In chapter 11 Mark begins the account of Jesus’ last week.  Jesus is recognized and proclaimed as the “Promised One.”  It is in this account that we also see the judgment of Christ.  As is typically the case, Jesus has reserved His harshest judgment for the religious.

We get to see a new side to Jesus through the account described in Mark 11:12-21.  Jesus is moved to a holy anger.  First we see Him curse a fig tree.  The tree had beautiful foliage, but was lacking it’s pre-fruit that would appear before the real fruit.  This lack of pre-fruit, which would be eaten by peasants as a source of food, indicated that there would be no fruit at the time of harvest.  Israel, which is represented here by the fig tree, had been unfruitful and was not fulfilling it’s role to bring all people to God, regardless of nationality or status.  All this tree had, as did the nation of Israel, was that it looked good.

Jesus is not concerned with our outer display of religion and how we “look.”  He is concerned with our hearts and the fruit that is produced by a heart devoted to God.

Next, we see this even more clearly as Jesus is angered by what He witnesses in the temple.  In the early days of the temple the only division was between Priest and everyone else.  Now, during Jesus day, the temple was divided by race and gender.  It was in this outer court, where the “lesser” people were allowed to worship, that the money tables were set up.  This angered Jesus on multiple levels.  First, they were taking advantage of the people, robbing them in a sense.  Also, Jesus was angered by the favoritism and prejudice being shown by allowing this to happen in the court of the Gentiles (non-Jews), but not in the court of Jewish males.

Jesus cleanses the temple and reclaims it as a place of prayer for people of all nations. (Isaiah 56:7; 1 Kings 8:41–43)

Lord, make me fruitful.  May you transform my heart so that it produces.

Lord, make us pure.  May you cleanse us from prejudice and injustice so that all may know you.

After our weekend gathering it is with a lot of reflection that I read the account of the Rich Young Man.  As he approaches Jesus with a tremendous amount of respect, while at the same time it seems a lot of pride too.  He has pride in his religious accomplishments, he has kept all the laws that Jesus mentions in their discussion.  Jesus, however, looks into this man’s heart and recognizes that he is not completely submitted to God.  He hasn’t truly made God the Lord of his life, there is at least one area that he has refused to release control.  He was wealthy and his wealth was the thing that he was unwilling to submit.  Jesus calls him to cross over that line and to become a true follower.  One that is holding nothing back…completely submitting to Jesus.

As I mentioned this weekend, this is an area that God has really been working on my heart.  He has been revealing to me areas where I have been keeping Him at a distance.  Places where I am playing it safe, not allowing the risk of giving God complete control.

What is the “one thing you lack?”  Have you asked God what it is that you need to give to Him?

I was blown away this weekend by the amazing response of our community to writing the one thing (or many things) on the cards and giving them to God.  I believe that God is doing some amazing things in our Community and I believe that we are at a milestone moment in the life of Crossbridge.  I love being a Pastor of this awesome community of followers!

I love the teachable moments that Jesus uses…

In verses 33-35 Jesus followers are arguing over who is greatest among them.  They are all making their own arguments about why they should be considered the greatest.  Yes, I am making the assumption that they are not arguing for someone to be considered greater than their own self.  They are looking out for their own interests…why they should be the greatest!

Jesus doesn’t go off on them, instead he looks around and invites a child to come to him.  A child in Jesus’ day was a low position.  A child, while loved, had no position, no rights and no power.  So Jesus takes what is the least and associates himself with it.  He associates His highly respected status, Rabbi (teacher) to this child.  He says if they care for one of these, a child, they show love to him and even more so, to the Father.  This is a servant’s role.  Typically children were cared for by servants.  Jesus in essence is saying, “You want to be great?”  You want to love me?  Then serve.  Serve even those that society would consider the least among you.

Why doesn’t my desire for status, for worth, for position ever drive me to serve others, especially ones that have nothing to offer me in return?  This makes no sense in the economy of our world, but in God’s economy this is true worth.  Value is found in becoming like our Savior, and serving the least.  It is found in Jesus’ example of taking the lowest of servant’s role and washing feet.

I appreciate that Mark is willing to record the lack of understanding that Jesus’ followers have in verse 16 and Jesus’ response, which seems somewhat frustrated, with their struggle.  In the boat Jesus is beginning to give a a spiritual warning using yeast as a metaphor.  The disciples, in their humanness, in a total act of self-absorption think, “Oh no…he’s talking about us.  I blew it!  I forgot to bring enough bread…Jesus is mad and he is bringing it up in some passive aggressive, vague way (ok, maybe I am reading a bit into this, but you get the point).”

Can you imagine these followers, oh no…we are going to run out of bread.  We only have ONE loaf!  I don’t feel so bad for using the word, “duh,” in our gatherings this weekend…i think in some ways that is what Jesus is saying here.  You are worried about bread?  Did you forget I just fed 5000 men and their families?  (DUH)  Oh, in case you missed it, I JUST fed 4000! (DUH)

…ummm, actually, yes, I can imagine these followers doing this, because I am one of them!  How many times do I question God’s provision, his power without a thought of the past.  The past being recent, too, not ancient history.  I have seen God’s provision more clearly in the last 4 years as I helped launch Crossbridge,  than I have in my entire life.  He has provided in Miraculous (I meant to capitalize the ‘M’) ways so many times, yet I still pause to find myself worried about resources.  I still find myself worrying about what I don’t have, whether it is time, people, facilities, abilities…yes, even finances, rather than the fact that the miracle worker that just provided miraculously yesterday is in the boat with me!  (DUH)…

God, forgive me of my spiritual amnesia…