Mark Chapter 11

Mark 11 is a chapter of contrasts. It starts with Jesus riding into Jerusalem as a King, with crowds cheering and waving palm branches. But by the end, He’s flipping tables in the Temple, confronting religious leaders, and talking about mountains moving with faith.

One of the most striking moments is when Jesus sees a fig tree full of leaves but with no fruit. He curses it, and later, the disciples find it withered. At first glance, this seems harsh—why judge a tree for not having fruit if it’s not the season for figs? But Jesus wasn’t just reacting to a tree. He was making a point about spiritual readiness.

Being “instant in season and out of season” means being spiritually prepared at all times. The fig tree looked good from a distance—it had the outward appearance of life—but it wasn’t producing anything. Just like the Temple, which was busy with religious activity but had lost its true purpose. When Jesus entered the Temple, He saw corruption instead of worship, greed instead of prayer. So He cleared it out, making space for what truly mattered.

It’s easy to fall into the same trap. We can look good on the outside—going to church, saying the right things—but if our hearts are empty of real faith, love, and obedience, we’re just like that fig tree. Jesus wants more than appearances; He wants real fruit in our lives.

That’s where the “Temple cleansing” comes in. Just as Jesus purged the Temple, He wants to purge our hearts of anything that distracts us from Him. Maybe it’s bitterness, pride, distractions, or even just busyness that keeps us from true prayer and connection with God. He doesn’t clear things out to condemn us—He does it so we can thrive.

And here’s the encouragement: After teaching His disciples about faith, Jesus tells them that with faith, even mountains can be moved. When we let Him do His work in us, clearing out what doesn’t belong, we open the way for His power to move in ways we never imagined.

So take a moment to ask: If Jesus walked into the “Temple” of my heart today, what would He want to clear out? Am I bearing real fruit, or just looking the part?

The good news is, He doesn’t leave us on our own to figure it out. He’s the one who does the work—transforming, restoring, and making us truly ready in season and out of season. All we have to do is let Him in.