The New Temple - Mark 11:12-25

Mark 11:12-25

Jesus used the fig tree as a parable. The temple must be cleansed!

V12-13... The fig tree (like the temple) looks from a distance like it's full of good fruit... Up close, it's fruitless. All leaves, no fruit.

We must be careful to follow God the way he wants to be followed!

To love Christ is to follow him, submit to him and his teachings; faith reveals itself through selfless service! We are saved, and therefore we bear this fruit.

You can only please the Father if you accept the Son!

V14-15... The money used in the temple was converted from Roman currency at a very high exchange rate; it was extortion. The pigeons were sacrifices given by the poorest people, who were being taken advantage of by those selling them in the temple.

V16... Jesus stopped the flow of the sacrificial system in the temple. 

V17... Jesus was teaching them. His people should pray! It's for all the nations! It's a den of robbers. Jeremiah 7... He's declaring that the people have turned away from God, and line the fig tree, the temple must come down. It's good when dark deeds are brought to light. 

V18... Jesus exposes corruption in the religious leadership. He told the truth! And the darkness hates the light. So they seek to destroy him.

The spiritual leadership of Israel were fault-finders. Someone cheating on their spouse begins to justify their cheating by finding fault with their spouse. The fault-finding seeks to justify the sin.

Jesus is seen as not being on their team...

V19-21... why doesn't Jesus want a third temple built? Because sacrifice is no longer needed! The sacrificial blood of animals was surpassed by a greater sacrifice: Christ himself!

1Cor 3:16... You are God's temple! From the moment you're saved, you are a temple unto the Lord! You are to be a place of teaching! Read your Bible! You must gather to the Lord daily!

V22-25... Jesus turns to the new temple, his people, and tells them how to operate properly! Be a people of faith, prayer, forgiveness.

In closing...

1. If you're a believer, that means you know you're a sinner who desperately needs a savior, and you come to him as he describes himself. You build your life upon Jesus, not just your Sunday. 

As a believer, you are a temple unto the Lord, a priest of the Lord!

The nations are to come to you as a light. You are to be a bright spot. You are to shine, showing the world you're something different! Don't be a worthless priest like the sons of Eli!

We must make sure we're not a temple that's profaning our God. Don't undermine your God, represent him well and glorify him!

2. Atonement...

The pentateuch was building to the atonement... And Jesus was building to a greater sacrificial system: the son of man on the cross. Jesus replaced the sacrificial system with something greater! You no longer have to sacrifice every year. Jesus's sacrifice was once, and for all time! Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!