The Dissatisfaction of Christ (Part A)

The big tree that promise to deliver fruit produced on this cursing of that tree was a prophetic parallel. It was a parable, but it was a prophetic parable real nation promised holiness to the Lord. But at this point in their history. They were not producing bringing on themselves the withdrawal from his blessings, which is a curse. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville.

Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Mark, please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, but for now, let's try Pastor Rick in Mark chapter 11 as he begins his message. The dissatisfaction of Christ. Welcome to the house of the Lord. Those of you listening and joining us on line from hell's perspective. I have an attitude and I don't know why MN but I do know that God's Vince speaking to me a little bit just he's been ministering to me and so got my Jesus muscles on a big way. Mark's gospel chapter 11 verses 12 through 23 and I'm not gonna breaking up the paragraph at the end. And so it should really stop in verse 24 but were not going to do. Verse 23 I know you were wondering about that problem is when when you feel the surge of the spirit is very easy to get in the flesh, and so please secretly pray for me so if anything goes wrong is your fault. Verse 12. Now the next day when they had come out of Bethany. He was hungry and seeing from afar.

A fig tree having leaves. He went to see if perhaps he would find something on it when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves for it was not the season for figs. In response, Jesus said to it that no one eat fruit from you ever again and his disciples heard it, so they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves, he would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. Then he taught, saying to them, is it not written, my house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations but you have made it a den of thieves and the scribes and the chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy him or they feared him because all the people were astonished at his teaching. When evening had come. He went out of the city when the morning as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots and Peter remembering said to him, Rabbi, look, the fig tree which you cursed is withered away. So Jesus answered and said to them, have faith in God. Surely, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, be removed and cast into the sea and does not doubt in his heart but believes that those things he says will be done. You will have whatever he says of flipping over the table, somebody else felt a surge from the herd that day. The dissatisfaction of Christ that is the emphasis behind this consideration and knowing who Jesus is. His dissatisfaction is no laughing matter. It is a big deal he made his dissatisfaction clear concerning the lack of faith, according to God that he found in the nation say that a different way. He made it clear that God was dissatisfied with with what was happening amongst the people who claim to be the people of God and were not behaving that way and his cursing the fig tree the fig tree that promise to deliver fruit produced none his cursing of that tree was a prophetic parallel. It was a parable, but it was a prophetic parable was real nation promised holiness to the Lord. But at this point in their history. They were not producing bringing on themselves the withdrawal from his blessings, which is a curse.

All God has to do is withdraw his blessings for it to become a curse, that is what the fig tree illustrates for us in the whole story. At the very temple of God, from top to bottom shears of the people went unchallenged. They were cheating the people they were cheating the Gentiles. It is on purpose that he said my house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations. Reason behind that they were cheating the people in and in an unchallenged way till he arrived. We look now in verse 12. Now the next day when they had come out of Bethany.

He was hungry. Now it's Monday. Evidently he had no appetite when at breakfast the disciples seem to have gorged they weren't hungry. He's the hungry one.

Well, what we know him in the morning as he would rise up early before everyone else and he would pray this devotional time with his father. We know that because there are other passages where they were searching for him, and they told her we were looking all over for you.

Where have you been essentially saying I had to get away from all of you so I could get to my father.

They were not offended by that. They learn well they caught breakfast. He was hungry. That's his humanity. Sometimes the Lord chose to ask question. For example, to get information. It was a demonstration of his humanity that he is God in the flesh of a human being that he has imposed upon himself limitations, but he overcomes those limitations through his relationship in the spirit to his father and so sometimes he demonstrated perfect knowledge of people and events. It was a demonstration of his deity.

So we have in Christ is perfect incarnation, and sometimes it's impossible to tell whether humanity stopped and the deity begins. But it's all there and fall indisputable. We should not try to figure out where his humanity starts in his deity begins we receive it from him is all part of the mystery of godliness.

Paul said it this way without controversy great is the mystery of godliness and then he says right after that, God was manifested in the flesh, that is, anyone to say while the Bible doesn't say Jesus Christ is God will then you've never read that verse it says God was manifested in the flesh, and is not the only justified in the spirit seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed in the world, received up in glory that Paul wasn't there to see him, received up in glory but he believed that when the 11 told him it happened because it was too much information being validated swirling around him to dismiss it. Verse 13 and seeing from afar. A fig tree having leaves. He went to see if perhaps he would find something on it when he came to it, he found nothing but leave for was not the season for eggs. Now there's a lot that the commentators spend time one concerning fig trees.

I suggest you go fig. Out on your own is really not much to say about it. We can say what is March and April. That's about the time it is it's it's the time we celebrate resurrection Sunday. It's not the fig season, but there are some little twist and turn, so that if this species of the fig tree has leaves on it, it means it also has fruit or at least edible butts and that's what he went there looking for it promised him pigs by having those large fig leaves and yet none like again I can keep going on about the fig tree, but I that's enough for me. When he came to it, he found nothing but leave so again the promise without fulfillment, which is what a parallel with the nation look at holy we always got the temple of God. Here we have the law of God. They promised spiritual light delivered none claims without reality, something all of us have always all of we who believe have to be out watching for in our own hearts.

Second Timothy chapter 3 verse five having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away there pretending at their Christianity and religion. They have a form of godliness but is no power there's no evidence that God is in their lives and not adhering to his will not make an effort.

There are some that are struggling and not talking about them talking about the ones that have no intention of conforming to the kingdom of heaven but they don't mind manipulating you by using that Christian language that we hold so dear Titus says it this way. Well, Paul says to Titus. Titus chapter 1 verse 16 they profess to know God, but in deeds. They deny him. Then he adds, being abominable, disobedient, disqualified for every good work. They say they are Christians. But when you see how they were all there, not rolling in the way of the Lord rolling in the way of the devil and even in the early church. This was taking place. Remember all of the letters in your New Testament deal with God being dissatisfied with the flesh in the church in the local church and people that were coming to church and church goers. Some of those churchgoers were very honorable and good. They still had to struggle and there were others that were absolute frauds. Nothing has changed in all these years, he continues and he says for me because I say that because we need to be reminded.

So when a source shock when things don't go as we expected them then become disillusioned and fall into the hands of Satan because that's what he does he get you to be dissatisfied with some little pebble in your shoes, so much so that you're ready to float you away. That's not even the problem, for it was not the season of face again.

I have commented on this. The absence of figs indicated that the tree was not going to have fruit later. Just like the nation just like when he came on the night before he came into Jerusalem. He looked around at all things out of hosanna they were crying out blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, and he comes into the city, he wept over the city. First, it was that his weeping over the city. Heaves of his chest was heaving was no mistake that he was crying. Can watch a movie with somebody and you know on their there over there trying to hide that there crying at some touching scene and you look of you crying over him. There was no mistake. There was no asking, are you crying it was out in the open will then he goes into the city looks around at all things is taking note pieces.

I'll be back here tomorrow when there are more people present so there is a difference between growth and fruit. That is, for it was not the season of things with it. Had to leave the tree was growing wasn't producing can grow enough leaves to feed enough hungry bugs, but not grow the fruit to feed the hungry soul. First Corinthians, Paul says it this way, and though I have the gift of Bible teaching prophecy the gift of speaking God's word and the tenses to property predictive property. We tell the future is this singing songs praises to the Lord is classified as a form of prophecy did reading the word of God is a form of prophetic word. A priest would speak from the people to God, the prophet would speak from God to the people and that's a basic rule of prophecy and the priesthood when we say priesthood. We don't have Roman Catholic priest in mind, we have the Jewish priesthood and mine, which is been in enhanced into a royal priesthood, Kings and Queens of the of the King of Kings were also pretty swell back to Paul. He says no I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have faith so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am put Dukas.

I am nothing that is pretty intense, is supposed to be in a care about your self-esteem about how do you serve the Lord. The Bible never cares about our self-esteem and what it does care about us is greater because if I have God ministering to me. I have all the esteem I need, I can't self esteem myself I don't want the Bible is humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord and he will exalt you in time and so I don't want to be as a Christian, a big tree with big leaves and no fruit. Verse 14.

In response, Jesus said to it that no one eat fruit from you ever again and his disciples heard him talking to the tree. You might as well be talking to the trade while I am talking to the tree say this is only recorded judgment miracle and it is a miracle. It demonstrates his sovereignty over creation, it was lost on the disciples only for the moment they'll get it back will come to that in a bit. What happens with us sometimes reverse the meaning of the leading of the Lord is lost on us.

Were not keeping up with him and then he gets us to catch up.

Israel is frequently compared to a fruitless tree in the Old Testament Jeremiah chapter 8 Mike of the prophet 72 passages of sections of Scripture where these things are made clear, but the figtree symbolizes the nation of Israel, as others and get into that a little bit.

So, here he comes looking for the promise spiritual fruit of the nation just as he had come looking for the physical fruit nation was alive.

Politically, it was alive socially religious leader was alive even economically. All of those things were active all the leaves were there.

Just nothing that would provide spiritual nourishment and not even enough to recognize Messiah when he stood right in front of them and did miracles put three years. It had nothing to give Jesus except a shameful death on the cross like a root plucked from the dry ground. Said the prophet Isaiah owing nothing to its surroundings. He had given a parable on foolishness in the past.

Remember, he said there was a once you know the divine dresser. He was out in the field in the though the owner comes up of the venues of this big tree is dead.

Cut it down. This is what give me a year since it was dead when producing fruit. Give me a yell dig around it or fertilize it and if it doesn't produce after that.

Okay fine will remove it have other.

I have referred to that my own life many times going through times were just there is no Rupert. Lord, give me time, I'll dig around it or fertilize it. So this tree was more than a parable. It is prophetic. He is telling the future about the nation by what he is doing in the present to this trend is a lot more to this is a guide to scratching the surface so his disapproval deals it out, but he only does it to the street and into the forest to every single tree heroes occurs every figtree.

This one because it is this generation that he's dealing with these Jews that are alive and rejecting him, and not every single 110 rejecting him yes it did not go well for that generation of Jews does not go well. To this day. For those who reject him no laughing matter. The dissatisfaction of Christ is nothing to shrug off and yet most do it and we are to help them not do that through preaching through lifestyle through leading of the Spirit and so there it stood in its outward glory. He probably paid the tree on the way out of the city or in the city the day before, probably on the way out is to preoccupy with the hosannas coming in, but going home that night and there's a figtree and in the morning and I had his eye, his heart set on that you know that you had your heart set on maybe fish and then they serve you before the other way around. I will know my taste buds were lined up over here for this and you just swap it on me and I can't make the adjustment. None unless some of you may be goat like in the sense you eat anything it doesn't matter what some of us are little bit more walk a lot more picky but that's okay. It's a gift and a curse. Anyway, there it stood, unable to nourish anybody. And the Lord withdraws his blessing. It withered and died. It was not vindictive again prophetic ministry taking place here.

He's making points East teaching that they never forgot this and that's a part of the proof that this at a purpose to it. A lasting purpose to this very day.

I mean the planet can spare figtree in those days if you shopped and you went to the store if you were finished they would be were so contrite concerned about the trees they would ask paper or plastic and people would say what's plastic what you are there you don't know. Actually Lebanon had no known for their treason and and while we will go over to Chris trees can be very beautiful so not vindictive.

Announcing the soon to come judgment on national life of the Jew in Israel within 40 years. The curse begins to show up.

The Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple and then in 135 A.D. at the bar cochlear rebellion, Hadrian, the Romans they put it into Jewish net out almost genocide. I they wiped out whole village.

I mean how many Jews were killed. Hadrian just took the temple mount and flatten thing put a Temple of Jupiter there with two images of Jupiter and one to himself. I mean they just outlaw Jews coming into Jerusalem, except once a year.

Even the Christian Jews were banned from going into Jerusalem.

It is very intense. They lost their land and they were dispersed at a greater rate than ever before, even in the days of the Assyrians and then the Babylonians, and of course in 1948.

They were brought back into their land, which is miraculous never happened ever. Nothing even close. As a people been displaced from their homeland for 2000 years retain their heritage, their language, their traditions and then brought back in the land and resume their heritage, their language and their traditions in the face of hell and Earth and that they don't know how much God is involved is irrelevant. What is relevant is God knows how much he is involved and his people know how much he is involved. Next time your faith takes a nosedive remember Israel. It is miraculous. Well very soon afterward, the Lord is going to give a lesson on the end times and he's going to bake into that lesson that Israel is not done is going to be here to the end Mark chapter 13 now learn this parable from the fig tree is talking about Israel when his branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near, and then he goes on to develop the end time scenario, the great tribulation. The millennial reign of Christ is withdrawal from the nation would not be permanent.

We come back to those Old Testament images, the grapevine, for example, which represents Israel's history throughout its Old Testament days, not only, but there is that in context of a lot of it. It anticipates the day will talks about the day that is already past the olive anticipates Psalms 80 verse eight. You have brought the vine out of Egypt. You have cast out the nations, and planted it all that vine is the nation of Israel and there's a difference between the nation of Israel and the Jewish person that comes to Christ, because that Jewish person that comes to crisis ethnic they still Jew but no longer a Jew nor Gentile but a Christian, there is no longer Jew nor Gentile, Greek, Scythian, slave nor free, in God's eyes.

You become his child. Then there's the olive tree in the Old Testament that one anticipates they that has not yet come a day when the Jews will love their Messiah will love Jesus Christ. Hosea chapter 14 verse four. I will heal their backsliding. I will love them freely for my anger has turned away from him.

God had already expressed his dissatisfaction with the Jews through the prophet Hosea in their day and now he's Hosea sing, but the day is going to come. He continues I will be like due to Israel shall grow like a lily and lengthen his roots in Lebanon is Branson shall spread his beauty shall be like an olive tree fragrance like 11 fragrance that Paul talked about the Corinthian move. Thanks for tuning into cross reference radio for this study in the book of Mark cross reference radio is the teaching ministry of Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia to learn more information about this ministry.

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