March 4 “The ‘Jesus we want’
versus the ‘Jesus we need’” Mark 11:12-25
Monday in the Last Week of Jesus
Life
One way of explaining how
Lent is different from the season that preceded it is that it’s the difference
between the Jesus we want and the Jesus we need.
We want the Jesus who stands
by us – who like us in every respect, except sin – and thus understands
us. We want the compassionate Jesus, who
offers consolation and affirmation, on our terms.
*
There was a scene in a humorous movie sometime ago that summed it
up. A clergyman, discouraged by falling
church attendance, decides he has to present Jesus in a new way – one that will
be more appealing to modern Americans.
He unveils the new image in a visual way – a statue of the “Buddy Christ”
– a smiling Jesus giving two thumbs up.
Maybe the humor was in poor taste – the whole movie was in poor taste –
but I’m afraid there’s some truth to the idea that we really prefer an
understanding, forgiving Jesus who doesn’t really challenge us. But that’s not the Jesus of the Bible- and
that’s not the Jesus we really need.
We need the Jesus who offers
redemption and reconciliation, on His terms.
We need the compassionate Jesus who calls us to repentance and offers
transformation. The One who is like us
enough to stand by us, and unlike us enough to redeem
us. We need to be called forth out of
our caught-ness in sin. Caught-ness: we
caught in sin like a fly in a spider’s web – and we can’t free ourselves – we
need the Redeemer.
+
In Lent, we’ve been looking
at the last week in Jesus’ life, when he accomplished our redemption from
sin. We began our reading with the
account of Palm Sunday, and saw that Jesus speaks and acts with the authority
of God. In today’s gospel we saw a
graphic illustration of that.
When Jesus entered the temple,
he looked at the area in the outer courts where the money changers took
pilgrims’ secular, Roman money and exchanged it for temple money – coins that
could be used for offerings and also for buying things. Then there were those who sold
priestly-certified birds and animals for the sacrifices.
Why all this
commercial activity?
The temple was a huge building to maintain – and there were priests to
be paid – and high priests to be well paid.
Jesus looked at it – and was
disgusted.
And angry – very angry.
This is not the kind and gentle Jesus – the “Buddy Christ”. This is the King who comes in the name of the
Lord – and so with the authority of God, he overturned the tables of the money
changers – drove out those who bought and sold.
My house shall be a house of prayer for
all...
Mark 11:17
Jesus showed them the proper use of God’ house, for He was in the
temple daily, teaching the crowds.
A picture of what the church should be – a place of worship and prayer,
of teaching and preaching. Perhaps as we
ponder our future, we should keep in mind what Jesus thinks the church should
be doing.
My house shall be a house of prayer for all people
– for all nationalities and all kinds
of people.
In those days, non-Jews were not permitted in the inner courts of the
temple. Yet, this was not true in the
first temple, for Jews were to be a light to the nations, drawing all to the
worship of the One true God. They were not supposed to be exclusive, but
rather inclusive.
A reminder of what you
already know: This is not our church –
it is God’s church. And it’s not just
for us – it is for all – any one and every one who chooses to come to pray and
worship. As our old
Mission Statement put it: it is the calling of the
Much of what we do should be
not just for us, but for those who will find us – those you will seek out and
welcome.
+
The cleansing is bracketed by one of the more puzzling acts of Jesus:
the cursing of a poor fig tree.
On Monday morning, as Jesus was walking to
Then came the cleansing of the temple – the temple
that had been corrupted by the religious leaders and the clergy.
The next time Jesus walked by that poor fig tree, it has completely
withered – from the roots up – it’s done for.
The meaning of the cursing of the fig tree can be inferred from the
cleansing of the temple.
Those religious leaders were not producing any fruit for the Lord
either. Therefore they will be treated
by God in just the way Jesus treated that fruitless tree – they also will
simply wither away. They’re done for.
But that’s not fair to the fig tree, it had a good excuse. Maybe the Lord doesn’t accept excuses - even
good excuses.
+
Jesus has expectations for His church – we are to bear fruit. The church is to nurture the faith of its members
– and also go out and make new disciples.
As members, we all share the responsibly for the church’s mission. Fruitless churches – like the fig tree –
will simply wither away.
But that’s not fair to those churches. There are reasons why they are declining. Apparently, the Lord doesn’t accept excuses.
As individuals, our lives are to bear fruit, as Jesus said on another
occasion in this Last Week.
My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much
fruit and become my disciples. John 15:8
He also said He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. John
15:2 - Removed and thrown into the
fire.
You become his disciple as you bear fruit.
What does bear fruit mean?
Lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him,
as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God…
prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to
the Father, who has enabled you…
Colossians 1:10,11
Four ways you bear fruit:
1] In every good work – as you follow His way in your life, you bear fruit by
simply doing acts of kindness, speaking with gentleness, and exhibiting
generosity to others. Christ-like words
and deeds are the fruit he seeks.
2] Grow in the knowledge of God – learning to live in love as he loves us, and thus
beginning to experience harmony with family and friends. His peace and love in your life are the fruit
of following in His way.
3] Then you’ll be prepared to endure everything with patience, because
you’ve learned to trust the Lord and rely on Him – your faithfulness is another
example of good fruit.
4] So you’ll joyfully give thanks to the Father, who has enabled
you… His way leads to joy and thanksgiving.
+
So that you may bear fruit in your life, Jesus urges you to believe,
and to pray.
To grasp our attention, Jesus uses hyperbole:
"Have faith in God. Truly I tell you, if you say
to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and if you do not
doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will
be done for you.
It’s an arresting exaggeration.
If you want to move literal mountains you’d probably use earth-moving
equipment, but don’t under estimate the power of faith and prayer. There is remarkable, astounding power in
prayer. And faith is the channel whereby
we open our lives to the power of God.
We have seen Jesus demonstrate
His authority and power so do not doubt in your heart, but believe. That same power can be available in your
life.
The power of God that withered a fig tree and moves mountains can bring
you new life - can bring this church new life.
Jesus calls us to believe that, and to pray for it.
+
In the last week of His life, we are confronted by the Jesus we need –
for His focus is on our redemption and transformation. Often His words and deeds have a sharp edge –
for he would cut away at our sin. There is an urgency
to his words – and frequent warnings about the ultimate consequences of our
actions.
The Jesus we need is demanding.
He expects us to take his teachings to heart, so they would begin to
transform us. He wants to see positive changes in your life and mine.
Most of all, the Jesus we meet in the last week is Lord of all – the
One who would be Lord of your life and mine.