After Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to inspect the temple, only to find it not in working order, He left to spend the night in Bethany. On His return to the temple the next day, Jesus paused by a fig tree. Looking for figs, He found none. Mark makes clear the reason why. It was “not the season for figs” (Mark 11:13). Yet Jesus proceeds to curse the fig tree. We are told His disciples heard His words.

Mystery of the Fruitless Fig Tree

“For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” (Isaiah 56:7, NKJV)

As we approached Palm Sunday we traveled along with Jesus as He entered Jerusalem (click here for April 12 blog). His public ministry had reached its crescendo. The cross loomed before Him.

Mark tells us that upon His triumphal entry, Jesus went to the temple. What He found provoked righteousness indignation. Rather than His Father’s house being a house of prayer, it had been reduced to a den of robbers.

Before we leave this scene we want to understand our Lord’s sense of urgency for His people being a house of prayer for the nations. It had to do with expansion of the kingdom of God and the power that was necessary for that mission. That power involved prayer.

If we pan back from the intense scene of Jesus upsetting the status quo of temple life, we see why it was so imperative that God’s people be faithful to their call.

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