Focus:
kjv@Revelation:14:12 @ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
(
FaithOfJesus thread begun by r
RandyP )
Today's Verse:
kjv@Mark:11:12-19
kjv@Mark:11:12 @ And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:
kjv@Mark:11:13 @ And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
kjv@Mark:11:14 @ And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.
kjv@Mark:11:15 @ And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;
kjv@Mark:11:16 @ And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.
kjv@Mark:11:17 @ And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.
kjv@Mark:11:18 @ And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.
kjv@Mark:11:19 @ And when even was come, he went out of the city.
Today's notes:
Context:
- Before - Hosanna
- After - Master behold the fig tree
Key Concepts:
What is God's righteousness observed doing?:
- Judging in the amoral natural world through Jesus. No reasoning given other than His own hunger.
- Judging in the immoral religious world through Jesus. For reasons of the image others perceive of HIS holy temple.
What does this tell us about God's righteousness?:
- What does man need to know for a judgment of God to be right? Is it not right regardless of whether man knows any of the facts or motivations. The fact is that if judgments of morality by God can be considered, so then judgments of any animate or inanimate object can also be considered HIS as well. Judgments in this vain are likely to occur all the time. Perhaps this is symbolism, there are symbolic explanations put forth by commentators, yet no reasoning is being added by Jesus. The men simply overheard this.
- Moral judgments by God likewise would not have to be presented before an informed jury ahead of them being right either, but it seems God goes out of HIS way typically to make such known. The image of God's holiness is upon both objects fig tree and temple. It would be proper for HIM to keep HIS image within acceptable grounds even if those who profess to steward HIS image will not.
- The Lord is hungry, hungry for fruit, hungry for righteousness. In divine time this is always in season. In man time Jesus is ahead of season. How much more time shall man time have?
- The notion we have is that because God is sovereign everything is as it should be, clearly it is not. God is sovereign, it is how that is played out though that makes a sharp difference in our understanding. In HIS wisdom our sovereign God has made all things and chosen us to be stewards. For the time being HE has given a slight allowance for us to chose what that stewardship should mean as a teaching vehicle of HIS righteousness. We have chosen not to steward but to confiscate. This window of variance is within HIS sovereign tolerance and is for only as long as it takes put man back within proper specifications outlined in the design.
How is man reacting?:
- Astonished
- Fearful of their own image and how others might react.
Notes:
Is this not a judgment that all the people are already aware of? Does it surprise any that such a cleansing would be insisted on by Jesus (this in fact is the second time)? Is there any that don't sense that it is something deserved and needed? Could it be said that Jesus is over reacting and that there surely must be a more productive way to institute stricter temple guidelines enforcing adherence?
The fact that God does inform us of HIS moral judgments upon us should be a sign that change is possible within us to do more fully as HE desires us, it is not just unbreakable nature, it is that there is remedy. If not it could be said that God made us this way and yet judges us for it. It would be closer to say that God made us to be as HE desired and we have only corrupted that to place ourselves in a position of HIS rightful judgment.
There should be a clear distinction between the righteousness that God is operating in and the righteousness that the religious elite are in. These men presume to be acting on the behalf of God's judgment, HIS judgment is given them to enforce. Yet we are shown in so many ways, for instance in the way they manage the temple that there is certainly duplicity and flagrant disregard for the things of God. How can the onlooker reason that they are acting in God's interest when nothing else that they do points to that. God's righteousness is in that HE would sacrifice HIS own Son in order to prove all of this to all mankind even though nothing says that we really need only to know that it is within HIS power to make such judgments regardless without any proof or explanation.
If Jesus has emptied Himself of His own inherent power and authority in order to perform this, it must be said that HE is being directed to do this, whether tree or temple. His righteousness for now is in submission and obedience to the direction given by the Father. He Himself said that if He were to do anything of His own will not to believe in Him. There may be debate as to how far this submission indeed need go as to fairly practical daily matters and obvious judgments; the safe bet on our part is that it goes all the way. This point must be considered in the coming passage's reply of Jesus to Peter concerning the lesson He wanted known of the fig tree.
Key Messages:
What does this say about our present condition?
- We make ourselves to be judges of God. If HE is going to do this or that, well then we need to know about and approve of it. If it doesn't suit what we have deemed to be right then God can be easily judged as being wrong. It happens all of the time, though we don't always realize how we are doing it. Should HE show us how we are doing it He would likely be met with rejection. When we do see it, we see it in others, typically those who confess to be HIS followers in order to judge them as well.
- This being said, HIS followers do have a propensity of fouling the waters of perception themselves. The Christian analogy to the temple is themselves being the temple of the Holy Spirit; the off color things we allow in/on our sacred courts and grounds as well.
Further Resources:
Comment Board:Mark:11:12-19
index:FAITHOFJESUSDEVOTION - Devotional Index
strkjv@Mark:11:12-19 rwp@Mark:11:12-19 mhcc@Mark:11:12-19
FaithOfJesus2 - Devotion Index
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