1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:05,560 Speaker 1: Let us pray, and he taught saying unto them. Is 2 00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:08,600 Speaker 1: it not written my house shall be called of all 3 00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:12,440 Speaker 1: nations the house of prayer, But ye have made it 4 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:18,280 Speaker 1: a den of thieves. Mark eleven seventeen. As the truth 5 00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:21,799 Speaker 1: of Mark eleven and twelve hits my soul. May it 6 00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:25,200 Speaker 1: serve as a reminder to never allow my life to 7 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:28,960 Speaker 1: be as a fake tree. Never allow my life to 8 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:32,519 Speaker 1: have the appearance of godliness and the appearance of obedience, 9 00:00:33,159 --> 00:00:36,320 Speaker 1: when in reality there is no fruit of it in 10 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:41,479 Speaker 1: my life. At this moment, I am making the conscious 11 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:46,280 Speaker 1: choice to allow my words and my actions to remain 12 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:50,760 Speaker 1: in alignment. Give me the boldness to stand up for 13 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:55,280 Speaker 1: righteousness like Jesus in the temple court yard, to oppose 14 00:00:55,320 --> 00:00:59,120 Speaker 1: anything and everything that is counter cultural to the word 15 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 1: of God. Let me speak with the authority of Heaven 16 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:07,840 Speaker 1: behind me, Let me speak with the love of Jesus 17 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:11,240 Speaker 1: within me, and let me speak with a caring heart 18 00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:15,160 Speaker 1: to restore people back to the rightful place. With you, God, 19 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:20,760 Speaker 1: I decree and declare that I will not be intimidated 20 00:01:20,959 --> 00:01:24,120 Speaker 1: nor silenced by those who give the appearance that they 21 00:01:24,160 --> 00:01:27,400 Speaker 1: are in power, but who are corrupt in heart and deed. 22 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:32,760 Speaker 1: From this moment on, I will live with a full 23 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 1: assurance that whatever I speak in your name, I will 24 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:40,680 Speaker 1: be able to receive it, because I live in direct 25 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:48,440 Speaker 1: obedience to you and your word in Jesus name. Amen, 26 00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:53,160 Speaker 1: thank you for praying with us to day. Continue your 27 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:56,400 Speaker 1: time with God by listening to to day's Bible story 28 00:01:56,920 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 1: brought to you by Bible in a Year dot. 29 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:11,280 Speaker 2: Com Den of Thieves. In our last story, we learned 30 00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:15,120 Speaker 2: about the triumphal entry of Jesus. People made way for 31 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:19,280 Speaker 2: Jesus to take over as king of Israel. However, Jesus 32 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 2: was not the king they expected. They expected him to 33 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:26,440 Speaker 2: sit on a throne and overthrow Rome. However, Jesus was 34 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:30,519 Speaker 2: coming to hang on a cross and overthrow Sin. Now 35 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:33,919 Speaker 2: we see Jesus rebuking the things that outwardly look holy 36 00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:38,919 Speaker 2: but are filled with corruption and greed. Inspired by the Gospels. 37 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:44,520 Speaker 3: Hello, this is Pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of 38 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:47,520 Speaker 3: the Bible in a Year. In our last episode, we 39 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 3: heard how Jesus was anointed by Mary in a generous 40 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:54,919 Speaker 3: act of worship that foreshadowed his coming death. We also 41 00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:59,280 Speaker 3: heard how Jesus entered Jerusalem to much jubilation and celebration 42 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:02,720 Speaker 3: before a crowd who sought a military conqueror, a king 43 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 3: who would throw off the rule of Rome. But this 44 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:10,200 Speaker 3: crowd missed Jesus' true purpose. He came not as a 45 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:13,639 Speaker 3: conquering king the first time, but as the suffering Savior 46 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:15,880 Speaker 3: to give his life for us on the cross, to 47 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:19,120 Speaker 3: die and to rise again on the third day. This 48 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 3: is the message of the Gospel. It's why Jesus came. Today. 49 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:25,800 Speaker 3: We're going to hear Jesus calling out those who have 50 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 3: an appearance of righteousness, but in their self righteousness they 51 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:32,640 Speaker 3: are far from God. So let's listen now to the 52 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:33,800 Speaker 3: reading of God's word. 53 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:39,600 Speaker 2: After Jesus had entered the city of Jerusalem, he was 54 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 2: walking with his followers from Bethany. The sun was high 55 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 2: in the sky and the day was long and drawn out. 56 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:49,320 Speaker 2: Jesus saw a fig tree in the distance and walked 57 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:51,800 Speaker 2: to it so he might have a snack. As he 58 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:54,520 Speaker 2: drew closer to the fig tree, he saw that it 59 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:58,000 Speaker 2: had no fruit. Its leaves were deep green, and its 60 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:02,240 Speaker 2: branches were healthy, but there was no fruit. Jesus looked 61 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 2: at the tree for a long moment. He scanned its 62 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:09,080 Speaker 2: branches and leaves. Then he whispered, may no one ever 63 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:12,280 Speaker 2: eat fruit from you again, And then he walked off. 64 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:16,640 Speaker 2: They walked to the temple. Even from a half mile away, 65 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:19,240 Speaker 2: the ground shook from the crowds gathered at the temple. 66 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:22,280 Speaker 2: The disciples could hear the sound of the money changers 67 00:04:22,279 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 2: and vendors growing louder. They looked at Jesus. They could 68 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:29,279 Speaker 2: see intent in his eyes. They had seen this type 69 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:33,039 Speaker 2: of anger before. Jesus was about to do another cleansing. 70 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:37,360 Speaker 2: He marched through the temple gates and walked up its steps. 71 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:41,120 Speaker 2: Jesus looked at an entire market place set up in 72 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 2: the only place gentiles could come in worship. Jesus teemed 73 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 2: with righteous anger. They sold only the temple animals for sacrifice, 74 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:53,880 Speaker 2: keeping the poor from worshiping. They only took a special 75 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:57,720 Speaker 2: temple currency, which made the priests money. Once again, men 76 00:04:57,760 --> 00:05:01,919 Speaker 2: were keeping people from worshiping God with their greed. Jesus 77 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:05,719 Speaker 2: wasted no time making a whip like he did last time. Instead, 78 00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 2: the Son of God leaped into the fray of vendors 79 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:12,200 Speaker 2: and flipped over their tables. Jesus displayed in intense strength 80 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:15,640 Speaker 2: as he lifted stone altars onto their sides. He went 81 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 2: to the table where the money was being changed and 82 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:21,520 Speaker 2: flung its wooden frame against the temple walls. Jesus saw 83 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:23,720 Speaker 2: that some men were trying to bring their items into 84 00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:27,560 Speaker 2: the temple. Jesus seized their bags and tossed them aside, 85 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:30,839 Speaker 2: forbidding them to enter God's holy house with greedy hands. 86 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:34,880 Speaker 2: The whole temple courtyard stirred, and they all looked upon 87 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:40,080 Speaker 2: Jesus with fear, respect, and wonder. Jesus's chest heaved with 88 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:43,080 Speaker 2: anger as he walked up the temple steps. He looked 89 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:45,720 Speaker 2: out into the crowd and yelled, is it not written 90 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:48,160 Speaker 2: that this place should be a place where all are 91 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:51,120 Speaker 2: welcome to connect with God? It is supposed to be 92 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:53,919 Speaker 2: a house of prayer and love for all nations, poor 93 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:57,920 Speaker 2: and rich alike. Jesus looked to the Pharisees who watched 94 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 2: him from the corner. He looked them dead in the 95 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:03,600 Speaker 2: eye and said, but you have turned it into a. 96 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:05,000 Speaker 3: Den of thieves. 97 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:08,440 Speaker 2: The chief priest and his men watched from the lattice 98 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:11,800 Speaker 2: of their upper prayer room. They watched Jesus inspire the 99 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 2: crowd with wonder and authority. They hated him. They could 100 00:06:16,080 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 2: not stand the truth he spoke. His words challenged their traditions, 101 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 2: his actions challenged their authority. They feared him, and when 102 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 2: evening came, they conspired against him. Morning dawned and the 103 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:33,880 Speaker 2: light shone over Jerusalem like golden arrows. Jesus walked with 104 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:36,800 Speaker 2: his disciples in the coolness of the morning. They went 105 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:40,599 Speaker 2: back to Bethany to eat and pray. As they passed by, 106 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:43,280 Speaker 2: they saw the same fig tree Jesus had cursed the 107 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:47,719 Speaker 2: day before. It had withered and died. Its once green 108 00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:51,440 Speaker 2: leaves were brown and falling into the dust. Peter noticed 109 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:54,560 Speaker 2: this first and said, Rabbi, look at the tree. It 110 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:58,480 Speaker 2: has dyed. Jesus nodded and pointed it out to his followers. 111 00:06:59,160 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 2: Have faith in God, my friends, pray to him with 112 00:07:01,880 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 2: conviction and confidence in his goodness. Whoever says to a 113 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:09,200 Speaker 2: mountain move, we'll see it move. Only do not be 114 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:12,480 Speaker 2: double minded. Believe in what you have received, and when 115 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:16,720 Speaker 2: you pray, make sure to also forgive others. Jesus and 116 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 2: his disciples walked away from the tree, but Peter looked 117 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:22,760 Speaker 2: back to observe it once more. In many ways, the 118 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:25,440 Speaker 2: brown leaves were the true representation of what the tree 119 00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:28,480 Speaker 2: really was. It bore no fruit, so it might as 120 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:32,200 Speaker 2: well have been dead. For many people may look outwardly alive, 121 00:07:32,720 --> 00:07:36,000 Speaker 2: but within they are dead and bear no fruit. 122 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:42,920 Speaker 3: As we begin today, Jesus is walking with his followers 123 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:46,480 Speaker 3: outside of Jerusalem in Bethany. He was hungry, so he 124 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:49,360 Speaker 3: approached a fig tree, and from a distance the tree 125 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:53,000 Speaker 3: looked healthy with leaves that covered the branches, but upon 126 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 3: closer inspection, the tree had no fruit. Jesus spoke to 127 00:07:57,920 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 3: the tree, saying, may no fruit come from you again. 128 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:05,960 Speaker 3: Jesus once again entered Jerusalem, just as he had before. 129 00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:10,520 Speaker 3: The temple was infested with greedy, dishonest money changers and 130 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:14,640 Speaker 3: merchants who were in effect con artists, cheating the people. 131 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:18,680 Speaker 3: This angered the Lord. God's house was intended to be 132 00:08:18,720 --> 00:08:22,160 Speaker 3: a place of prayer, a place where people could find forgiveness. 133 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:25,600 Speaker 3: But rather than helping people worship God by selling animals 134 00:08:25,640 --> 00:08:30,640 Speaker 3: for sacrifices at reasonable prices, these merchants were taking advantage 135 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:33,880 Speaker 3: of those who came to seek God. We should never 136 00:08:33,920 --> 00:08:37,360 Speaker 3: presume that the gentleness of Christ, the kindness of Christ, 137 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 3: is equal to weakness or permissiveness, and today's reading is 138 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:45,600 Speaker 3: a clear example of this. Seeing the wickedness and greed 139 00:08:45,679 --> 00:08:49,000 Speaker 3: on display of the temple courts, Jesus rushed into the 140 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:52,960 Speaker 3: temple and began overturning tables and driving out the money changers. 141 00:08:53,679 --> 00:08:56,760 Speaker 3: He would fiercely protect the house of his father. And 142 00:08:56,880 --> 00:08:59,920 Speaker 3: in Mark eleventh seventeen to eighteen, here's what we read. 143 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:03,360 Speaker 3: And he was teaching them and saying to them, is 144 00:09:03,400 --> 00:09:05,959 Speaker 3: it not written my house shall be called a house 145 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:08,880 Speaker 3: of prayer for all the nations, But you have made 146 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:12,120 Speaker 3: it a den of robbers. And the chief priest and 147 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:14,160 Speaker 3: the scribes heard it, and we're seeking a way to 148 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:17,560 Speaker 3: destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd 149 00:09:17,679 --> 00:09:22,680 Speaker 3: was astonished at his teaching God's house. God's Temple is 150 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:25,880 Speaker 3: to be a place for all the nations. Yes, Israel 151 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:29,400 Speaker 3: had a special part in God's plan, but his desire 152 00:09:29,640 --> 00:09:32,360 Speaker 3: is that all would know him and worship him and 153 00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:36,319 Speaker 3: seek him. The good news of Jesus Christ is for 154 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:40,840 Speaker 3: all people of all nations, that includes our neighbors and 155 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:44,080 Speaker 3: the nations of the world. Just as Israel was meant 156 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:46,880 Speaker 3: to point the nations to God, we also are to 157 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:50,400 Speaker 3: point others to Jesus because we are his witnesses and 158 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:53,520 Speaker 3: because we have experienced his love and grace in our lives, 159 00:09:53,559 --> 00:09:55,840 Speaker 3: we want to tell this good news to others. We 160 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:59,400 Speaker 3: want everyone we know, and even people we don't know, 161 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:03,560 Speaker 3: to know who Jesus is and how to find salvation 162 00:10:03,840 --> 00:10:07,720 Speaker 3: in him. The Pharisees and other religious leaders watched on 163 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:11,520 Speaker 3: as Jesus taught the people. They were afraid of his power, 164 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:15,400 Speaker 3: and so they hated him. So they amped up their 165 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:18,400 Speaker 3: efforts to get rid of him and begins conspiring to 166 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:21,559 Speaker 3: have him killed. The next day is the disciples and 167 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:25,079 Speaker 3: Jesus walked back along the countryside. They saw the fig 168 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:28,600 Speaker 3: tree that Jesus had cursed. It did not look like 169 00:10:28,640 --> 00:10:31,320 Speaker 3: the healthy tree full of leaves that they've seen before. 170 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:35,000 Speaker 3: Its branches withered and the leaves had turned brown and died. 171 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:39,560 Speaker 3: Peter noticed it and pointed it out in surprise. Despite 172 00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:42,800 Speaker 3: all they had seen Jesus do, they were still amazed 173 00:10:42,840 --> 00:10:45,520 Speaker 3: by his power to do anything he chose to do. 174 00:10:46,320 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 3: Jesus replied to Peter and the others that they must 175 00:10:48,920 --> 00:10:51,760 Speaker 3: have faith in God and not doubt. Their faith would 176 00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:54,960 Speaker 3: enable them to do even greater things that Jesus was doing, 177 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:57,680 Speaker 3: and because we can do it together in the power 178 00:10:57,679 --> 00:11:00,520 Speaker 3: of the Holy Spirit. God does great things and even 179 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:05,040 Speaker 3: greater things through us, the disciples, and all of us 180 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:09,080 Speaker 3: can move mountains by faith when we pray and trust 181 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:13,400 Speaker 3: in a God, the Savior, who can do anything. Dear Lord, 182 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:15,400 Speaker 3: we know that our bodies are the temple of the 183 00:11:15,440 --> 00:11:18,560 Speaker 3: Holy Spirit according to the scriptures, and that you want 184 00:11:18,559 --> 00:11:22,280 Speaker 3: the temples to be cleaned, our temples, So Lord, remove 185 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:25,200 Speaker 3: anything in our lives, Drive out anything in our lives 186 00:11:25,280 --> 00:11:29,160 Speaker 3: that is dishonoring to you that your temple would be 187 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:31,840 Speaker 3: a place of prayer, that we would be people of prayer, 188 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:35,160 Speaker 3: and help us to remember that by your power, the 189 00:11:35,200 --> 00:11:38,800 Speaker 3: power of Jesus alive in us, that we can do anything. 190 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:43,480 Speaker 3: We can move mountains according to your will. In Jesus' name. Amen. 191 00:11:44,559 --> 00:11:47,520 Speaker 3: Thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. 192 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:51,079 Speaker 3: I'm Jack Graham of Dallas, Texas. You can download the 193 00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:53,840 Speaker 3: pray dot Com app and make prayer and Bible study 194 00:11:53,880 --> 00:11:57,720 Speaker 3: the priority of your life. And if you enjoyed this podcast, 195 00:11:57,840 --> 00:12:00,240 Speaker 3: tell someone about it, pass it on. Let us know 196 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:03,520 Speaker 3: because it is our desire to get God's word to 197 00:12:03,559 --> 00:12:08,160 Speaker 3: as many people as possible, as fast as possible. And 198 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:10,000 Speaker 3: if you want to know more about what it means 199 00:12:10,040 --> 00:12:12,280 Speaker 3: to be a Christ follower, what it means to be 200 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:16,000 Speaker 3: a disciple of Jesus, then go to Jack Graham dot 201 00:12:16,080 --> 00:12:20,199 Speaker 3: org Jack Graham dot org and we have many resources 202 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:28,560 Speaker 3: that are available for you there. God bless you. This 203 00:12:28,640 --> 00:12:32,560 Speaker 3: episode is sponsored by Meta Share, an innovative healthcare solution 204 00:12:32,679 --> 00:12:36,320 Speaker 3: for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality