“BELIEVE!”

 Mark 11:20-33                    (ESV)

The Lesson from the Withered Fig Tree

“[20] As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. [21] And Peter remembered and said to HIM, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that YOU cursed has withered.” [22] And JESUS answered them, “Have faith in GOD. [23] 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. [24] Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, “BELIEVE” that you have received it, and IT WILL BE YOURS. [25] 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.”

The Authority of JESUS Challenged

[27] And they came again to Jerusalem. And as HE was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to HIM, [28] and they said to HIM, “By what authority are YOU doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?” [29] JESUS said to them, “I will ask you one question; answer ME, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. [30] Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer ME.” [31] And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ HE will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ [32] But shall we say, ‘From man’?”—they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet. [33] So they answered JESUS, “WE DO NOT KNOW.” And JESUS said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”” 

 These verses carry so much TRUTH that clinging to lies COULD be a fatal flaw!!!  In verses 20-25 JESUS was teaching HIS disciples about “BELIEVING” what was in their heart and they would SEE it come to fruition.  In verses 26-33 JESUS is speaking with “the chief priests and the scribes and the elders” about WHO gave HIM “authority” to do “these things”?  

Do you actually BELIEVE that “the chief priests and the scribes and the elders” really cares about they were actually speaking with GOD INCARNATE???  Can you picture the JUDGEMENT SEAT when “the chief priests and the scribes and the elders” have to answer THE KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS that they couldn’t SEE that HE was GOD??  Weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth will be the top “menu” item when they SEE JESUS seated on HIS THRONE!  

WHOM do you say that JESUS is???  Timing is the KEY, for if you deny HIM before men, HE WILL DENY you before HIS FATHER (Matthew 10:33)!  It is IMPERATIVE that we are “BELIEVING” that JESUS IS GOD and that HE died for my sins AND ROSE FROM THE GRAVE to rule and reign forever more!!!