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Mark 11.12–19: A warning from history (Day 39)

Our daily reflections follow the M'Cheyne Bible reading plan, designed for those who want to read the whole Bible in one year. Each reflection focuses on one of the chapters from that day's readings. Darllenwch rhain yn Gymraeg.

Pray

Pray

Lord, prepare me to receive your word. Clear my mind and warm my heart. Assure me of your loving purposes for me, and speak into my life today.

Reflect

Daily reflection: Mark 11

The cursing of the fig tree and the cleansing of the temple are linked not only in time, but in what they symbolise. Jesus is hungry, but there's no fruit to eat because it's not the right season. He enters the temple, where spiritual hunger is to be satisfied, and there's no nourishment there – it's just a marketplace run for profit. The season is wrong. The overturning of the tables and the withering of the tree correspond to each other.

The 'cleansing of the temple' is often portrayed as an example of Jesus' anger. He loses his temper, righteously so. But in Mark's Gospel there's no hint of this. It's more like a surgical operation; there's no emotion in it at all. It is just judgement: the temple is failing in its purpose, and needs to be reformed or ended. When the Romans took Jerusalem in AD 70, that end came as the temple was destroyed.

The story is a very sobering one. It speaks to us of our own purpose. Paul tells the Corinthian church, 'Surely you know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you!' (I Corinthians 3.16, GNB). Later he speaks to individuals and says, 'Don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and who was given to you by God?' (6.19).

If we fail in our purpose, we may face judgement. There may be a painful cleansing of our lives or our churches. We may be called to repentance. If we don't heed the call, we may find ourselves useless to God.

Pray

Pray

God, thank you for your grace and mercy towards me. Help me to face up to what's wrong in my life, and to hear you calling me to repentance.


This reflection was written by Mark Woods, Bible Society's Editor

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