B. The record of "rejection" begins with Jesus' curse upon the fig tree (11:12-26); a record that is structured in terms of "The Curse", "The Reason", and "The Necessity for Faith".
C. The record of the "interruption" between the segments of Jesus' treatment of the fig tree.
D. The record of the cursed fig tree.
1. Is founded upon the previous day's "curse" for "fruitlessness".
2. Is a record of the tree withered from its roots.
a. The "curse" was that no one should ever eat of its fruit again.
b. Once its purpose for being was denied to it, it shriveled up and died within a single day.
3. Is a record of Peter's reaction.
a. He, having been reminded by the sight of the tree, "is saying" to Him.
1) Rabbi
2) Behold the fig tree which You cursed...
3) It has been withered ("exerantai"; Perfect Passive Indicative)
b. He made this comment and Mark recorded it to lay the foundation for what Jesus is being pictured as "saying".
4. Is a record of Jesus' insistence that the disciples operate out of a "faith of God" concept.
a. "To them..." includes the group.
b. "Have ("exete"; Present Imperative) faith of God..." is a command.
1) It has to do with "faith".
2) The description of this "faith" is that it is "of God".
c. Verily I am saying to you that if anyone should say to this mountain...
1) "You be raised..."
2) "...and be cast into the sea..."
3) "...and he should not be vacillating in his heart..."
4) "...BUT should be believing (Present Active Subjunctive) that what he is saying ("laleo"; Present Indicative Active) is coming to be, it shall be to him..."
5) "On this account I am saying to you, all things whatsoever you are praying and asking, be believing that you receive and it shall be to you".
6) "And whenever you are standing praying, if anyone is having against whoever, forgive (Present Active Imperative)..."
7) "...in order that your Father Who [is] is the heavens should forgive you your trespasses".
8) Verse 26 is not in any of the early manuscripts of Mark.
5. Must be understood in harmony with John 20:23, and the reality of the fact of Jesus' refusal to forgive the nation for its fruitlessness, and the other teachings on forgiveness.
a. Jesus' requirement of "forgiveness" must be understood in a way that does not contradict His teachings on forgiveness in multiple other places.
b. The only way I can see to harmonize this statement with the others in other places is to see it as a demand that we do not harbor any sense of "self-righteous superiority" toward others who sin because we are as guilty as they, and that we make sure that our attitude towards others who have sinned against us is one of legitimate "Love" so that we act toward them as we have been instructed in the variety of texts that address the situation of having been injured by another.
