate prayer that works.
a) It is prayer out of faith (v.22-23). Prayer
is to express faith. He answered ‘Have faith in God’. Be empty of doubt. He implied that when he
cursed the fig tree he had done so prayerfully without doubt, the fig tree would
never produce fruit again after he spoke.
A lot of praying without faith in God is wasted opportunity. What is your perspective and confession like
before and after prayer? a prayer of
faith will change both.
b) It is
for moving mountains (v.23). Mountains
are that which stands in the way of people experiencing the fullness of God and
his purpose. They include the cares, needs
and problems people face. Therefore, I
say to you, what things so ever you desire when you pray believe that you
receive them and you shall have them (v.24). It is the way to cast cares on
God. When the mountains are moved, God is glorified for they moved by faith in
God.
c) It is from
a forgiving heart (v.25-26). He implied
that when he drove the thieves from the temple he maintained a heart free from
bitterness and unforgiveness. It is
possible to be firm without being bitter. Otherwise, the fig tree would not
have dried up. Could the quality of our
relationships in marriage, family, teams, and neighborhoods be where our
prayers are being made ineffective? May God search our hearts and may his grace
abound.
Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.
Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith
Life Center.
Ground and First
Floors Sunset
Bay Building,
204B Bram Fischer drive,
Randburg, Johannesburg,
South Africa
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