SCRIPTURE: Mark 11:20-33

OBSERVATION:
Jesus turns the situation with the fig tree into a lesson on faith and prayer.
This is one of the passages that leads people to expect God to answer all our prayers – even radical or extreme ones (cursing fig trees, uprooting mountains) – if we have the right kind of faith and the right kind of prayer, which has led many people to struggle and doubt themselves, or God, or to accuse others of insufficient or inadequate prayer and faith.
The question of forgiveness (being gracious to others) in relation to prayer is echoed from the Lord’s Prayer (“forgive us as we forgive…”, Matthew 6:12). Notice that there is no v.26, when the verses were numbered a version was used where an extra line was added (see notes in Bible), though most manuscripts do not have this verse.
When Jesus is challenged, He doesn’t answer their question but asks them another to reveal to them their worldly hearts, more concerned about their reputation because “they feared the people”. In other words, it didn’t matter what He said, He knew they wouldn’t accept His answer.

APPLICATION:
This fig tree passage is a hard one, and the part about mountain-moving faith and prayer is unsettling. I have no doubt about God’s power, but I do doubt my own own perspective, and also am disturbed how people use these verses selfishly, or to unfairly judge others.
I am assuming that the prayer and the faith must be in the service of the Gospel, and not just for selfish reasons (“Lord give me a Ferrari”), and yet Jesus cursed the fig tree because He was hungry. I will just be honest and say that I struggle with these verses – I believe that somehow they make sense, I just don’t understand them.
Jesus exposes the fickleness of the hearts of the religious leaders. The question is whether my heart is just as fickle, am I also guilty of “fearing the people”, more concerned about what others think of me?

PRAYER:
Lord, I do not trust my own motives, in when I pray for things, and when I respond to other’s opinions of me. I am still very worldly minded. Thank You for Your grace and patience, and help me to grow the kind of faith that please You and serves Your purpose! Amen.