The Temple & The Tree
In Mark 11:12–26, Jesus performs two striking acts that reveal the true condition of Israel’s faith. On His way to Jerusalem, He curses a fig tree that is full of leaves but has no fruit — a symbol of outward appearance without inward life. When He enters the Second Temple, He drives out the merchants and money changers, declaring that His Father’s house is meant to be a house of prayer for all nations, not a den of thieves.
These two events are deeply connected. Like the fig tree, the temple looked alive from the outside, yet it was spiritually barren. Jesus confronts empty religion and calls His people to authentic faith that bears real fruit. He reminds His disciples that true worship is rooted in prayer, forgiveness, and faith in God’s power.
This message challenges us to examine our own hearts: Are we simply leafy — looking alive outwardly — or are we bearing fruit that flows from a genuine relationship with God?
Hear More from the Gospel of Mark Series
“Mark’s Incipit” — Mark 1:1 · February 14, 2021
“Deity & Humanity, with Authority” — Mark 1:1-34 · February 21, 2021
“The Gospel of the Kingdom” — Mark 1:14-15 · February 28, 2021
“Human Enough for Prayer & Limits” — Mark 1:32-39 · March 14, 2021
“Answering Gods Original Question” — Mark 1:32-39 · March 21, 2021
“Jesus & the Walking Dead” — Mark 1:40-45 · March 28, 2021
“Cary or Bury” — Mark 2:1-12 · April 11, 2021
“The Son of Man” — Mark 2:10 · April 18, 2021
“Follow with me” — Mark 2:13-17 · April 25, 2021
“Jesus, my Sabbath Rest” — Mark 2:23-28 · May 2, 2021
“Moralism & Liberalism vs. Jesus” — Mark 2:18-3:6 · May 9, 2021
“When He’s ‘Just Jesus’” — Mark 3 · May 16, 2021
“The Savior & Some Soil” — Mark 4:1-20 · May 23, 2021
“Jesus’ Kingdom Stories” — Mark 4:21-34 · June 6, 2021
“Jesus’ Authority over the Sea” — Mark 4:35-41 · June 13, 2021
“Jesus & My Graveyard” — Mark 5:1-20 · June 13, 2021
“When God makes you wait” — Mark 5:21-43 · July 11, 2021
“When Jesus offends you” — Mark 6:1-6 · July 18, 2021
“What God wants from you” — Mark 6:7-13 · July 25, 2021
“Present in the Storm” — Mark 6:45-56 · August 22, 2021
“The Heart of the matter” — Mark 7:1-23 · August 29, 2021
“A Seat at the Table” — Mark 7:24-30 · September 5, 2021
“He does all things well” — Mark 7:31-37 · September 12, 2021
“Unmerited Favor for Unexpected People” — Mark 8:1-10 · September 26, 2021
“A Little Leaven” — Mark 8:11-21 · October 3, 2021
“Who do you say that I am?” — Mark 8:22-28 · October 10, 2021
“From the Mountain to the Valley” — Mark 9:14-32 · October 24, 2021
“Kingdom Culture” — Mark 9:30-50 · October 31, 2021
“A Marriage Talk, p1” — Mark 10:1-12 · November 7, 2021
“A Marriage Talk, p2” — Mark 10:1-12 · November 7, 2021
“Jesus, our Kings Ransom” — Mark 10:32-45 · January 23, 2022
“The Son Stood Still” — Mark 10:46-52 · January 30, 2022
“Jesus, the Unexpected King” — Mark 11:1-11 · February 13, 2022
“The Inspection of the Lamb” — Mark 11:27-12:40 · February 27, 2022
“The Essence of Christianity” — Mark 12:28-34 · March 6, 2022
“Gospel Transformation” — Mark 12:38-44 · March 13, 2022
“Jesus & the Temple” — Mark 13:1-23 · March 27, 2022
“Jesus & the Restoration of the World” — Mark 13 · April 3, 2022
“Jesus in the Passover” — Mark 14:12-26 · April 10, 2022
“Responding to Jesus” — Mark 14:1-11 · April 24, 2022
“The God who was Crushed” — Mark 14:27-52 · May 1, 2022
“Humanity on Trial” — Mark 14:53-15:15 · May 8, 2022
“The Kings Coronation” — Mark 15:12-32 · May 29, 2022
“Caring for the Body of Christ” — Mark 15:42-47 · August 7, 2022
“Why Trust the Resurrection” — Mark 16:1-8 · August 14, 2022
“The Cutting Room Floor” — Mark 16:9-20 · August 21, 2022
“Mark, a recap” — Mark 1:1 · August 28, 2022
