Miracles of Jesus -8- Nature

Miracles of Nature — The Withered Fig Tree

Matthew 21-18-22; Mark 11:12-26

If you could change one thing about modern Christianity, what would it be?

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Jesus Curses the Fig Tree
Mark 11 ¹² The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. ¹³ He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so he went over to see if he could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. ¹⁴ Then Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” And the disciples heard him say it.

Jesus Clears the Temple

 ¹⁵ When they arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people buying and selling animals for sacrifices. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, ¹⁶ and he stopped everyone from using the Temple as a marketplace. ¹⁷ He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.” ¹⁸ When the leading priests and teachers of religious law heard what Jesus had done, they began planning how to kill him. But they were afraid of him because the people were so amazed at his teaching.
 ¹⁹ That evening Jesus and the disciples left the city.
 ²⁰ The next morning as they passed by the fig tree he had cursed, the disciples noticed it had withered from the roots up. ²¹ Peter remembered what Jesus had said to the tree on the previous day and exclaimed, “Look, Rabbi! The fig tree you cursed has withered and died!”
 ²² Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. ²³ I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. ²⁴ I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. ²⁵ But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”


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I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.

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Questions of Discovery

Seeking God’s Message Then and Now

1. Describe the fig tree that Jesus saw. (Mark 11:13)
2. How does the story of the fig tree relate to the clearing of the temple (vv. 13-14, 20-21)? In what ways did the Pharisees cover their fruitlessness with flashy foliage?
3. This profiteering on the sale of sacrificial animals took place in the only area where Gentiles could worship. 4. Why would that especially anger Jesus (see Isaiah 56:6-8)?
5. What did Jesus say to the fig tree? Did his disciples hear what He said? (Mark 11:14)
6. How did the fig tree appear on the following morning (the third day of the final week)? (Mark 11:20)
7. When Peter called attention to the withered tree, what did Jesus say? (Mark 11:21-22)
8. The disciples would need great faith to preach the gospel after Jesus left them and returned to heaven. They could not doubt in their heart, but must really believe. (Mark 11:23)
9. Why was Peter amazed (v 20-21)? Should he have been? What conditions for effective prayer are upheld here?
10. In order for the disciples to have the kind of faith they would need, it was necessary for them to do what? (Mark 11:24)
11. What else must they do when they prayed? (Mark 11:25-26)

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Questions for Personal Reflection

1. If you were a tree, what would help you produce more fruit: Pruning? Fertilizing? Why?
2. Like the temple, no church is perfect. What have you done to make your church a better place?
3. How do you feel about expressing anger? Have you ever expressed righteous anger? What happened?
4. What amazing answer to prayer can you remember receiving? How much faith did it take?