Seattle, August 20, 2005 (2)
OBTAINING THE TRIBUTE MONEY. The tax or assessment was levied on the subjects of the kingdoms or municipalities of that time. Once again the process is amazing. Someone had to have dropped that piece of money into the waters, or did He create it? Both are possible, but would He counterfeit it? Hardly. It demonstrates His authority over that which He had created. Peter was to cast a hook into the water and the very first fish would have a coin in its mouth with which they would be able to pay their tribute. How exactingly the words of the Lord Jesus were fulfilled. Mt. 17:27 Can we trust Him to meet our daily needs? When we have been faithful to His Word He is responsible for every NEED. Sometimes we want more than we need. He is not duty bound to respond to such desires. “But my God shall supply all your NEED according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Gal. 4:19
THE FIG TREE CURSED. A subtle, yet drastic change was taking place in religious life in the days of the Lord Jesus. Jesus warned them that it was a time to bring “forth fruits worthy of repentance.” The old was on its way out. The new was replacing it with a whole new way of worship. The axe was being laid to the roots of the tree. Every tree that did not bring forth good fruit was being chopped down and burned. Luke 3:8-9 He spoke this to the individual. When it came to the fig tree it was to the whole nation of Israel. Jesus came to His own. He came seeking acceptance as the Messiah. He found resistance and rejection among the leaders. As a symbol, He used the fig tree. Barren and fruitless, therefore He cursed it and it died. Mt. 21:19 It was never to bear fruit again, and it has not been, nor shall it ever be fruitful again. Regardless of how men may try to revive it, the tree is dead from the roots up. A restoration of animal sacrifice is an insult to the Lord. Isa. 66:3 There is only one blood that is precious and acceptable for salvation, and that is the blood of Christ. 1 Pet. 1:18-19 He demonstrated His authority over nature and His prophetic knowledge of the future. He knew the day would come where the religious anger of the people would be such that they would pronounce the curse upon themselves. They even made it to be a generational curse. Mt. 27:25
THE WIND AND THE WAVES WERE IN SUBJECTION TO HIM. Most certainly one of the greatest displays of the power of nature is to be found in the wind, especially so when it and the sea combine. The heat of the ocean is responsible for the hurricane and the typhoon. The winds in turn whip up the sea creating great waves. Mankind has no control over either. Both come with great power and destroy the works of men. Jesus rebuked the wind and commanded the sea. Mark 4:37-39 The results were as astonishing as the storm had been. A sudden cessation of the wind, and the sea became calm. Mind you, these men were fishermen and storms were not new to them. However this time they were fearful. It had to have been the strongest that they had ever experienced. Mark 4:39 Now they were really afraid being around a man so powerful as to be able to immediately stop the storm. Mark 4:41 Their fear demonstrated that hey were not yet men of faith. Mark 4:40 Fear is a tormenting emotion, but where there is a love for the Lord and faith in Him, fear is expelled. 1 John 4:18.