Jesus and the Fig tree

On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard it. And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. And he was teaching them and saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'? But you have made it a den of robbers." And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching. And when evening came they went out of the city. 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." - Mark 11:12‭-‬25 ESV 

Rev. Dwight Yoo

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

After Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem, they left and stayed at Bethany. This was a small place two miles outside of Jerusalem. Jesus was hungry and sees a fig tree full of leaves. But there is no fruit. The author notes that this was not the season of figs. Jesus curses the tree. This is the only miracle where it does not look like an act of restoration. This is the last miracle of Jesus before His death. This was a parable played out. A true faith produces real fruit. This tree has all the leaves but no fruit. Jesus curses the tree loud enough for the disciples to hear. That was the point. Israel was often referred to as a fig tree. Israel had an elaborate ceremonial temple with priests as decked out. But no fruit. The Romans would come and level the temple... much like a withered fig tree.

The Lesson Fleshed Out

Jesus goes into the temple during the time of passover. Many people would be traveling to the temple at this time. Not only that, but temple sacrifices are required. So there were animals for sale there. The offerings at the temple needed to happen in a certain currency. Jesus threw them out. Jesus was not condemning the sale of animals for sacrifice or money changing. This was a needed thing. But the temple complex was not the proper place for it. Imagine shoppers or pedestrians cutting through a church's Sunday service... It is not the place for it. The den of robbers referred to money changers who likely ripped off the travelers. 

"Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, 'We are delivered!'—only to go on doing all these abominations? Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I myself have seen it, declares the Lord. " - Jeremiah 7:9‭-‬11 ESV 

What does it mean to be a den of robbers? It is where robbers go to hide... so they can keep on doing what they are doing. So it is with Israel, all the trappings of religious life, but no fruit. So it is with the church, all this religious ritual, but what of the fruit? Do we say the right things, appear generous, and without actively breaking laws... But without leaving our idols behind. Do we find God boring? Or is He wonderous in our eyes?

The Fruit of Faith

What then is authentic faith? It is found in how we pray. We will pray and believe that God will be true to his promise. Our prayers will believe that God can work miracles, the impossible. But this is not a blank check. We cannot use prayer to wield God for our own desires. We aren't to ask for a private jet, tropical island, etc. Our prayer must be in line with God's will be done and kingdom come. 

A heart filled with authentic faith will know forgiveness. It will know how to let go of the wrongs and sins of others. Otherwise, it is the heart of a debt collector. 

Jesus enters Jerusalem

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.'" And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. And some of those standing there said to them, "What are you doing, untying the colt?" And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!" And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. - Mark 11:1‭-‬11 ESV 

Pastor Dwight Yoo

Peace found in the plans of the God

Why so much detail about this event? Why was Jesus so precise about this? Jesus comes in this way to fulfill the prophecies. Jesus comes in the way described by the prophet Zechariah and the blessing given by Abraham to his son Judah. Young unridden animals were used in this time for spiritual occasions. Even the disciples were unaware of what Jesus was up to. The gospel of John shares of how the disciples learned about Jesus fulfilling prophecies after the fact. So we should take heart, God is at work, even while we are unaware.

Satisfaction found in submission

Many people heard of Jesus and knew him as a new teacher. But some recognized Jesus as the coming Messiah. So people spread their cloaks and palm branches on the ground. This was not a normal thing. But more than this, many misunderstood how Jesus was to save. Many had expectations of a political king who would overthrow the Roman empire. But this was not the plan of Jesus. We are not to force Jesus to conform to our expectations. That is idolatry. So it is today, here in the States. Many have a distorted Christianity where America is given a special providence as Israel had back in the Old Testament. But Jesus clearly spoke that His kingdom was not of this world. God's kingdom is not constrained to any national or ethnic borders. Jesus is not a mascot for our agenda. This is not limited to either political party. We are all susceptible to this. We all have the desire to make Jesus a justification for what we want. 

Comfort found in a king who rides a colt

Kings in Jesus' time entered on horses. They are regal with their bearing and powerful imagery. But a young donkey... God, the most powerful being, came to earth as a baby. He comes not in kingly robes as a triumphant king. But comes on a young donkey. He didn't come to bring violence, but to experience violence. He knows the troubles of this world intimately. That is the kind of king Jesus is. Jesus draws us with compassion, understanding, & grace. He is the king that we need.

Falling asleep

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.

1 Thessalonians 4:13‭-5:15 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

The apostle Paul was writing this letter to answer questions about death and resurrection. The church in thessaloniki needed some clarification. So what does happen? First, that when Christians die, their souls go straight to God. When the robber who hung next to Jesus on the cross placed his trust in Him, Jesus promised that the robber would see God that very day. But those who die will receive new resurrection bodies when Jesus comes again. So when a fellow believer dies, we don't say goodbye, we say good night. They will awaken again.

The church was wondering when Jesus was coming back. So Paul addresses this. He says that the day of return will come like a thief, unexpectedly. Don't spend your time wondering about the timing, but rather live in light of the truth that Jesus will return. Our daily lives should reflect the truth of the second coming.

Here's some New Year's Resolutions, seemingly ready made for us...

1) Let us be sober and put on the armor of God. More faith, more love, more hope in salvation. Spend more time in God's word.

2) Cultivate love. Given how we spend so much time at home because of the pandemic, we have a great opportunity to live our family members of our household. And not just our household, but also to love our church family, the community of Christ.

3) Maybe you don't have the willpower, the bandwidth. So consider this, if Lord wills it, he will enable and empower us to it.

He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. - 1 Thessalonians 5:24 ESV 

Advent: The Coming King

And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord") and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons." Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel." And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed." And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. - Luke 2:22‭-‬38 ESV 

Pastor Justin Kim

Simeon's response

Who is this man, Simeon? The passage does not give a lot of detail. He doesn't appear in other places in the Bible. He was a righteous man awaiting the consolation of Israel. This was not a popular thing and many had likely stopped waiting for the coming of the Messiah. Simeon was informed by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he saw the coming salvation. When the baby Jesus comes to the temple, Simeon picks up the child and worships God. We can only imagine the satisfaction after such a long wait. But here's the rub, consider the wait. The struggle with doubt and restlessness... Year after year after year.

Anna's response

Anna was also waiting and had been waiting for a long time as well. So when Jesus appears, she worships and goes to inform the others. There may not have been many who were waiting, but there were some. But these people may have been waiting for something else. Consider what their reactions would have been to being informed that the Messiah had come ... This baby of a carpenter. Surely not what they would've expected. But Anna recognized Jesus as a result of diligent faithful living. This wasn't from just living from emotional, spiritual highs. This wasn't because it was December, you know, time to celebrate Jesus. It was mundane daily living in faith.

Our response

Does your life reflect that Jesus is the most important thing? It is ironic that all the traditions and hubbub around Christmas can often obscure the reason for all these things in the first place. We cannot force ourselves to be excited about Jesus coming. We can't just tell ourselves to be excited. We should respond to the goodness and steadfast love of God. That is what Jesus symbolizes, even in the most difficult of circumstances. We can still rejoice in God's faithfulness to us. Faithful waiting will result in more joy in Jesus. We are also waiting for Jesus, more specifically, His second coming. We celebrate Christmas, but we should eagerly & faithfully await the new heavens and new earth. We should not let beholding Jesus pass with the passing of the Christmas season. 

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. - Luke 2:1‭-‬17‭, ‬19‭-‬21 ESV 

Rev. Dwight Yoo

The surprising shepherds

When a baby is born, the most important people should know first. Your close family and friends. But when God sends out his son's birth announcements, who does God notify? God notifies the shepherds. These were considered low class without power. There is even speculation that their word was not admissable in court. But God lets them know first. Not only that, but Jesus identifies with the shepherds. He comes for not the powerful, but the lowly. So if you feel second class or lesser whether because of your gender, ethnicity, or education level, take comfort that God came for you firstly. To the church, we are called to not favor the rich or the powerful.

The Angel's anthem

After one angel announces the birth, there is a sudden song from an army of angels. They speak of the coming of God's favor and peace. But this is not just released into the air to everyone. Additional, it is not something we can earn. It is a gift from God through faith in Jesus. We are all spiritual bankrupt. All our success, talents, and material possessions are all blessings by grace. We did not earn them without God's grace. 

Joy

Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, "No; he shall be called John." And they said to her, "None of your relatives is called by this name." And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And they all wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, "What then will this child be?" For the hand of the Lord was with him. And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel. - Luke 1:57‭-‬80 ESV 

Rev. Dan Whang

Joy restored

Israel was going through dark times for the sins of their fathers. They were considering their good old days rather than looking ahead. And now a barren woman gives birth and a fulfillment of a prophecy. Their neighbors heard about all this and rejoiced. For us, we look for joy in all the wrong places. We are setting goals for ourselves and feel joy when we meet them but are crushed when we fail. Joy doesn't falter in meeting frustration and suffering. God gives joys to those who remember their forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and adoption into the family of God.

Power displayed

The angel prophesized a baby was coming to his barren wife. The priest was not willing to believe the angel and asked for proof. So the angel made Zechariah mute for nine months. That would've been back at the beginning of the lockdown from this pandemic (covid-19). Imagine waking everyday and wishing you hadn't said that to the angel. Maybe God is bringing you into and through a dark valley. So consider that God is trying to bring us into greater trust and intimacy with Him. The priest and his wife both named their child John. And then God healed the tongue of the father. The healing didn't come with the child's birth, not until the naming of the child.

Praise lifted

The healing of being mute comes and the first things to come from the priest are words of praise. It is not simple obedience but whole heartedness. It is more than the continuing of the family line, but the fulfillment of God's will and the movement of God's kingdom. Do we only rejoice over things that we want and desire? How about those things that God desires? 

In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord." And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever." And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home. - Luke 1:39‭-‬56 ESV 

Rev. Travis Drake

Surprise baby, surprise King 👑

The recognition of Christ as King is not something you can find out by yourself. The baby in Elizabeth's womb knows Jesus. Elisabeth knew the jumping of the baby in her womb as recognition. How? How is this possible? A voice this baby had never heard, a jumping of a baby, to the recognition of Jesus for who he is. This is impossible by human means. The only way this could have happened is by the Holy Spirit. The only way we can see Jesus rightly is by the gift of God. This revelation did not come to just the powerful, the intelligent, and the ones the world deems worthy. God's salvation and revelation came to a young ordinary girl, an old priest, very unimportant. 

Breaking out in song

Suddenly, it's like we're in a Broadway musical. We go from a narrative format to a lyrical song. Did this really happen? Writers often rephrased words of people into song. But we can conclude that Mary was praising God. Mary spoke of humble estate. She knew what it was to be in a tough spot, the grind of poverty . She felt the pain of having no power in a male dominated society, living in a part of the nation that was overrun and dominated by multiple empires. Jesus' coming was heralding a new kingdom and a new rule. How does it happen?

1) Stop trying to work your way into His kingdom

2) Stop trying to be your own kingdom