Faith...Faith

Mark 11:12-14...Mark 11:20-24
12 Now the next day, when they had come out from 
Bethany, He was hungry. 13 And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.”

And His disciples heard it.


20 Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.”

22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

I have read many commentaries on this Biblical happening and the opinions on this matter range from Jesus teaching the disciples a lesson about the religious leaders of the day, to the lesson that if we are not producing fruit, then we will spiritually wither and die, to the power of faith in God. I believe there are many things the Holy Spirit can confirm about this story. I believe you should pray and ask God to reveal to you what He would have you take from this lesson today. Don't be surprised if next week or next month He teaches a new lesson with the same story. He is God. The Word of God is alive, it is powerful and it is constantly teaching. We must be constantly receiving and constantly learning. Here is what Jesus is showing me. Remember these are some of the last lessons Jesus is teaching the disciples before His crucifixion. I see it as an example of Jesus demonstrating to His disciples that he had control over life and death. Yes there is a lesson here that you and I must we absolutely must, produce fruit and yes Jesus was showing His disciples that the religious rulers of the day were like the fig tree donned with leaves and appearing to be healthy but fruitless and of no use for the advancement of the Kingdom. But what did Jesus choose to discuss with His disciples about the tree? In verses 22-24 Jesus tells His disciples to have faith in God. He says they will move mountains with their prayers if their faith is in God. Jesus chooses to talk to His disciples about how powerful their walk could be if they put all their faith in God. They had no doubt about the faith of Jesus. They had no doubt about where His faith came from. His faith healed the lame, calmed the sea, raised the dead, and now withered a tree. His faith was in God the Father. As we enter this week of Easter and we examine what Jesus faced during this week, where is your faith? Do you believe that through Jesus Christ that you can do anything, some things, a thing? I hope and pray that you believe you can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens you! Not a thing, not some things, ALL THINGS. With that said seek Him, trust Him and walk with Him with every ounce of your being, believing that He is with you, in you both to will and to do for His good works. Live for Him today. Tomorrow do it again. He is almighty and He loves you and I. 


Reaching for Him,

Brother Big Daddy

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