*Mark 11:20-33
Jesus teaches the importance of faith and forgiveness in receiving answers to prayer.
- The Withered Fig Tree:
- Jesus and His disciples pass by a fig tree that Jesus had previously cursed for not bearing fruit.
- The tree is found completely withered, as noticed by Peter, who comments on this miraculous outcome.
- Lesson on Faith and Prayer:
- Jesus uses the withered fig tree as a teaching moment.
- He emphasizes the importance of faith, explaining that unwavering belief can yield miraculous results.
- Jesus encourages prayer with strong faith, promising that sincere prayers will be answered.
- He stresses the necessity of forgiving others when praying to ensure one’s own forgiveness by God.
- Questioning of Jesus’ Authority:
- Jesus returns to the temple in Jerusalem, where chief priests, scribes, and elders confront Him.
- They challenge His authority, demanding to know by what power He has been performing miracles and teaching.
- Jesus’ Counter-Question:
- In response, Jesus poses a question to them about the origin of John the Baptist’s baptism, asking if it was from heaven or from man.
- This puts the religious leaders in a difficult position.
- Leaders’ Dilemma and Non-Response:
- The religious leaders deliberate but cannot decide, fearing backlash from the people who revered John as a prophet.
- They ultimately answer that they do not know.
- Jesus refuses to reveal the source of His authority to them due to their evasiveness.
Mark 11:20-33 teaches us about the power of faith and the importance of trusting God completely. Jesus tells His disciples that if they have faith, they can move mountains, reminding us that nothing is impossible with God. He also emphasizes the need to forgive others when we pray so that our hearts remain open to God’s grace. This passage encourages us to pray with confidence, trust in God’s timing, and let go of bitterness by choosing forgiveness. When we live with faith and a forgiving heart, we draw closer to God and experience His power in our lives.
Mark 11:20-33 (WEB)
11:20 As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away from the roots. 21 Peter, remembering, said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered away.”22 Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23 For most certainly I tell you, whoever may tell this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and doesn’t doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is happening, he shall have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them. 25 Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father, who is in heaven, may also forgive you your transgressions. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your transgressions.”27 They came again to Jerusalem, and as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him, 28 and they began saying to him, “By what authority do you do these things? Or who gave you this authority to do these things?”29 Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 The baptism of John—was it from heaven, or from men? Answer me.”31 They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we should say, ‘From heaven;’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 32 If we should say, ‘From men’ ”—they feared the people, for all held John to really be a prophet. 33 They answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”