This week's Bible Study - October 4, 2009
The Warrior Hero
 Background Scripture:
Mark 11:12-25
Quote of the Week:
“Passion is the element in which we live; without it, we hardly vegetate.”
-- Lord Byron
This next four week of series is entitled "The Epic Adventure". It is taken from the book of Mark and it is a challenge by Jesus to live a life that is adventuresome, and not simply mundane. In these lessons, we'll see Jesus as the ultimate Hero that invites his followers on a journey that is full of challenge, intrigue, power and victory.
Many believers hear that they are called to live a life of adventure and passion; yet when they look at their own life, they see anything but that. They may be very involved in their church and they may not have big moral flaws in their lives; yet they certainly would not consider their life adventuresome. They have more or less settled back into a passive life, only doing what they are 'supposed to do'. Life becomes a series of checklists - do this and don't do that. It is very easy to get into a rut in life, even with good things. I've heard that a rut is simply a grave with both ends blown out. When you're in a rut, it begins to feel that way, even if you feel like you're doing the right things.
There are many more things that are potential drainers of passion in our lives. Sometimes, we tend to forget our purpose in life and we begin to live by default as opposed to by design. This is a bad way to plan a career, but it is even a worse way to live your life. Sometimes, our schedules become too unbalanced and we become fatigued. Even if you love your job or any other aspect of life, you will become sapped if you cannot balance your schedule. When we have unresolved conflicts in our lives, we will find it hard to have passion in life. And, as believers, when we don't spend enough time in the word of God, we will find passion draining in our lives.
Wherever Jesus went, he was always accumulating a following. People were always amazed to see Jesus perform miracles and to hear him teach with authority. While it was good to have such a following, it was always draining. We think of Jesus as the one who took care of other's needs, yet even he also had needs common to all mankind, such as hunger. It is good to see that Jesus had to take a break from his ministry to take care of himself. Even if we are seeking the right things, forgetting to take care of our basic needs will drain our passion and ability to perform the tasks that we have. Jesus was hungry.
In the distance, Jesus saw a fig tree in bloom, so he went to see if it had any fruit. When the Israelites were hearing about the land that God had given them, it was to be abundant with resources. Fig trees were mentioned as being a part of that abundance. When Jesus reached the fig tree, he found nothing but leaves - a classic example of false advertising. The passage tells us that it was not the season for figs. However, the fact that there were fig leaves was misleading.
The disciples heard Jesus say something which may sound rather odd. Jesus said to the tree "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." This is not so much a major curse against fig trees, but a lesson to be learned by the disciples. Outwardly, the fig tree appeared to have fruit, but it didn't. The lesson to the disciples and to us is the danger in appearing to be something, but in reality, being something else. If you were a fig tree, would you have any figs?
As Jesus entered into Jerusalem, he entered the temple area as he was prone to do. When he got there, he saw people that were buying and selling there. This had probably started as a convenience to out of town worshippers, so that they could buy animals for sacrifices at the temple, rather than bringing their own. And, surely some people didn't have animals to sacrifice. However, as time went on, the sellers, with the nod of the priests, began to sell 'approved' sacrificial animals at inflated prices. Additionally, Jewish males had to pay a temple tax each year, and it had to be in the currency of the temple. The money exchangers would gladly exchange the money, at outrageous rates.
When I was in Taiwan on a mission trip, our group saw many temples. One of the things I thought as odd was the burning of spirit money. However, you couldn't just take your money in and burn it. You had to buy 'approved' spirit money to burn. I guess the gods of the temples only welcomed the incense of the approved brand of money. You can see how this can get out of hand, and this is likely what happened in the temple that Jesus entered.
Jesus overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. He would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. The system of worship and making money had become the thing that was happening, while the notion of prayer and worship of God had become an afterthought. Jesus recalled what had been written: "My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations". But, they had made it into a den of robbers.
This did not sit well with the religious establishment. The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began to look for a way to kill him. Their following, the crowd, was beginning to sway to following Jesus, as they were amazed at his teaching. Jesus turned with his disciples and left the temple.
In the morning, as they left the city, they saw the fig tree that Jesus had encountered on the previous day. It was withered from the roots. Peter remembered what had happened and he said to Jesus "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!" This may not seem to be the biggest miracle that Jesus did. In fact, I have killed many plants in my life. However, Jesus said the words and it didn't simply wilt, but it was withered from the roots. This is just another area that Jesus had control over - it may seem less than healing from diseases and power over nature, but a power nonetheless.
Jesus told the disciples that the disciples experienced power from faith in God, as well. He told them that if they told the mountain to throw itself into the sea, without doubting, it will be done for him. This miracle was clearly the result of prayer made in faith, and Jesus wanted his disciples to have that type of faith. Note that this is not simply faith in faith, but faith in God. Throughout their ministry, they were to rely upon God and have faith that God would meet their needs. Their faith was to be in God, not simply in faith.
Now, some people are surely asking if a mountain could be thrown in the sea. Could the disciples really cause that to happen? Obviously, that would be ridiculous. This was a popular figure of speech in those days. We can relate to phrases of today. When we say that it is raining cats and dogs, does anyone think they will see Siamese cats and German shepherds falling from the sky? Jesus was talking about seemingly insurmountable problems, and that God was more than capable of overcoming any obstacle that they would face. Jesus told them that whatever they asked for in prayer, believing that they had received, it would be theirs.
This applies to us, to a point, but the disciples were given some very specific tools for their ministry. The general intent of God removing obstacles and us placing our faith in him still holds. However, from what I've seen from myself and many others, we are always trying to tell God what the result should be. We know that in all things, God is good, even if it doesn't come up as we had planned. Often, God will work in our lives, but we may not see the intended result, as we take ourselves out of the situation before we allow God to handle some of our problems.
There is also one other point from this passage that bears some thought. Jesus told them that when they stood praying, if they held anything against anyone, they should forgive them, so that their Father would forgive their sins. Do you see the link between forgiveness and God working in our lives? It is not only a lack of faith that presents an obstacle, but bitterness and a lack of forgiveness can hinder prayer. For some people, their heart has become so hard and unforgiving that the issue seems bigger than a mountain. In so many places, Jesus taught of the need to forgive one another. We are to be known by our love, yet we hold so many things against other people. What do you need to forgive today?
Closing
Passion is intended to be a driver in our lives as believers. Certainly not everyone is an extrovert, but passion is something that should impact each of us internally. Without it, especially for believers, life can become a system of checking boxes and jumping through hoops. For anyone, it can lead to dullness and monotony. It is easy to get caught up in getting enough to live on, but forgetting what we are living for. Life becomes little more than surviving and existing. This isn't what we've been called to be.
Isn't it amazing that the story of Jesus overturning the tables occurs after his encounter with the fig tree? He saw in the fig tree a tree that identified itself, but did not bear the fruit as intended. Don't you think this is what Jesus saw as he entered the temple and saw how it had become an area to buy and sell merchandise? Some people use this passage to say that books and music and other helpful merchandise should not be sold in the church. I don't believe that is the case, unless that vending of merchandise becomes the thing that distracts people from finding a relationship with Christ.
Jesus overturned the tables, because the church was not doing what was intended. Ask yourself what is in your life that Jesus would overturn. Are there things that you allow in your life that you know do not belong? As believers, we undoubtedly do love Jesus, and we do want to praise Him. But, are we willing to allow His cleansing presence in our lives? What tables does he want to turn in your heart?
Jesus told the disciples that there were at least a couple of obstacles to effective prayer and seeing God truly work in their lives. It is the same for us. We must put our faith in God, and realize that it isn't all on our shoulders. Of course, we can't just sit back and expect him to take care of it - we are often his hands and feet in getting things done - in our lives and in the lives of others. Along with faith, we must be willing to forgive one another. I truly believe that this causes as many problems in our lives as any thing else. There is truly evil and seemingly unjust suffering in our world, but how much of life are we missing because of our unwillingness to forgive? When we get everything wrapped around what we want, and our world, we find that we are further and further from what God wants.
That life of Christian adventure only comes when we live our lives as God intended. What might you need to change today, so that you can bring that passion for God back into your life?
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