Summary: If our measure of Jesus' skill as a gardener came only from his interaction with the fig tree in Mark 11, we would have to conclude that the Lord's thumb was far from green. But before we have time to read the end of the fig tree story, Mark interrupts us and confronts us with Jesus' bold cleansing of the great Temple itself. The passage then concludes with Jesus' teaching on the lesson from the fig. Have you ever wondered why these two stories are so close together? More importantly, have you wondered what they tell us about Jesus as King during his final week before crucifixion? Last week we began our King in the City series with Jesus' Triumphal Entry and the question, "Are we willing to follow a King who rides a donkey?" This week, we will ask the same kind of question of a King who withers trees and turns over tables. As we look more deeply into Jesus' actions here, I believe we will find them more challenging, more refreshing, and perhaps more troubling than we previously knew. Downloads
