READING: MARK 11:20-33

In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig-tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, look! The fig-tree you cursed has withered!’

‘Have faith in God,’ Jesus answered. ‘Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, “Go, throw yourself into the sea,” and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.’

They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. ‘By what authority are you doing these things?’ they asked. ‘And who gave you authority to do this?’

Jesus replied, ‘I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John’s baptism – was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!’

They discussed it among themselves and said, ‘If we say, “From heaven,” he will ask, “Then why didn’t you believe him?” But if we say, “Of human origin” . . .’ (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)

So they answered Jesus, ‘We don’t know.’

Jesus said, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.’

REFLECTION

What does God want from us? If you could name just one thing what would it be? Worship?

Relationship? Love God, love others? Respect? Or maybe you might recall Micah the

prophet's words… To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God… All

these things are good, and right but I want to suggest is that at the heart of all that God

wants from us is Trust… (another word for faith). At the heart of any good relationship is

trust. As a dad, I want my kids to trust me. Trust that I love them and want the best for them.

Trust that when I ask them to do something that I might know a thing or two. Trust that if they

tell me of their problems I will listen, trust that when they have done wrong that I will seek to

nurture them and help them to put things right… not crush them with my anger, condemn

them and punish them and cause them to fear me.

My relationship with Helen my wife is built on trust. I trust her with who I am… I can be open,

honest and vulnerable with her. I trust her judgement. I trust her with our finances, I trust her

with our kids, I trust her advice…

Trust is fundamental to any relationship. Without Trust there is only fear and suspicion.

Without trust I have yet another person that I have to protect myself from. Another person

adding to my anxiety and fear and another great unknown in my life… Without trust I find

myself making contracts in my head… if they give a little then I will give a little… this is what

I expect from you… this is what you can expect from me.

God wants us to trust him. To trust him that he knows what he is doing. To trust him that he

is good, that he is loving, that he is kind, that he is patient. He wants us to trust that he

knows a thing or two about us and what is best for us. That he knows about relationships,

that he knows about love, abundance, beauty, transformation. About raising families, about

our work, about what is best for us…

Here in the passage we see Jesus curse a fig tree. It withers. It dies. What has this got to do

with trust?

The fig tree is a symbol of the Israelite nation (have a look at Isaiah 5). Jesus tells a parable

about a fig tree in Luke 13:6-9 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in

his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man

who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this

fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ “ ‘Sir,’ the man

replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit

next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ ”

Fig trees take a long time to nurture into bearing fruit. Jesus is using this picture to show

God’s care of Israel. I have tended you, I have looked after you, I have shown that I am

faithful, that I can be trusted. I have loved you when you have done the right thing and I have

loved you when you have done wrong. I have loved you when you have placed your trust in

other nations, I have loved you when you have worshipped other Gods. I have done

everything and more to make you into the people that I long for you to be. When people see

you they should get a glimpse of me, people that reflect my love, who are honest, and

trustworthy, who are just, and fair, who put others first, who reflect my character and

nature…

Jesus looks for fruit on the fig tree… he finds none. Those he came to save have rejected

him.. Soon, at the end of the week, they will call for his death. They will reject the one they

claim to serve.

For Israel, this is the day of reckoning. This is the day of the Lord. This is when their lives will

be weighed on the scales and they will be found wanting. They refused his love, they

refused to trust, through their own choices and priorities they wandered away…

Today I ask simply… do you trust him? Do you trust what he says about relationships? Do

you trust what he says about money? Do you trust what he says about serving others? Do

you trust what he says about forgiveness? Do you trust what he says about loving your

enemies? Do you trust him? And if the answer to these questions is a resounding yes… then

where is he calling you to trust him more?

PRAYER

Father, thank you that you love us. That Jesus has taken away our sin and opened up your

home to us. Thank you Father that little by little you are teaching us to trust. We know that if

we ask for help that you will help us. We know it won't be easy but if we hold on tight, if we

keep our eyes fixed on you, you will help us to overcome all of our fears and anxieties as we

learn to trust you. Help us today we pray. Amen.

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