Day 3: HOLY TUESDAY
Scripture
MARK 11:20-33
'In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”
“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. “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you authority to do this?”
Jesus replied, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 'John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!” '
They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin’ …” (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)
So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.” John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!”'
Devotion
Images can create a focus for interpreting meaning and are constantly used by biblical prophets to relate God’s words to his people. The fig tree and its fruit is especially ripe with meaning throughout scripture. A holy tree or vine is used as symbolic of the Temple acting within Israel as a source of life, connecting the nations to God and allowing people to experience fruitfulness and freedom.
It is no mistake that Jesus uses a withered fig as a prophetic symbol. It creates context for his words of confrontation with the established temple authorities.
How do you understand this strange passage? The disciples who witnessed it responded with an exclamation point. They knew it was a meaningful demonstration of God’s power, but they had no idea what it meant. We can benefit from seeing this in a fuller context. What can we remember from the day before? How did the rest of Tuesday play out?
The day before, as Jesus was making his way to the Temple, Jesus saw a fig tree green but without fruit and declared it barren. This was surprising because it wasn’t fruit season for figs. When Jesus and his disciples arrived at the temple, he forcefully cleared it of fruitless practices that prevented it from being a place of prayer for all nations. By Tuesday morning, the fig tree had withered all the way down to the root. What did Jesus have against this tree? Nothing. Jesus was using his prophetic authority to create and walk out a prophetic symbol of what God was in the midst of doing.
God was in the midst of judging His temple–and God’s judgment on it was Jesus himself. Life would come from Jesus now— his body would be the new temple connecting heaven to earth and people to God.
The symbolic and physical miracle of the withered fig tree establishes Jesus’ authority over the Temple.
What can we make of Jesus’ response to his disciples when they saw the withered fig tree? Why does Jesus use this as an opportunity to talk about authority in prayer?
Where was Jesus’ faith in that moment? Jesus had faith in God (God’s identity, God’s character, God’s plan) to establish Jesus as the source of life connecting humanity to Himself. Jesus had that authority. “You can have it too,” Jesus tells his disciples. You too can ask for “this mountain” (I.E. The Temple or religious doing. See Mark 11:23) to be irrevocably thrown away and replaced by the forgiveness of sin.
What does it mean then, that “Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours?” What is asked for can line up in faith in God (In God’s plan for redemption–In keeping with God’s character). Jesus put his life on the line to be in line with God’s plan for salvation and has the authority to say this. The rest of Tuesday we see Jesus response to this authority being questioned.
“By What Authority Are You Doing These Things?” the temple authorities asked Jesus. How do you think Jesus could have answered them? Jesus didn’t answer but chose to ask a question instead. Why?
As always, God looks at the heart of a person. These leaders issued a challenge because they were directly opposed to having their power and authority taken away. Acknowledge Jesus’ authority? No way. Give Jesus control? No way, no how.
Holy Tuesday offers us an opportunity to challenge our own hearts towards Jesus.****
Do we trust Jesus has the authority to connect us to God? Do we make room within ourselves to entrust our whole heart to Jesus? Will our prayers to live produce the fruit we long for? Or do we see our choices and our authority to make them threatened by giving control over to Jesus?
Holy Tuesday removes all authority from human doing to bring us to God and firmly places all authority in heaven and on earth in Jesus for you and me “to Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength,” and to “ Love your neighbor as yourself.” Just like Jesus saw the poor widow on Tuesday offer all of the nothing that she had to God and loved her for it–Jesus welcomes all of our nothing in exchange for God’s life-giving love.
Questions for reflection
Do we trust Jesus has the authority to connect us to God?
Do we make room within ourselves to entrust our whole heart to Jesus?
Will our prayers to live produce the fruit we long for? Or do we see our choices and our authority to make them threatened by giving control over to Jesus?
Prayer
Thank you Jesus that you are greater than the temple and have brought us near to the Father. Would you help me trust in your authority today, offering my whole self to you. Amen.
written by Amy Wozniak
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Family Devotional
Holy Tuesday: Mark 11:20-33
As you read the story invite your kids to draw their favorite fruits. After reading, ask your kids how would you feel if you wanted to eat this fruit but it wasn’t available? How did Jesus react when the fig tree wasn’t bearing fruit? In this story Jesus is using the fig tree as an example for how God’s people hadn’t been following him. When we follow Jesus we bear spiritual fruit.
If you have time play a game of charades. Invite your kids to pick things that have to do with following Jesus (praying, worshipping, helping others, etc.) Then take time to pray that we would be genuine in our faith, that we wouldn’t just look like we’re following Jesus but we actually would be following Him.