Take Two: Mark 11, Proverbs 21

Chapter 11 begins the final section of this gospel. Almost 40% of Mark's gospel is dedicated to "Passion Week;" that is, the week preceeding the crucifixion and Resurrection. From the amount of detail displayed here in this gospel, it is clear that Mark is emphasizing that this is the main point of Jesus' earthly ministry. He gives no attention to Jesus' life before His baptism. He summarizes three years in ten chapters. He focuses on the last week of Jesus life, death, and resurrection in five chapters. Brooks gives us a good summary of the timeline for the week:

Unlike the previous part of the Gospel, the passion narrative is characterized
by specific time references. At its beginning the events are set forth as having
taken place on three distinct days: 11:1–11, 12–19, 20ff. No indication is given
in 11:27–13:37 of where the third day ended. The next indication of time is in
14:1, which states that when the Passover was “two days away” the authorities
conspired further against Jesus. The following day preparation was made for the
Passover meal (14:12), and it was eaten that evening (14:17). The crucifixion
took place the next morning (15:1, 25) and the death and burial that afternoon
(15:33, 42). The day of the crucifixion was the day of preparation for the
Sabbath (15:42), i.e., Friday. The resurrection took place on the day after the
Sabbath (16:1), i.e., Sunday.
{James A. Brooks, vol. 23, Mark, electronic e., Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1991), 176.}

The timeline helps keep the week in perspective. Mark 11:1-11 is the entry to the city that we celebrate as Palm Sunday. Here we see Jesus' prophesy and instructions to the disciples...right down to the colt's location and what to say.

In Mark 11:12-14, (Monday) Jesus cursed the "fig tree" that had its fullness of leaves but no fruit. The implication is a prophesy against the religion of the Pharisees. Mark 11:20-26 is a record the next day (Tuesday), when the party traveled that way again and the tree was withered. As unusual as it was for the tree to have fullness of foliage and no fruit, it was also unusual for it to have withered in a day. Peter points this out and Jesus tells him that the ingredient is faith.

Unfortunately, we live in a world where "health, wealth, and prosperity preaching" demands that I stop and explain a bit. Passages like this (according to some) place the accomplishment of events squarely on the measure of faith of the one asking. If you truly believe, God will do it. This is a mischaracterization of God's Word which happens when we try to take individual verses and isolate them from the rest of Scripture. This is why I constantly prompt our church to study the Word and develop a theology from the Scriptures.

The relationship of faith and answered prayer has everything to do with knowing who God is, what He desires to see done, and agreeing with Him in asking for it. We never propose something to God in prayer that He has not thought of or has a particular desire for. Thank God that He doesn't always answer the prayers that I pray. Sometimes my prayers are not for the "best" things. This does not mean I go around praying generic prayers, "God, let your will be done...whatever that is." (There are times in which I do pray this way, but it is the exception, not the norm.) Thank God that His answers do not depend on whether I have sterling faith or not (See Mark 9:14-29). Faith is essential. We must believe that God is able and that He has a purpose/plan, and that He answers the prayers of His people. We, however, are not the key to the answer...God ALONE is the key.

How do I explain the Mark passage? Jesus discerned that the Father wanted to demonstrate the futility of the religious practice of the Pharisees. Discerning this, He pronounced a curse on the tree and it was carried out...demonstrating EXACTLY what the Father desired. (See John 5:19, John 14:10-12).

Mark 11:27-33 closes the chapter. Jesus was causing a "stir" in Jerusalem and the religious leaders wanted it stopped. They tried again to trip Him up. Jesus answered in a characteristic manner. They asked by whose authority He was acting. He replied by confronting them with their own unbelief. They refused to give an honest answer, so He refused to answer them.

Proverbs 21:31 is the takeaway today. The partnership in victory is a cooperation. Man prepares...and God delivers. If the horse were never prepared, there is no reason to suspect that God would bring victory. If God does not bring the victory, there is no reason to believe that man's preparation will be sufficient. It is a divine cooperation.