Week 48 - November 28th, 2021

Mark 11:24

24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Context: As Jesus enters Jerusalem for the final time he passes by a fig tree that is barren of fruit. He curses the fig tree and the narrative moves on. The next day, His disciples see that the tree has withered to the root and are astonished. Jesus uses this moment to remind these men of the importance and power of faith.

Meaning: Jesus recontextualizes the encounter with the fig tree, using it to instruct His disciples about prayer. True prayer involves faith and trust that God has heard our prayers and is willing to answer. The “whatever” of this verse is not unconditional. We should be careful not to treat the Almighty as a genie in a bottle that we can bend to our will. Rather, the “whatever” of this verse assumes that you are asking for that which conforms to God’s will for your life. But when we ask for the things that God invites us to ask Him for, we ought to ask in complete confidence. In the words of Martin Luther, “prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance, but laying hold of His willingness.”

Life Application: When we talk about the power of faith, we should be careful to remember that faith is not actually powerful in and of itself. The power of faith is found in the object of faith. Jesus begins this statement with the phrase “have faith in God.” It is God who provides our answers to prayer, and it is Him that we trust in, not simply the act of prayer itself.

For Further Study: Jesus teaches often on prayer. Another helpful teaching on prayer is found in Matthew 7:7–11. Jesus gives us a pattern of prayer in asking, seeking, and knocking. Consider this teaching and compare it with this week’s passage. What do these two teachings together tell us? How can you apply their lessons to your life?