The previous day Jesus cursed the fig tree. Then on Tuesday, when they were leaving Bethany to go back to Jerusalem, Peter drew attention to the fig tree that had dried up from its roots. Take note that the curse Jesus placed on it was complete. It did not die from the branches down. It died from its very roots. It withered away. This presented an object lesson for the disciples.
Jesus answered speaking about having faith in God. We might ask why Jesus cursed the tree. Was he angry because he was hungry and figs were not available? Was he vengeful against the tree because his hunger remained? These things may be true or not. We are unsure and will only know the answer when we join him in heaven. However, this did become a great object lesson about faith.
There is no record of any believer telling a mountain to be cast into the sea. More than likely it was an exaggeration on purpose by Jesus to get a point across. After Jesus ascended, the disciples did marvelous things for the healing of others and a multitude of people being won to the Savior. Unfortunately, there are those people who take the Bible out of context claiming they are able to do remarkable things. In our day and time those remarkable things are actually manipulations of an audience using lies and treachery. A true disciple of Christ would not be interested in casting a mountain into the ocean. He would be more interested in casting demons out of those folks that needed help desperately.
For the believers having faith in God is a lack of doubt. Do we pray for others and then have difficulty believing God will respond or do we just pretend that we are waiting for a miracle? Part of this conviction is what was said by a disciple for it would truly come to pass just because he said it. Verse 24 of Jesus’ object lesson is the admonition that when we pray, we must believe that we will receive an answer. This is a reflection back to another time in which Jesus said, “If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.” (John 14:14) We may ask ourselves how is this possible to pray a prayer and God will automatically do it?
This thought is more complete when Jesus said, if you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you.” (John 15: 7) In other words, we cannot arbitrarily declare something to be done in our own strength. We must be so in tune with God that his will is in us and our will is in him. By this kind of abiding with him, we are asking what his intention is already . Our will is subjected to his so that when something needs to be said, we are his mouthpiece declaring it to be fulfilled. Jesus continued his thought by adding a qualification. He said, “but if you do not forgive, neither will your father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” (Mark 11:26) This is an important addendum to his lesson on faith. There is no way we can abide in him if we do not have forgiveness in our heart. The Scripture does not qualify forgiveness that the person must ask to be forgiven. It says that we must forgive and that is it! We must have the mindset and a tender heart to be in an attitude of forgiveness. Should the opposing partner request forgiveness, you already have it within you to answer kindly. Jesus proceeded to have one more point by reminding his disciples that he would soon be betrayed and murdered. How would you have received such news if you lived at the time of Jesus?
Christian Writer 