November 2nd, 25: Cursed Fig Trees, New Kingdoms, and the True Source of Life

Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! In today's episode, Heather leads us into the Scriptures on this second day of November, guiding us through Job chapters 23 and 24, and Mark chapters 11 and 12. As we journey together, Heather reminds us that we come to the Word—alongside people from all over the world—not just for wisdom, but to encounter Jesus, the true source of life.

Today's readings explore deep questions of faith and justice, including Job's search for God amid suffering and Jesus' prophetic actions in Jerusalem—cursing the fig tree, overturning the temple, and teaching about the kingdom. Heather illuminates how these stories point to a new way of living and a new King, inviting us to look closely at people of faith like Abraham and the widow, and ultimately to fix our eyes on Jesus himself.

The episode closes in prayer and gratitude, encouraging us to let the joy of the Lord be our strength and to remember: you are loved.

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

A fig tree is cursed. A temple is overturned, tenant farmers are killed, and a vineyard is reclaimed and given to others. What's happening? Judgment is happening. Judgment is coming to God's people. Jesus is pointing to judgment. The passage in Mark reads almost like the Old Testament prophets like Jeremiah and Isaiah, impending judgment is coming. He curses the tree and he overturns the temple.

A new way of approaching God has arrived. A new priest and a new king are being revealed. There is a new temple and a new way of living in God. Jesus points to this when he quotes from Psalm 110. After Jesus is questioned, he gathers a crowd together and he asks them why the teachers of religious law claim that the Messiah is the son of David. David himself, speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, said, the Lord, said to my Lord, sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies beneath your feet. Since David himself called the Messiah my Lord, how can the Messiah be his son? The large crowd listened to him with great delight.

I encourage you to read Psalm 110. It's a short seven verse chapter. It's about Melchizedek. He's a somewhat mysterious person that shows up in Genesis 14. And Abraham, the father of faith, acknowledges that Melchizedek is an eternal priest. And King Abraham demonstrates his allegiance to this King and priest, by offering him a tithe of all that he has. Abraham himself is a subject of this priest and king.

Jesus is teaching us in this passage that he is a priest in the order of Melchizedek. He is the fulfillment of this new way, this new system that God is revealing in the person of Christ. The fig tree is cursed and the temple has been turned over. God is making all things new with a new king and a new priest in the order of Melchizedek. He is the king, eternal God, most high.

People of faith like Abraham are going to come and serve him and be his subjects. There will be people great and small who serve him. In fact, this chapter ends with Jesus watching in the temple. And as a woman many thought was very small, a widow who had nothing but two pennies enters. She comes because she is faithful. She believes. She comes and offers all that she has. Her two pennies. They are an offering of faith because she is a person of faith.

Jesus tells us to look closely at her. He also tells us in Psalm 110 to look closely at Abraham. These are people of faith. They live and worship in spirit and in truth. Look closely at Abraham, the widow and Melchizedek and let your eye be drawn even closer to Jesus. He is looking at you and inviting you to join in with him in his new kingdom life.