Sermon Index
March 1, 2015: Lent 2B
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Mark 11:12~19 12 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. 14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it. 15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area 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, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 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.’” 18 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. 19 When evening came, they went out of the city. |
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Goal: That Jesus would cleanse our temples Malady: Our church, our lives, our hearts, our behavior is dirty, no is a lie. Means: Our hearts are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Cleansed by the death and resurrection of Jesus and by baptism and the forgiveness of sin. Outline 1. The cursing of the fig tree is like a parable sign. Leaves should have fruit 2. The temple is busy, so should have fruit and prayer 3. A curse for the first, a blessing for the second 4. Jesus comes to our church, and what does he see? Will he curse or cleanse and improve it? 5. Jesus sees our lives, them temples of our hearts. Curse or improve them? 6. Cleansed by the death and resurrection of Jesus and by baptism and the forgiveness of sin. |
Last week I started a Lenten sermon series on the six days of Holy Week, according to the Gospel of Mark. It starts on Palm Sunday and goes to Good Friday. Today let’s look at the Second Day of the week, Monday of Holy Week.
Today’s actions by Jesus are strange. We usually think of Jesus as been nice and kind, peaceful, and helping and healing people. But today he curses a fig tree and violently cleanses the temple. I think the best way to understand the cursing of the fig tree is to see it as a prophet sign, like a parable. If the fig tree has leaves it should have fruit. It was not the season for figs, so the tree was itself was out of season, the tree was not right, it was deceitful.
Likewise the temple. Like having a lot of leaves, it was busy with lots of activity. People were selling and buying things they needed for the Passover festival. But the activity was not the proper thing for a temple. The proper “fruit” for the temple was to be a “house of prayer for all nations.” So Jesus drove out all the merchants. Unlike the fig tree, Jesus did not curse the temple. That is because the temple was necessary for the prayers and sacrifices. And besides, in 40 years the Romans would completely destroy the temple, which was not longer needed after the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
And so that day there was a curse for the fig tree and a blessing of cleansing for the temple. It reminds us that Jesus Christ is both Judge and Savior.
Jesus saw the condition of the temple and took action. Jesus sees the condition of our church today. What action will he take? Will he curse us or bless us? Will he judge us or take pity? There is the activity that is in every church that is not just worship and prayer. Sometimes there are flea markets, pot lucks, and parties. Those things are not bad, unless they prevent us from doing our job of prayer and praise and proclamation of the Gospel. So we pray that Jesus will cleanse our church so that this will indeed be a “house of prayer for all nations.”
Jesus sees our daily lives. There are all sorts of leaves because we are busy about so many things. But is there fruit? Is there love and prayer? Is there kindness? Is there faith and trust? Will Jesus curse us or cleanse us? The cleansing is a blessing.
We are cleansed by the death and resurrection of Jesus. We are washed clean by Baptism. We are blessed by the forgiveness of sin. St. Paul said that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit lives in our hearts.
Amen.
Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church