Mar 11:20-25 | KingComments | STEP | Again the Lord goes out of the city in the evening because He does not want to spend the night there. The next day is Tuesday. When they are on their way to Jerusalem again, they pass by the fig tree cursed by Him. The disciples notice that the tree is completely withered. It reminds Peter of what the Lord said. He points to the withered fig tree and quotes what He said to the fig tree. For the Lord, what has happened is self-evident, but the disciples can learn from it. He points out to them faith in God. That’s what they must have, that’s what it’s all about. It is not about faith in itself, but about faith in God , about complete trust in Him. The great secret is to focus all our thoughts on Him, to judge things together with Him, and to act only for and from Him. Whoever has faith in God, in a God Who acts in accordance with what may be expected of Him, gets what he believes. It is not about a great faith in God, but about faith in a great God. The Lord speaks about “this” mountain, that is a certain mountain. It is the mountain that represents the immutability of the entire Jewish system, which will never change in its opposition to God and its rejection of Christ. But God has thrown this mountain into the sea, the sea of nations, in response to the faith of His own. Faith sees the apostasy of the people and, like Elijah, appeals to what God has said when the people go astray. Elijah prayed to withhold the blessing of the rain ( ; ). Faith does this because it is the only way God can bring the people to repentance ( ). There is also the application that faith in this God eliminates the greatest mountain of trouble a weak disciple might encounter in his service to the Lord. Only this faith must be practiced without doubt ( ). Nor should it be the working of a strong self-will, but the awareness of the presence and intervention of God. Faith speaks with an authority to which God binds His power. Faith does not claim, but knows for certain that something is according to the will of God. Based on the knowledge of God’s will, faith speaks the Word with authority, so that it is not surprising that happens what has been spoken with authority in faith. The word “therefore” ( ) refers back to what the Lord has just said about faith in God. He confirms and strengthens the power of faith. He encourages them to pray and ask in the faith that they will receive what they ask for. God loves nothing more than to answer this confidence by giving what is asked for. That is how He is. The Lord’s remark about forgiveness ( ) is still part of praying and asking in faith. Here He points out that in order to get what is asked for, it is necessary to have the right mind. If we ask anything of God while there is resentment in our heart against a brother or sister, we will get nothing. God cannot answer when we have something against someone and do not want to forgive him. When praying, a mind of forgiveness is important. That mind is the mind of God, Who also wants to forgive us if we have done something against Him. Asking questions in faith requires acting toward others in the awareness of the grace shown to us by our Father. Then answer will take place.

‏ Mark 11:20-25

The Lesson of the Withered Fig Tree

Again the Lord goes out of the city in the evening because He does not want to spend the night there. The next day is Tuesday. When they are on their way to Jerusalem again, they pass by the fig tree cursed by Him. The disciples notice that the tree is completely withered. It reminds Peter of what the Lord said. He points to the withered fig tree and quotes what He said to the fig tree.

For the Lord, what has happened is self-evident, but the disciples can learn from it. He points out to them faith in God. That’s what they must have, that’s what it’s all about. It is not about faith in itself, but about faith in God, about complete trust in Him. The great secret is to focus all our thoughts on Him, to judge things together with Him, and to act only for and from Him. Whoever has faith in God, in a God Who acts in accordance with what may be expected of Him, gets what he believes. It is not about a great faith in God, but about faith in a great God.

The Lord speaks about “this” mountain, that is a certain mountain. It is the mountain that represents the immutability of the entire Jewish system, which will never change in its opposition to God and its rejection of Christ. But God has thrown this mountain into the sea, the sea of nations, in response to the faith of His own. Faith sees the apostasy of the people and, like Elijah, appeals to what God has said when the people go astray. Elijah prayed to withhold the blessing of the rain (Jam 5:17; 1Kgs 8:35). Faith does this because it is the only way God can bring the people to repentance (Rom 11:11-15).

There is also the application that faith in this God eliminates the greatest mountain of trouble a weak disciple might encounter in his service to the Lord. Only this faith must be practiced without doubt (Jam 1:5-6). Nor should it be the working of a strong self-will, but the awareness of the presence and intervention of God.

Faith speaks with an authority to which God binds His power. Faith does not claim, but knows for certain that something is according to the will of God. Based on the knowledge of God’s will, faith speaks the Word with authority, so that it is not surprising that happens what has been spoken with authority in faith.

The word “therefore” (Mk 11:24) refers back to what the Lord has just said about faith in God. He confirms and strengthens the power of faith. He encourages them to pray and ask in the faith that they will receive what they ask for. God loves nothing more than to answer this confidence by giving what is asked for. That is how He is.

The Lord’s remark about forgiveness (Mk 11:25) is still part of praying and asking in faith. Here He points out that in order to get what is asked for, it is necessary to have the right mind. If we ask anything of God while there is resentment in our heart against a brother or sister, we will get nothing. God cannot answer when we have something against someone and do not want to forgive him. When praying, a mind of forgiveness is important. That mind is the mind of God, Who also wants to forgive us if we have done something against Him. Asking questions in faith requires acting toward others in the awareness of the grace shown to us by our Father. Then answer will take place.