Christine Chrisrian: 04/11/17

Holy Week - Tuesday - Bible Study

Holy Week

Holy Tuesday Reading

An event took place the second day after Palm Sunday that should draw our interest. Mark 11:12-13, tells us what happened, “And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: 13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.”. After Jesus and His disciple’s experience of Palm Sunday and the cleansing of the Temple, He returned to Bethany. On Tuesday morning, they were making their way along a twisting path down Mount Olives, when Jesus sees, silhouetted against sky. A fig tree full of leaves but when Jesus got to it there was nothing but leaves. Mark 11:14 says, “And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.” It almost appears as if Jesus overreacted. Could it be that Jesus Impulsively curse the fig tree? No! Jesus never got angry the wrong done to Him-Including the ultimate wrong the crucifixion. Instead He forgave but He did get angry dealt with situation in the temple and His anger dissipated. Matthew 21:12-13 or whenever someone cast a slur on The Father God or The Holy Spirit. Over any matter, as matter of fact! When we realize Jesus’ reason and meaning for cursing the fig tree, we will never have to apologize over the strange story in The Holy Bible. Those who may wonder why, remember Jesus’ disciples missed it as well. The fact that the Gospel did not try to hide this action, shows that there was never any attempt to avoid the truth of what took place in their life with Jesus. They would not did not understand it at the time. It certainly underscores their honesty. Nor did Jesus perform miracles just to show off His power, to make people’s eyes to bulge. The miracles Jesus preformed were an object lessons–acted parables–to teach, not to impress! To begin to understand the story, we need to appreciate a few facts about fig trees. Fig trees provides excellent shade and fruit (but I don’t like figs!). Fig leaves have a function all their own-you’ll remember Adam and Eve used them for clothing, until God provide animal skins for them-Now a days they use them to cover fresh vegetable. Ok thn back to the point, actually the fig, as fruit did not form until the month of june. Note Mark 11:13, “..for the time of figs was not yet.”. The day after Palm Sunday would have been in April. We shouldn’t expect to find mature figs in April but when a fig tree was covered with leaves-in early spring-there were always a crop of small knobs, a forerunner of the real fig. There were eaten by the peasant and others when hungry. However if the leaves appear without a crop of small knobs, then there will be no figs that year. This particular fig tree was obviously diseased. Jesus’ disappointment is early understood on a literal level. We are told in Mark 11:12 that “when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:” He sees tree off in the distance, the promise a small snack. The leaves! being full , promises, but these fruit that would be sufficient to satisfy hunger temporarily. When Jesus and His disciples arrived at the fig tree, there was nothing but leaves. Jesus was always looking for ways of teaching Spiritual truths. He sees a parallel in this barren fig tree. He remembers the setting of the triumphal entry-and the crowd’s self-centre (They want their new King make them free from the tax and give them better life), outward endorsing His claim-yet they don’t understand The God’s will! What a dramatic illustration of the crowd superficiality that was just surface worship. Now this fig tree suddenly become a symbol of the crowd mentality. The crowd were shouting “Hosanna..” like the fig tree, that appeared to be something blooming, had nothing but leaves. It was superficial-all show but offer no fruit. It is normal my friend, if you have missed that point-if you have wondered about Jesus’ cursing the fig tree and didn’t understand what it meant, even the disciples missed the point that Jesus was making. Continues the story Mark 11:20-21 “And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.”. Jesus, always the good teacher, realizing that His disciples had missed the point, now takes advantage applying the application. Let’s continue with Mark 11:22-26, “And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

“Have faith in God.” The way Jesus words this principle in John 15:7 is “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” If there is to be a vital life within-the Life of Jesus Christ-it will be produce fruit! It’s a gift of the Holy Spirit! Jesus shows the result of God’s faith within. Jesus was explaining what had happened with fig tree to His disciples who had missed the point the day before (lack of faith). Jesus using the barren fig tree to teach a lesson on faith. Israel had the Law, the Temple, the rites of Worship, but they lacked fruit. They were like a diseased institution, dangerously close to crushing away, like the fig tree. Let’s leave the past and come into now, Churches have become masters at drawing up creeds but, often fail to reflect the reality of faith. Creeds are not wrong-leaves are not wrong but as important as they may be, there needs to be fruit as well. The fig tree was a correct picture expressing the false of the fickle crowd on day of the triumphal entry. The fig tree was a symbol of outward appearance, that promises so much but produces so little or nothing. The fig tree become barren and served no purpose, so Jesus said it would die. My prayer is that God save us from withering and dying-from lives that are barren and serve no fruit\purpose. Jesus gives an interesting parable concerning a fig tree in Luke 13:6-9 “He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?

8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it

9 And if it bear fruit, well and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.” there stood the fig tree barren and serving no purpose-promising so much but “nothing but leave” people come to Church expecting fruit-do they leave disappointed and serving-still looking for reality of faith and love? God helps us to never let lacking our faith but to let the strong and genuine faith-the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) manifest thought our life.

Mark 11:12-14

And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:

13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.

14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.

Mark 11:20-25

And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.

21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.

22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Hebrews 11

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise

10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God for he hath prepared for them a city.

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called

19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.

24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets

33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

35 Women received their dead raised to life again and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection

36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment

37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

38 (Of whom the world was not worthy) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise

40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Isaiah 42:1-11

Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.

3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.

4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth and the isles shall wait for his law.

5 Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein

6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

8 I am the LORD that is my name and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare before they spring forth I tell you of them.

Psalm 36:5-11

Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.

6 Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.

7 How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.

9 For with thee is the fountain of life in thy light shall we see light.

10 O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.

11 Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.

♥

We all sinned n deserve GOD’s judgment, but our loving FATHER, GOD sent HIS only begotten SON to satisfy that judgment for those who believe in HIM. JESUS, our LORD who lived a sinless life, loves us so much that HE died for our sins, taking the punishment that we deserve, was buries n rose from the dead according to the Holy Bible. If you truly believe n trust in your heart, receiving JESUS alone as your SAVIOUR, declaring (by Baptism) JESUS is The LORD n SAVIOUR, you will be SAVED from the judgment n spend ETERNITY with GOD in HEAVEN…. In The name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.. Amen