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Mark 11:29
   Jesus knew their question was singular. He also knew why they had asked it. He understood the danger involved. Now, some may say that his choice to ask them a question in return was a cop-out. Well, it wasn’t. It was a careful avoidance of an eventuality. Eventually, the Jewish leaders would find a way to accuse him. And he already knew that. He just chooses not to allow this to be the occasion for it.
   Answering a question with a question is a clever way to turn the argument around. This question was actually a very good one, and the Jewish leaders were taking a risk by asking it. But, they felt they had no other choice, for Jesus was just too big a threat. Asking a question in response was the best way to avoid the trap that had been laid.

Heavenly Father, thank you for orchestrating everything by your plan. We can see from your Word that there are times that you have your people run from the enemy. Other times they stand before the enemy. And, as here, they sometimes outwit the enemy. In any case, we are in your capable hands. Thank you for your protection! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

A technical malfunction caused yesterday’s post not to get published.

Mark 11:27
   Jesus’s visits to Jerusalem had brought much embarrassment to the religious establishment. These came to Jesus because they could see no other choice but to engage their enemy. Good men will always cause this reaction. Often, the results are tragic. But, the fact of the matter is that it is to be expected in a sinful world. When evil men confront the good through no fault of the good, heaven stands in the appropriate location to either ensure the victory or gather the souls of saints among men.
   In this case, these had gatherred for yet more embarrassment. There would, however, come a time that their hour would be given its place. Even then they would discover that death itself is no defeat for Christ and his ‘Christ-ians’. May we never shrink from the response of evil, but work to rescue as many from darkness as we possibly can.

Heavenly Father, you have made it possible for a man to live for good in this wicked world. Thank you for showing us the life of Christ on Earth. It energises us as we try to live for you. It shows us the response of the world and assures us of your support. You deserve the credit because you uphold every good man. Only in Christ may we be found righteous. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Mark 11:28
   These men had come to the point that they weren’t even sure how to ask Jesus a question anymore. They were so afraid he would best them once again. Their two part inquiry is quite redundant as an answer to the one would answer the other. But, alas, their wilfil ignorance made them incapable of asking a proper question in a proper way.
  As for the question itself we can see that it had the tune of legitimacy. But, only if you consider his recent actions in isolation. If one considered the whole of Jesus’s ministry, figuring out where his authority came from  would not be difficult. These leaders, however, were concerned with the opinions of men. More than this, they hoped to trap Christ. If he plainly said he was God in terms that they and the people recognized as such, they would be able to accuse him of blasphemy.

Heavenly Father, open our eyes that we may see the truth in your Word. We don’t want to be deceived by darkness. The darkness is not a necessary dwelling for the children of light. We must live in the light of Christ. You have brought us into your kingdom and you deserve our praise. Thank you! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Mark 11:26
   Notice if you will that Jesus had already implied this in the previous verse. But he states it very clearly here. And why does he major on this? Becuase it is major! Forgiveness is no light subject. It is absolutely vital that God’s people, of all people, be masters of forgiveness. It is our sacred duty. And God the Father is more than willing to ignore our prayers if we do not understand that.

Heavnely Father, thank you for helping us to understand forgiveness! You communicate the vital things to us. We must not miss the significance of forgiveness. Without it, there is no hope. Your people should be very familiar with it because we have received it first hand from you. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Mark 11:25
   This is not preached on enough. Prayer is a precious privledge, which can easily be blocked by sin. Though we are not quick to admit it, failure to forgive is sin. Forgiveness should be a significant part of our core values. In fact, forgiveness is a major tool for the progress of the gospel.
   We see here that Jesus says they would stand praying. I do not think we have to take this to mean that standing os the only proper mode for prayer. We find people in Scripture doing other things, such as kneeling or lying down. What we should take from this is that, when possible, prayer should be a focused activity. Though we may often pray while doing something else, it is a necessary habit to just pray, and only pray, on a regular basis. This practice reminds us of the significance, power, and serious nature of prayer.

Heavenly Father, may we have a deep love for forgiveness. To be very forgiving is to be very much like you, for you have forgiven much. We must remind ourselves how great things you have done for us. Your forgiveness has made our lives possible. Without it, judgement would be sure and swift. Thank you for forgiveness in Christ! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Mark 11:24
We should pray expectantly. This is not to say that we may force the will of God. But, it is his will to answer our prayer. And how so? Because the prayers of righteous persons will be in accord with his will. God may go about the answer in a different manner than we expect. But Jesus is confirming that in this present age the people of God speak by the Spirit of God in the name of the Son of God to God the Father. Thus we can expect our prayers to be in line with his program due to the indwelling of the Spirit.

Heavenly Father, thank you for prayer. Though we often fail to understand it well, we will continue to practice it. It is an excersize that we see is a vital part of our relationship with you, and our usability in your kingdom. Your work in our prayers is most amazing! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Mark 11:23
   Now this concept has been torn every direction in which it may seem to go. We always want an easy fix to our problems. We look for assurances like this. We want to be able to know that we can make things happen. We want power over our circumstances.
  The best thing to do with this verse is to put it in context. Jesus goes on to describe the necessity of forgiveness in this process. So what is really being described here? This is not to tell the average man, ‘If you put your all into it, you can have anything.’ That is a false conception that is being sold left and right. What it does mean is that there is amazing power available to those who belong to the Lord. Limits disappear in the service of the Lord. Trust in him, which is what belief is all about, enables us to live in a completely different way from what would normally be expected.

Heavenly Father, to trust you implicitly is such a gain in our lives, but we tend to forget it. To depend completely upon you is the making of us. It gives us the freedom to once again live in fellowship with you. This fellowship brings eternal significance to our being, though we are finite. Thank you! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Mark 11:22
This verse is in the perfect spot! Right here in the middle of the failure of the Jewish nation to believe we find this exhortation to faith. Right in the middle of what seemed a time of failure for our Lord. Right in the middle of disappointment and defeat. It is here that we see the key for moving forward. Have faith in God!

Heavenly Father, thank you for encouraging us so much. You always give us the practical wisdom that we need for our lives. Your Word is full of help for us. You are so glorious because you have given to those who are undeserving. Thank you! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Mark 11:21
Peter was always the first to say what everyone else was thinking. He says this about the fig tree as if there could have been some other outcome. Indeed, there may have been many even in that day uttering meaningless curses. This type of flagrance leads to a warped sense of what is true. Jesus’s words actually meant something, and he would not have said them in vain.

Heavenly Father, we should always say what will be pleasing to you. Only you are worthy. We must not waste our thoughts, actions, and words. May we never utter curses without warrant. You should get the glory in what we say. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.