1.3. A vision of the results

It will not return to me empty

By José Bernardo

The Word of God came, asking a child, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” Jer 1:11. Once the boy saw what was intended to be seen, the Lord said: “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.” (v12). Looking through our spiritual telescope, we see the Word of God, and we see children receiving it. When this light concentrates even more, we must see children reacting to the Word.

Harvest Season 03. To Ngoc, vietnamese contemporary artist.

In teaching about results of hearing the Word, Mark tells the stories of the withered fig tree and the cleansing of the Temple (Mark 11:12-26). It is so important that he abandoned his dynamic and objective style to wrap one story inside the other. The last week before the crucifixion had come. It was Passover time and Jesus stayed among the poor in Bethany. The Lord walked every day to Jerusalem with his disciples and met pilgrims visiting the Temple. In the first morning, upon leaving Bethany, he was hungry. He saw a fig tree in leaf at a distance; it should have some fruit. Figs sprout before leafs and some should be ripe even if not all of them. However, Jesus found nothing, even unripe fruits. He prayed according to the situation, and the disciples heard him. In the following morning, they saw the tree withered, remembering what had happen.

This first story helps to explain the equally dramatic cleansing of the Temple. Jesus entered the Temple courts and drove out those who were buying and selling. He even overturned tables and benches and did not allow anybody to carry merchandise. In doing this, he also taught from Isaiah (56:7) and Jeremiah (7:11): “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” Mark 11:17. Jesus saw that people were not obeying the command of the Lord, and then acted to see the Word obeyed. The Lord said, in the very prophecy of Jeremiah quoted by Jesus, “…but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you.” Jeremiah 7:23.

Obedience to the Word is the fruit the Lord wants to see, not leafs of an apparent worship. Moreover, it is not difficult to obey the Word of God, because “…whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark 11:24. The Lord’s covenant to be our God, and for us to be his people, is based in obedience. We receive grace to obey, because the Word of the Lord is rain that comes down from heaven, it buds and flourishes, so that it gives bread for the eater (Isa 55:10). Indeed, “To obey is better than sacrifice…” 1Sam 15:22.

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Jose Bernardo is the OneHope vice-president for lusophone countries. OneHope is a global agency of the Bible that has worked in 145 countries giving the Word of God to every child.