Figs, Faith, and Forgiveness

Dropped Calls

Phone problems are a pain. You’ve been there. “No service” just when you need it the most. Your call goes through but drops at the most critical time. It’s those times when the answer to “Can you hear me now?” is nothing but crickets.

Ever feel the same way about your prayers? You feel like there’s no service. Maybe you thought you had a connection with God but He suddenly seems like He’s not there. 

If it makes you feel better (and it probably won’t), I’m feeling you. Been there. Done that. Got the t-shirt. Eventually took the t-shirt to Goodwill.

Has God Blocked My Number?

So what’s the dealio? Preachers always tell us to pray. Talk to God. Tell Him what’s going on. Pour your heart out to Him. Let Him know what you need. 

Yet too many times it sure seems nobody is on the other end of the line. Or maybe you feel like you get through but there’s no response. Does God have your number blocked? What’s going on?

Keys to Answered Prayer

Well, Jesus gives us the answer in a crazy little story from Mark’s Gospel (Mk 11:20-25). While He and His team are standing around a dead fig tree near the temple in Jerusalem, He tells them that faith and forgiveness are the keys to the Father hearing and answering our prayers.

Let’s zoom out for a little better perspective on where this incident fits into the story of the Lord’s life recorded in Mark’s Gospel. It’s Tuesday of what we call Passion Week. We’re just four days away from the His betrayal and murder.

Could He REALLY Be the Christ?

John Mark’s bio of Christ begins with a big and bold statement. “This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God” (Mk 1:1). The author makes our Hero’s identity crystal clear right from the get go.

But right after that, who He is becomes the hot topic. Other than His weird cousin John the Dunker (Mk 1:4-9), everybody and their brother tries to figure out just who Jesus really is (Mk 1:16-8:26). Could He REALLY be the Christ, the long awaited Hero from heaven?

Not the Kind of Messiah You’re Expecting

Eventually, the radical Rabbi/Carpenter tells the Twelve that He is indeed Messiah, just not the kind of Messiah they’re expecting. He won’t achieve His victory through military might or political power but by His own death and resurrection. 

Jesus tells them not once, not twice, but three times (Mk 8:31; 9:31; 10:33-34). And each time, the disciples scratch their heads and can’t figure out what the heck He’s talking about. 

One time, Peter even tries to correct Christ and tell Him that’s not what Messiahs do (Mk 8:32). It doesn’t end well for Pete. You probably don’t want the Son of God calling you Satan (Mk 8:33).

An Appointment with a Roman Cross

Once He reveals that He’s the One God promised to send to the rescue, He heads straight to Jerusalem for His appointment with a Roman cross and an empty tomb. 

The Lord receives a hero’s welcome on Sunday when He hits town riding on a borrowed burro (Mk 11:1-10). There’s cheering, chanting, palm branches in the air, and coats on the ground. Post parade, 

He peeks into the temple and then heads back to spend the night in Bethany (Mk 11:11).

Lots of Leaves but Zero Figs

Monday morning, the Son of God and the Twelve are heading back to the big city when He sees a fig tree with lots of leaves but zero figs (Mk 11:12-14). When Christ curses the tree for having no fruit, you might think He’s just hangry. 

We soon see His curse has nothing to do with the tree and everything to do with the temple. It’s His way of pointing out how we camouflage our lives with phony religious activity to hide the fact we have no real fruit. 

Put a bookmark here at the fig tree. We’ll be back there in a moment after a stop at the temple.

Flipping Tables and Throwing Chairs

When He hits the temple courts, Jesus wastes no time cleaning house (Mk 11:15-19). He flips tables and throws chairs. He makes it clear that we should NEVER put obstacles in the way of people’s relationship with God. 

He wants everyone to know the temple’s days are numbered. There’s something WAY better right around the corner. After His death and resurrection, we won’t need it anymore (Jn 1:29; Heb 9:26-28; 10:10-12).

Supernatural Roundup

Which brings us back to the figless fig tree. Or at least what’s left of it. We pick up the action on early Tuesday. “The next morning as they passed by the fig tree He had cursed, the disciples noticed it had withered from the roots up” (v20).

Just 24 hours after Christ curses the tree, it’s as if He’s dumped a barrel of supernatural Roundup on it! It’s completely dead. Above the ground. Below the ground.

The fig tree isn’t just having a bad day and in need of a little TLC. It’s dead and not coming back. The tree is like Monty Python’s famous deceased parrot. It has ceased to be, rests in peace, has kicked the bucket, hopped the twig, and bit the dust. 

Dropping Peter’s Name

This Gospel writer lets us know that “Peter remembered what Jesus had said to the tree on the previous day” (v21). Mark is the only one to mention how Pete brings up what happened the day before. 

Why is dropping Pete’s name such a big deal? It’s because Mark is telling Pete’s version of the life of Christ. Take it from Papias, one of the earliest leaders in the church until 130 AD. He said Mark’s source was none other than Simon Peter. 

And if you’re doubting Papias’ credentials, you should know he was close friends with John. Yeah, THAT John. The Apostle John. 

Pete’s Eyewitness Account

In his book “Jesus Is King,” Tim Keller points out that Mark mentions Peter more than any other Gospel writer. On top of that, he says everything happens when the former fisherman turned apostle is front and center.

My point? Mark knows “Peter remembered” because Peter told him. Consider the second Gospel to be Pete’s eyewitness account.

Class in Session

The disciple Jesus nicknames Rocky yells, “Look, Rabbi! The fig tree you cursed has withered and died!” (v21). Why does He call Jesus “Rabbi” here? Maybe he’s asking Him to teach them what just happened?

“Then Jesus said to the disciples…” (v22). Sit back, boys. Pay attention. Class is in session. The Lord is about to drop some knowledge.

Not Figs but Faith

He tells them, “Have faith in God” (v22). Wait, what? The Lord doesn’t say a fig-picking thing about the deal with the dead fig tree. Instead He makes a hairpin turn and teaches about trusting in God. 

It’s just further proof that Christ’s curse on the fig tree back on Monday has nothing to do with the fig tree. Could He be talking about you and me instead? Apparently so. Specifically, our faith.

Fumbling Our Faith

I have a sneaking suspicion that a little closer look at the original language might help us out here. The word the NLT translates “have” is εχω/echo. It means not just to possess and hold onto something but to grab it tightly, seize and don’t let go.

It’s also in the form of a command. Jesus is like a football coach telling a player to hang onto the ball with both hands. Defenders will do everything possible to tear it loose. In case you don’t realize it, life continually tries to get us to fumble our faith. 

Grab Trust Tightly

So what exactly is faith? The Greek word here is πιστις/pistis. You can translate it as complete confidence, total reliance, or absolute assurance. I personally like to define it as trust.

Jesus’ bottom line to His boys? Grab trust in God’s goodness tightly with both hands and don’t let go! Double down on the fact that He loves you and wants His best for you no matter what.

Breaking the Universe

If we flip back to the opening pages of Scripture, we see our first parents failing to believe in His best. The satanic snake convinced Adam and Eve that God was holding out on them (Gen 3:1-5). 

It’s no understatement to say their failure to trust God broke the universe. As a result, our awesome heavenly Dad has been coming to our rescue ever since.

A Major Thread

This is why faith is a major thread running throughout the story of God. We see it everywhere. Before Jesus comes to our rescue, God blesses Abraham as a result of his total trust in Him (Gen 15:6; Rom 4:3). 

After the cross, we have a clearer understanding of what faith means. Pete tells us that whoever shoves all their chips in on Jesus will never be disappointed (1Pet 2:6).

Doing What We Could NEVER Do

We now know that trusting in God is going all in with what Jesus has done. He’s done for us what we could NEVER do for ourselves. 

He lived the perfect life that we’ve failed to live. He died the death for our sin that we should have died. He rose to the new life we don’t deserve. Trust in who He is and what He’s done and what He WILL do!

Grab trust in God’s goodness tightly with both hands and don’t let go!

God NEVER Fumbles

But let’s be honest. There are gonna be times when lose our grip and fumble our faith. What happens then? Here’s the best news about the Good News. God NEVER loses His grip on you (Jn 10:28-29; 2Tim 2:13)!

Mountain Moving Prayers

Back at the figless fig tree, or at least what’s left of it, Jesus continues, “I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea, and it will happen’” (v23).

Several times Scripture teaches us that our prayers can be mountain movers (Mt 17:20; Jn 4:12-14; 1Cor 13:2). At first glance, that appears to be what Christ is saying here.

The Temple’s Clock Is Ticking

But not so fast, my friend. Jesus is not just talking about just any random mountain. He’s talking about “THIS MOUNTAIN” (v23 emphasis added). Folks much more skilled in the NT believe He’s talking about Jerusalem generally and the temple mount specifically.

Remember, the clock is ticking on the temple’s days when Jesus says these words. The Romans will demolish it in less than 50 years from the moment the Lord makes this statement. Spoiler alert! Something God has something WAY better in mind.

Where You Pray

First century Jews believe WHERE they pray is critically important when they pray. And in their mind, there’s no better place to do it than the temple in Jerusalem. Like a realtor, they think location is key.

That’s still the case today. Two thousand years later, people gather to pray at the Western Wall. Why? It’s the only part of the temple that remains from the destruction by the Romans.

ALWAYS a Local Call

Jews consider these ancient stones to be one of the holiest sites in their faith. It’s interesting to note that it was not part of the actual temple itself but a retaining wall on the very western edge of the larger complex.

But our Savior’s death and resurrection has erected an all new place to pray, and it’s NOT constructed by any human builders (Acts 7:48; 17:24). Location has nothing to do with prayer. 

Let’s just put it this way. For a follower of Jesus, it’s ALWAYS a local call. You’re never out of range. And there are no roaming charges!

Complete Confidence

With location out of the way, the Lord lets the boys what IS important when it comes to prayer. “But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart” (v23).

The word “believe” (Gr. πιστευω/pisteuo) is actually the verb form of “faith” we see back in verse 22. It should come as no surprise that it means to place complete confidence, total reliance, or absolute assurance in someone or something. Just to be clear, that Someone is God.

No Doubt

But this time, the Son of God wants us to know what faithful prayer does NOT include. We must “have no doubt in your heart” (v23). And He’s not dissing Gwen Stefani’s band either.

The Greek word “doubt” (Gr. διακρινω/diakrino) means to hesitate, waver, debate, take issue, or have a divided opinion. The phrase “doubt in your heart” (v23) describes an internal argument you’re having about God.

The Unbelieving Parts of Ourselves

On this side of eternity, there’s always going to be part of us that fails to fully trust in Jesus. Just as we must preach the Gospel to the unbelieving parts of the world, we must also preach it to the unbelieving parts of ourselves!

Christ is reassuring us that while I may not know the specifics of what He will do but I can be sure it will be whatever is for the good of people and His glory! Don’t pump your brakes when it comes to prayer. Punch the accelerator! Go all in!!

Name-It-and-Claim-It?

The Son of God sure seems to do just that. “I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours” (v24). Anything?!? Is the Lord endorsing a name-it-and-claim-it prayer life?

The folks at bibleref.com have a GREAT point about this passage. This is not a promise without context. The Lord does place conditions and expectations on prayer.

Whatever we ask must be in God’s will to give us (1Jn 5:14-15). We must remain attached to Jesus in order to know His will (Jn 15:7). That makes it super easy for Him to deliver on our requests.

If You Knew Everything He Knew

Jesus’ kid brother James reminds us that we need to make the ask with the right motive (James 4:1-3). Greedy and selfish prayers are guaranteed a great big “NO” from God.

It should come as no surprise that Tim Keller sheds some light here. He says, “God always gives you what you would have asked for if you knew everything He knew.”

A.T. Robertson writes that this kind of faithful prayer sees the fulfillment before it happens. That’s why Rick Warren encourages us to see faith as thanking God in advance. Praying in faith means praying with an expectant heart.

The Horizontal Impacts the Vertical

There’s just one little box to check before hitting our knees. Jesus tells the Twelve, “But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too” (v25).

Nothing blocks our prayers like unforgiveness. In other words, the horizontal (our relationship with people) has a direct impact on the vertical (our relationship with God). 

When We Forgive Others

This is one of the big ideas in Jesus’ most famous sermon. He says before we attempt to worship God, we must do everything to make things right with those who hold a grudge against us (Mt 5:23-24).

A little later He says, “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will will not forgive your sins” (Mt 6:14-15).

Twice the Apostle Paul tells the followers of Jesus that we must forgive anyone since Christ has forgiven us (Eph 4:32; Col 3:13).

Our Biggest Need and Hardest Task

I love how Darrin Patrick makes the connection.  He points out that forgiveness is our biggest need in our relationship with God and our hardest task in our relationship with people.

We can’t have one without the other. Placing our faith in Jesus is a plea to forgive our sin against Him. Once He does that, how can we fail to forgive what someone else has done to us? 

Guaranteed No Dropped Calls

The problem is that we want one WITHOUT the other. It just doesn’t work that way. Forgiveness is like pedals on a bicycle. It’s the bottom line to the story Jesus tells about the unforgiving servant (Mt 

18:21-35).

Want a strong and clear connection to the heavenly throne room? Nothing unleashes God’s power in prayer like faith and forgiveness. Guaranteed no dropped calls.

©2020

Jay Jennings