Day 2: HOLY MONDAY
Scripture
MARK 11:12-19
'The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 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. Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.
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, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 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.’”
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.
When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.'
Devotion
Happy Holy Week. Leafy branches are spread on the road, and the cries of the people shouting “Hosanna” or “Save us” are overwhelming the streets.
We find Jesus: hangry and righteous, yet merciful.
In Mark 11: 15-19, sandwiched between two metaphors involving a fig tree, is the story of an angry Jesus tossing people out of the temple. This passage often presents us with hard questions about our meek Savior… but I want to consider:
What is the relationship between hangry Jesus cursing a fruitless fig tree and a righteous Son cleansing the temple of His Father?
Let’s take a closer look at this poor fig tree. Verse 13 says that when Jesus saw the fig tree in the distance, it had the appearance of fruit, but when he got closer, he couldn’t find anything on it. Though the text clarifies that it is “not the time for figs,” it seems odd, or downright unfair for Jesus to then curse the tree for its lack of fruit. Though it was not the season for figs, the tree ought to have been producing signs of the fruit that was to come. By all appearances it looked good, but up close the reality of the tree could be seen: it was dead inside. That makes Jesus’ words a statement about the reality of the tree.
Perhaps this is an easier image for us to see the point He is trying to make inside the temple as well. The temple “in the distance” has the appearance of righteousness (read fruit) but on the inside, it too, is dead inside. Jesus again offers a statement on the reality of the temple: it is “a den of robbers”. There is an appearance of fruitfulness, but not true fruit.
Jesus shares His hopes about what the temple He wants would look like, in Mark 11:17. Here he is quoting the prophet Isaiah (56:6-8), detailing that He is yearning for a temple that is a place of joy, sacrifices, and for the outcasts of Israel to be gathered back together. The unfortunate reality is that when Jesus took a close look at the temple, there were no signs of this fruit to come. They were in danger of thinking of themselves as appearing fruitful, when they were in fact, dead inside.
So, what seems to get in the way of the people of Israel (and the “fig tree”) in their bearing much fruit, and what threatens to also stand in the way of our actual fruitfulness? I don’t have time to fully unpack these here, but in Mark 11: 20-29, I believe Jesus highlights three big barriers to fruitfulness: doubt, unforgiveness, and fear of man. I encourage you in your own time with him to ponder these things and take careful stock of your own heart before him.
As we start this holy week, crying out “save us” (Hosanna) from places of loss, pain, fear, rejection, and frustration, may we be open to the true saving Jesus has and be willing to lay down our misguided expectations of what He might do for us.
Questions for reflection
In what ways do I have the appearance of fruit, but not actual fruit?
Has doubt, unforgiveness, or fear of man entered into my root system and how are they threatening my fruit?
Will I let Jesus, as ferociously and violently as He did in the temple, rid me of these things?
Prayer
I offer a prayer to you from Hebrews 13:20-21
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
written by Megan Yoshihara
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Family Devotional
Holy Monday: Mark 11:12-19
After you read the story have your kids imagine that they let someone borrow a toy or another important item and it was broken. How would you feel? In our story Jesus is angry because his temple, the place where people could meet with God and worship, has been broken. Instead of being a place of worship it has become a place where people were taking advantage of others. So Jesus took time to cleanse the temple.
Take strips of paper and write out all the things that are broken in the world (greed, sickness, etc.) and then crumple them up. Then take turns using a broom to sweep these away. Be creative and think of ways to make this fun and engaging, for example, see who can send a piece of paper the farthest away.
Pray as a family and thank God that he is cleansing everything that is wrong and when he returns everything will be made perfect.