Mark 11:12-25
As they left Bethany the next day, he was hungry. Off in the distance he saw a fig tree in full leaf. He came up to it expecting to find something for breakfast, but found nothing but fig leaves. (It wasn’t yet the season for figs.) He addressed the tree: “No one is going to eat fruit from you again—ever!” And his disciples overheard him.They arrived at Jerusalem. Immediately on entering the Temple Jesus started throwing out everyone who had set up shop there, buying and selling. He kicked over the tables of the bankers and the stalls of the pigeon merchants. He didn’t let anyone even carry a basket through the Temple. And then he taught them, quoting this text:
My house was designated a house of prayer for the nations;
You’ve turned it into a hangout for thieves.
The high priests and religion scholars heard what was going on and plotted how they might get rid of him. They panicked, for the entire crowd was carried away by his teaching.
At evening, Jesus and his disciples left the city.
In the morning, walking along the road, they saw the fig tree, shriveled to a dry stick. Peter, remembering what had happened the previous day, said to him, “Rabbi, look—the fig tree you cursed is shriveled up!”
Jesus was matter-of-fact: “Embrace this God-life. Really embrace it, and nothing will be too much for you. This mountain, for instance: Just say, ‘Go jump in the lake’—no shuffling or shilly-shallying—and it’s as good as done. That’s why I urge you to pray for absolutely everything, ranging from small to large. Include everything as you embrace this God-life, and you’ll get God’s everything. And when you assume the posture of prayer, remember that it’s not all asking. If you have anything against someone, forgive—only then will your heavenly Father be inclined to also wipe your slate clean of sins.”
April 12th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
It\’s a dangerous thing to take part of this at face value: pray for absolutely everything and it\’s as good as done………..? Perhaps we should pray for those who aren\’t as mature in their faith and take this literally, only to get disillusioned when it doesn\’t happen.
April 15th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Hard work- again!! I\’m not sure I really know what forgiveness is or how to go about it. It\’s not saying \’it\’s okay\’ when it isn\’t- I \’m sure of that. Does it mean saying, \’I\’ll stay in relationship (in the broadest sense) with you despite the hurt you\’ve caused me\’? What if the damage is too great, or the possible outcome if it happens again too serious (eg. abuse/ violence)? Does it mean \’letting go\’ of the hurt caused? How does one do that if the consequences of someone\’s behaviour are permanent?
I don\’t think this passage means that if you pray for everything, you\’ll get everything (but I take your point, Wend) \’cos that patently isn\’t true, but it has encouraged me to \’chat\’ to God about the little things (and not so little things) during my day. When I think about the people I love, I want to hear about the little things that are going on for them, it builds our relationship. I think this might be what Jesus is talking about here.