#BibleLesson Timeless Truths. Palm Sunday - Beyond the Tree Branches

Palm Sunday is not only about the triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

It’s about why Jesus came to Jerusalem.

Be careful not to let familiarity keep you from hearing the message of this story.

Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna! ” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” 

“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” 

Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 

Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it. 

On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 

And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”

The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching. 

When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city. In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 

Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!” 

“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered.

Mark 11:8-22

Look at the strange things in this passage.

1. Jesus goes to the Temple in v11 and does “nothing.” That’s not what Mark implies might happen earlier in the verse.

Jesus saves the “BIG FINISH” for the crowd He knows will be there the next day.

2. Jesus' response to the fig tree’s lack of fruit. It seems over the top since it’s not fig season.

Leaves can promise fruit but they can conceal fruit as well.

3. The day after Jesus arrives, he throws the buyers and sellers out of the Temple. This happens between the two parts of the fig tree story.

Cast out of the Temple is the same term used for Cast out demons. Jesus casts “unclean spirits” out of the Temple.

4. During this time Jesus quotes from Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11.

From Cursed to Clean 

A commentary on the fig tree story.

• The fig tree is a parable of the state of the Temple.
• Micah and Jeremiah use the image of a Barren Fig Tree.
• Jesus goes to the Temple expecting it to be a fruitful place of prayer for all nations.
• Why did the Temple Authorities allow this decline?

REALITY

The parable is about Christians.

We are the Temple of the Holy Spirit.

We are supposed to bear fruit.

More challenging than bearing fruit is knowing when you’re not bearing fruit!

We can deceive ourselves into the shape we are in.

When Jesus visits your church does He see a functional Temple or a place hiding behind the foliage?

Use this time of year as a time of self-reflection.

Are you bearing leaves but not fruit?

Remember:

It’s easy to know when some fruit is missing, but not so easy with other fruit.

On the first Palm Sunday, Jesus looked for 

‘. . . a house of prayer for all nations,’ (Isaiah 56:7c) a place to reconcile Jews and Gentiles.

Is your church like this? 

Is mine?

This sermon was delivered on Palm Sunday, 2016. The Presidential Election campaign was heating up, figuratively and literally. 

The remainder of this message addresses the angst that was present then and is still with us today. 

Read. Think. Pray. Respond.

If you are a follower of Christ, YOU ARE THE CHURCH.

Too many people today are angry and exclusive in support/opposition of “their” candidate.”

Christ’s Church is called to be

The Temple of the Holy Spirit

A place of prayer for the nations

God’s project of reconciliation exemplified

The Church cannot be associated with violence and division.

The Church must commit to completing God’s agenda—be good Samaritans to all in need.

The Church cannot allow the political mood of the day to drive it.

The Church cannot respond to anger from any source with more anger.

Jesus Heals a Man's Withered Hand

[Jesus] entered again into a synagogue; and a man was there whose hand was withered. They were watching Him to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him.

He said to the man with the withered hand, "Get up and come forward! And He said to them, "Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill?" But they kept silent. 

After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 

The Pharisees went out and immediately began conspiring with the Herodians against Him, as to how they might destroy Him. 

Mark 3:1-6 [NASB]

In this story of a man’s withered hand, we see that God can restore whatever has withered be it 

a hand

a fig tree

a Temple/church
or

a soul/spirit

As you move through Easter week, pray for God to restore the withered state of our lives and our country.

Special thanks to Dr. Sam Powell for the primary teachings in this post.
Dr Powell's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/samuel.powell.35912
and his website: On The Boundary samuelmpowell.com

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