Faith and Forgiveness

Background Scripture: Mark 11
Lesson Scripture: Mark 11:12–14, 20–26

Introduction

Jesus often used apt examples and vivid illustrations to teach gospel truths. When He came to a well-leaved fig tree expecting to find fruit and found none, he cursed the tree and it “dried up from the roots.” He used this as a lesson to teach the power of God to those who believe and prompted His disciples to have faith in God. The temple scene before this lesson when Jesus drove out the money changers, and the cruel crucifixion shortly after our lesson reveal a world desperately needing faith in God. Jesus’s own disciples struggled as well to overcome their doubts. At Jesus’s trial, Peter denied Him; however, when Jesus lovingly looked at him, Peter recognized his depravity, repented of his sin, and wept bitterly.

The words of “The Tree Song” say, “I want my roots down deep in God’s own love.” 1 God’s love nurtures us and gives us an anchor for the trials of life. We can pray for our needs, and He will answer.

Key Verse

Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? (James 2:5).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

When Jesus entered Jerusalem mounted on a donkey, it seemed unlikely that people would pay attention to Him as a humble man riding a lowly beast. How could anything glorious happen to a man who came from such a lowly class of the social structure. However, an excited crowd formed around Jesus. Some in this crowd were looking for a great king to show up.

We can assume that among that crowd were those whom Jesus had healed, and with grateful hearts and abounding joy they gladly followed Him. Those were the poor in spirit, and the richness of their faith was demonstrated by their acts of humble adoration and thanksgiving.

The hosannas rang out with happiness, catching the attention of the onlookers. Many people spread their garments on the road in honor of Jesus as they entered Jerusalem. It appeared that any individual who laid down his own clothes, spreading them out on the street, considered it a privilege to lend his garments in this way.

Jesus came into Jerusalem and went to the temple but never described what He saw there or said anything about it. But He noticed everything; nothing escaped His eye. All seemed to be contemplatively quiet as the group went to Bethany to spend the night.

The next day Jesus was returning the mile and a half from Bethany to Jerusalem. A fig tree in the distance caught His attention. Some fig trees can grow up to thirty feet high with an abundance of leaves and figs. Although this fig tree was in leaf, Jesus found no fruit on it. With His limitless power over nature, He condemned the fig tree for not bearing fruit. Perhaps the fact that during the Passover season the Jews were restricted to eating unleavened bread contributed to Jesus being hungry when He passed by the fig tree.

The severity of Christ’s judgment on the fig tree for being barren shows us His disappointment with the Jews for being barren and unfruitful in their acknowledgement of Him as Messiah. It also tells us what He expects from His disciples. He looks for fruit on our “tree.”

Later that morning in the temple Jesus overturned the tables of the businessmen who were bartering and selling. Surely Jesus had a heavy heart as He placed a similar condemnation on the temple activities as He had just placed on the fig tree.

The next day when Jesus’s disciples saw that the fig tree had withered, they brought it to His attention. His emphatic, first words were, “Have faith in God.” He then proceeded to talk about faith to move mountains. Comparing mountains being cast into the sea, to this fig tree must have seemed like an unlikely comparison to the disciples. Little did they know that insurmountable spiritual mountains would be looming before them in a few days—great mountains they could not remove with their own strength. Because of fear, not one of them would offer to carry Jesus’s cross up Golgotha’s hill. Rather, they would scatter!

The disciples needed something that would truly see them through life’s vexing mazes. Although they were not totally self-serving, their spiritual understanding was not developed, and many “leaves” were visible. Indeed, they had come this far, having already begun the life of commitment to Jesus by leaving their occupations to follow Him. However, the true kernel of faith had yet to come to fruition. Beneath their bold and zealous exterior, which looked appealing and beautiful from the outside, a debilitating doubt yet lingered.

The disciples would need true faith in God to endure the false accusations, imprisonment, and torture that awaited them. But Jesus knew that these men could be used in His kingdom. They would eventually come to Him when the way was impassable. They would be willing to kneel at the throne of grace in times of need and stand for truth in times of testing. When in agonizing pain and betrayal, they would forgive their adversaries with joy in their hearts. Very soon they would believe with all their hearts that there is only one way to access God’s grace and mercy, and that is through the blood of Christ. They would have their sins forgiven, and would also unconditionally forgive those who wronged them, just as they had seen Jesus do. Ten of the apostles would die a martyr’s death, keeping the faith to the end.

Practical Truths for Today

In our lesson, Jesus took the occasion of the withered fig tree as an opportunity to teach His disciples the importance of forgiving others. Forgiveness should be woven into the very fabric of a Christian’s life, its threads having been spun from their unwavering faith in God. Obstacles, like sadness, disappointments, or disagreements can be overcome by God’s grace and should not rob us of our peace. We need a deep-rooted faith—even if that faith begins as only a mustard seed—that will not be shaken by adversity so the Lord can get the glory of our lives. Granting forgiveness to others is the fruit of a genuine faith in God that He is in control. One important condition for our prayers to be answered is that we forgive others their trespasses.

Too many Christians allow a root of bitterness in their lives and carry offences that keep them from spiritual prosperity and usefulness. Because they lack faith, confidence in their brethren becomes weak, a general shallowness develops, and their consecration to God languishes.

When someone is depending on us, do they find us like a tree with only pretty leaves? Or are they able to find godly fruit? True faith produces the fruit of humility, which will see us through our temptations, tests, and trials. It enables us to pray for those who are not kind to us. Jesus told His disciples, “Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you” (Luke 6:28).

A vision of our depravity and the need of God’s forgiveness gives us grace to forgive others. “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matt. 6:14). That is how God’s loving forgiveness works. It always pays to carefully and thoroughly deal with things that bother us or affect our relationships with others. Few things in life are more destructive to happiness than carrying offense, and the earlier in life we learn this lesson, the happier we will be.

Questions

1. Is having a grudge against someone the same as not forgiving?
2. We believe that God has the power to heal every sickness. When we pray in faith for physical healing, is the prayer always answered even when the malady continues?
3. How do we get rid of the bitter pill of an unforgiving spirit?
4. What exercise strengthens our faith in God to create good spiritual “muscle tone”?
5. 1 Evie Tornquist Karlsson, “The Tree Song”
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Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).