The lion of St Mark

THE GOSPEL OF MARK

The Fig Tree and the Temple: Mk 11,12-25

We have seen how Mark has gone to some length to arrange this sandwich. It requires an extra night out of town by Jesus and also a brief preliminary visit to the Temple (11,11). We can see that Matthew's version is much simpler (Mt 21,12).

The two outer portions of the sandwich therefore tell of the fate of the fig tree (11,12-14 and 11,20-25) while the inner portion describes the cleansing of the Temple (11,15-19).
For background, look at Hosea 9,10-17 (note verse 15) and Jeremiah 8,13.

The fate of the fig tree described in 11,20-21 then leads into the teaching of Jesus to his disciples in verses 22-25.

The fig tree: 11,12-14

Compare these verses with Mt 21,18-19. What is special to Mark and what point is he making? Would it going too far to say as one commentator put it, that "the miraculous power is being wasted in the service of ill temper"? If so, what is Mark's message here?
The word for "season" in verse 14 recalls the same word being used in 1,15.

The Temple: 11,15-19

Jesus' actions are similar to a fairly common pattern from the prophets of the Old Testament. See for example, 1 Kings, 11,29-31; Is 20,1-6, Jeremiah 18,1-6 or Hosea 1,2. Note how the form that these take is followed here as well.
Look up the quotation: Is 56,7 and Jer 7,11.

For verse 18, consider 3,6 and 8,31. Then look at 1,22

This is the moment for a response before we come back to the fig tree and the concluding teaching.

The Fig Tree and Prayer: 11,20-25

Is there any hope for the tree in verse 20? We note Peter's comment in verse 21. See also 13,2. Look also at Ezk 47,1-12.

Then note how verses 22 to 25 unfold through catchwords. What are the three themes that Jesus presents?

Note the solemn introduction to verse 23. What is the mountain called? To what might it be referring? Look back to 11,17b. See too 1 Cor 13,2.

For the importance of prayer in verse 24 see 1,35.

Verse 25 then brings in further dimension of prayer. See Mt 6,12. Note also the posture for prayer (I Kings 8,22 or Lk 18,11.13).

A response will be useful now.

We can now move on to Jesus entering Jerusalem and the Temple and his first encounter there, 11,27-33.