"THE DISCIPLES ARE LISTENING_" BY PASTOR GREG ELKAN.

So He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” Now His disciples were listening to this._ – Mar 11:14 (ISV)

As pastors and spiritual leaders, it is important for us to know that the people we lead listen to our words and take lessons and precedents from them even when we are not preaching, or talking directly to them. 

Mark’s account of Jesus’ cursing of the fig tree miracle is unique in the fact that he added a little detail left out by Matthew. He writes that when Jesus uncharacteristically spoke to a fig tree, _and His disciples heard Him._ 

Note that the disciples didn’t say anything to Him; they acted as if there was nothing untoward about talking to a tree (and being angry with it for that matter). They may have thought to themselves that the Master had finally lost it, the pressure of itinerant ministry had finally gotten to Him, or He must have been really hungry (and “a hungry man is an angry man”, right?) 

Whatever their thoughts were, none of them voiced it out. They heard what He said, but acted as if they didn’t. Even talkative Peter was silent for a change. It was only after he saw the result of His proclamation - _on the next day!_ – that he acknowledged that they heard Him, (Mk 11:21). 

Thankfully, Jesus was never one to speak half-truths, untruths, or just plain gibberish. Whenever He spoke, it was with clarity, grace, boldness and wisdom (Mt 7:29; Lk 2:47; 4:22; Jn 7:46); whenever He spoke, it was always for a reason, to teach a lesson or to communicate a message.

However, I believe that that talking-to-a-tree incident is a reminder to us that those we disciple, those we lead, are listening to the words we say. Even when it seems they are not, and are using it to form an opinion about our real values, actual motivations, and core philosophies. 

What they hear during those moments say more about who we truly are than what we say while giving well-prepared, well-rehearsed Sermons On The Mount.

AMEN.

PASTOR GREG ELKAN

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More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.