What Jesus Did! 'The Power of His Word' — Mark 11:20-21

Thursday, August 15, 2024

The next morning as [Jesus and the disciples] passed by the fig tree he had cursed, the disciples noticed it had withered from the roots up. Peter remembered what Jesus had said to the tree on the previous day and exclaimed, "Look, Rabbi! The fig tree you cursed has withered and died!"
— Mark 11:20-21 NLT

Key Thought

God spoke, and the world was created. There is great power in the words of God! Jesus comes as God's presence among us. His words have great power. He speaks and the demons are cast out, the lepers are healed, the storm is stilled ... and the fruitless are cursed and wither. What is the difference between fearing the words of Jesus and embracing them? The answer is in who we believe Jesus is and how much influence we let him have over our lives. Jesus' power to condemn is often forgotten in our desire to have a soft and winsome Savior to offer to a hostile and lost world. However, the cross — the awful and hideous cost to God — is not only a symbol of grace, but also a demand for decision. The voice we hear when Jesus speaks at his second coming will be largely determined by what we do with his words in our lives today. Which voice of Jesus will you hear?

Today's Prayer

O Father, thank you for the confidence I have in Jesus. I am confident that the Lord to whom I have yielded my life will keep and honor all that I have entrusted to his grace. I long to hear his voice of welcome and to see him face-to-face. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • John 5:25-30
  • Matthew 25:31-46
  • Revelation 1:7

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Illustration

Illustration of Mark 11:20-21 NLT — "Look, Rabbi! The fig tree you cursed has withered and died!"

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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