Fruitless Figs

In Mark chapter eleven, Jesus is disappointed when he doesn't find figs on a leafy green fig tree.
But Jesus doesn't leave it there - says, "My no one ever eat figs from you again" and the next day this trees is found to be all shriveled up, right down to the roots.

What is going on here? Is Jesus THAT concerned about getting figs?
Isn't he being kind of harsh with this helpless tree?

What is it we are supposed to learn from this?

Ready & Willing

In Mark's gospel he spends several chapters describing Jesus' travels with his disciples on their way to Jerusalem. Jesus has, on more than one occasion, told his disciples that he will be arrested, tried and crucified, but they haven't really gotten the message.

In chapter eleven they finally arrive at Jerusalem and they join the happy crowds arriving there for the Passover.  The disciples are excited because they think this is the beginning of Jesus' exaltation as King.  Jesus rides into the city on a donkey in fulfillment of the prophecies. People pave the way with their garments and branches from the trees. Everyone is shouting praises from the Psalms.

But what does it all really mean?  And how does it relate to us?  And what should we be doing in view of this passage?

Invisible People

We tend to think that some people are better candidates for discipleship than others. In Mark ten we have a parade of possible disciples... the pious Pharisees, the rich young ruler who was keeping the ten commandments, James & John (and the other ten disciples) who traveled with Jesus and wanted prominent positions in his kingdom administration...

But Mark chapter ten focuses on a man who was at the margins of society and who seemed to most to be an unlikely disciple... or at least an unimportant disciple.  Blind Bartimaeus was invisible to most - but even though he was blind, he saw that Jesus was the light of the world.

Great Disciples: Lesson 2

As Jesus led the way to Jerusalem where he would give his own life as a  sacrifice for sins, his disciples were still concerned about how they could claim the highest positions of honor and power in the coming kingdom.

If they had listened more closely, they would have realized that Jesus himself was the true measure of greatness. To be truly great they needed to follow his example.

He came, not to be served, but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many.

Sermon In A Sack - Plane Tickets

Traveling is a big part of modern life. We have destinations in mind... how will we get there? Can we get there on a bus? A train? A plane? Are there flights to our destination? How much do the tickets cost? Can we afford them?