Talking to Stuff

The next day when they came out from Bethany, He was hungry. After seeing in the distance a fig tree with leaves, He went to find out if there was anything on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And His disciples heard it.

Early in the morning, as they were passing by, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. Then Peter remembered and said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that You cursed is withered.”
Jesus replied to them, “Have faith in God. I assure you: If anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.
(Mark 11:12-14 and Mark 11:20-23 from Holman Christian Standard Bible ®©)

This teaching from Jesus came to the disciples in response to their amazement that He had authority to speak to “things” and expect obedience. Contrary to much false teaching from both seminaries and pulpits, He was not speaking figuratively. The example of how to do what He was teaching about was a dead tree, which had been covered with leaves the day before.

The question should not be “What was He talking about?” That should be clear. The question should be “What will you do in response to this teaching?” Some are sweeping it under a pew. Others are currently speaking to natural things and changing them.

Be awesome!