02/18/2024 - Passion Despite Fruitlessness - Cleansing Of The Temple

In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!” -Mark 11:12-26 (NIV) Lent is a season marked by reflection and confession prior to Easter. Traditionally, the Church uses this time to fast, recognizing our depravity and need for Jesus’ salvation. This Lent, FBCM will be studying Mark’s gospel as we expand “Holy Week” into an entire series. We will explore the many ways in which the disciples betray Jesus leading up to his death. But more importantly, we will also see how our God responds to our betrayals with his love and invites us into repentance and life everlasting. This Sunday, we will begin our Lenten reflections with readings from Holy Monday, when Jesus cleanses the temple. We don't see Jesus getting heated like this often, so it's a story that gets referenced often! But how do we understand Jesus' frustrations? And how does this story help us reflect and repent for the ways in which our own congregation has betrayed God? And what does a fig tree got to do with it? Continue reading online at www.fbcmuncie.org/blog.