Bible Text: Mark 11:11-25 | Preacher: Vic Stander | Series: The Gospel of Mark | Every once in a while, we run into situations that we don’t understand or can’t explain. It can happen frequently when we cross cultures. We can find ourselves asking, “What’s happening here? What does this mean? I don’t get it!?”

The day after his first visit to Jerusalem, Jesus finds a fig tree with leaves but no fruit. He curses it and goes into the temple with his disciples, flipping over the temple market and throwing everyone out. Then Jesus declares the temple’s purpose and leaves again. The next morning the disciples find the withered fig tree and Jesus teaches them about prayer.

What’s happening here? What does this mean for onlookers at the temple two thousand years ago and what does it mean for us today?

**NB Point #4 is cut off. Our apologies**