The Heart of the King

Mark 11:20-25

As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

Peter is shocked when they pass by the tree that Jesus had found such disappointment in the previous day. The tree has withered away to its roots. For this to happen overnight certainly is extraordinary. Jesus initially links this to faith in God. And makes the surprising claim that whatever is asked for in faith, if no doubt is in ones heart, that will come to pass for them. This is a principle that runs through life. However as he muses on prayer, his heart goes to forgiveness. And the principle here is that if we are to experience God’s forgiveness in our lives we should forgive others with whom we may have issues.

This is really where Jesus’ heart is, the previous day he had been forceful in cleansing the temple. And as God he had a completely valid reason to be angered and offended by his peoples’ disrespect and trashing of the holy placem, which was set apart to allow them to worship him! But Jesus’ heart has already turned to forgiveness. And that is where he tells us to turn our hearts.

We have many opportunities to be offended and to feel hurt by others, every day. Jesus urges us to live in forgiveness and reconciliation. This is the only way to experience God’s forgiveness in our lives.