A Lesson In Prayer

In the morning, on day three, as Jesus and His disciples went along, the disciples noticed the fig tree from the day before withered from the roots. Peter remembered yesterday and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!" (Mark 11: 20-21). Peter had been with Jesus a long time, he had witnessed many of Jesus' miracles, and yet he was still surprised by the withered fig tree. I think sometimes we take God's presence for granted and forget all of things He has already done in our lives. Peter, who had walked on water with Jesus, was surprised Jesus' curse of the fig tree left it withered from the roots. His surprise makes no sense, considering all of the things he witnessed, and yet it happened. A lack of faith in God is possible and can happen to anyone.

Jesus answered Peter, "Have faith in God. Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go throw yourself into the sea' and does not doubt in their heart, but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins," (Mark 11: 22-25). Jesus could have rebuked Peter and reminded him of all of the miracles he had already witnessed, but instead He took the time to teach Peter and the other disciples about the power of prayer that rises from a faithful heart. Jesus loved His disciples enough to teach them and to leave them with lessons they could use when He was gone.

Jesus and His disciples continued on their journey, with the intent to spend the night in Bethany again, but one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went instead to the chief priests. He asked them, "What are you willing to give to me to betray Him to you?" (Matthew 26: 14-16). The chief priest then weighed out thirty pieces of silver to him. Each time I read this, I am amazed at the willingness of Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus. Jesus was his friend, his teacher, and his traveling companion. How could he betray Jesus so easily? I don't have an answer, but I suspect it has to do with greed and the deceitfulness of the heart.