Sunday, March 15, 2015

A fig tree, Jesus’ authority questioned





3.15.2015 4th Sunday in Lent              Mark 11:20-33 A fig tree, Jesus’ authority questioned

It is Tuesday of the week of Jesus’ passion. Jesus had cursed a fig tree. The disciples witness it withered from the roots. Its destruction was total. No one in the future would eat of its fruit.  (See Job 18:16) This wilted fig tree serves as a warning of the judgment, which would come. In 70 AD, the city of Jerusalem was surrounded and destroyed.

Jesus’ authority is questioned. The religious elite gave Him no standing.  Jesus responds with a question of His own. Was John’s baptism from heaven or from men? Was it from God or was it of human origin? By inference Jesus implies that His authority like John’s baptism came from God. As such He does not speak on His own. He will not act on His own. He speaks and acts according to what has been given Him. He is obedient to the Father. He speaks only what the Father has given Him. He follows the Father’s will perfectly. In His life, His teaching, His miracles, His acts of mercy, His trial, His passion, His death, His resurrection. All has been given to Him by His Father.  

Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread, which gives life to the world: Evermore give me this bread, that he may live in me, and I in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen [2]


[1] Image by Ed Rioja © Higher Things
[2] Collect for the Fourth Sunday in Lent, http://www.liturgies.net/Lent/LentenCollects.htm

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