Pioneering Mystic Sermons, 1994

Forgiveness, the Forge of Glory
Linda Mihalic, August 14, 1994, Cleveland, OH, Mark 11:11-26, Matthew 21:18-22, Luke 21:29-33

  “Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve. And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it. And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; and would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine. And when even was come, he went out of the city. And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”–Mark 11:11-26
  “Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”–Matthew 21:18-22
  “And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.”–Luke 21:29-33

  The Gospel of Mark (written in about 57 AD) is older than that of Matthew (written between 85-90 AD), Luke (written between 100-110 AD) or John (written about 125 AD). Mark gives the most detailed version of the fig tree episode. Matthew and Luke are essentially based on Mark, but contain additions not found in Mark. Matthew places the entire episode in chapter 2:18-22, and does not tie it up with the money changer’s episode. Luke does not contain either story, but does include a fig tree parable that may have rightly belonged in the original text; he reports it in chapter 21:29-33. John, the most recently written Gospel, contains much material added to make it palatable to a world conditioned to the Greek philosophers and mystery religions. John does not contain the fig tree story at all, but does report Jesus’ scourging the money changers in chapter 2:13-30.
  Mark’s version in is probably closest to the mysteries for several reasons. First, Jesus was and is the head of the mystical Kabbalistic School, which encompasses the teachings of all preceding mystery schools and serves as the pattern for all subsequent revelations of the divine. The Seven Degrees and the 22 Yetsirah Paths lie at the heart of the mysteries. Mark’s version begins at the 11th verse of the 11 chapter and ends at the 26th verse, a significant number. This is no accident. The events in Mark occur on Palm Sunday, immediately following Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. They have hailed him as Immanuel, which means, “God is with us.” Eleven is the number of the first or outer worldly mastery. They are proclaiming Jesus on the outer, by word, chapter and verse.
  “Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.”–Mark 11:11. Jesus went to the temple, observed the temple and left for Bethany with his disciples. Eleven is the Path of Glittering Intelligence revealing the Throne of God, where you must stand as a faithful pillar in the Temple of God. Bethany means “house of figs,” a name derived from the moaning, sighing sound made by the fig tree’s leaves. Jesus’ friends, Lazarus (whom he raised from the dead), Martha and Mary lived in Bethany, and Jesus had come from Bethany to Jerusalem that day. Bethany was also where John baptized the crowds, so it also means a “place where crossings are made.” This symbolizes the Mystic Degree.
  “And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry.”–Mark 11:12. The next day, Jesus left Bethany, the place of crossings, and was hungry. Twelve, the number of this verse, symbolizes the Path of Prophetic Illumination opening the twelve Gates of Wisdom. Jesus sought to fulfill the requiresments of the higher initiatory degrees.
  “And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.”–Mark 11:13. Jesus saw a fig tree, checked whether it had fruit, but found nothing but leaves because it was not the season for figs. This is a pivotal point of the story. Only Mark notes that the figs are “out of season.” Thirteen symbolizes the Path of Union, the Via Christa, but this mystical union is not complete until you have finished 144 steps. Initiations come when they come; some are cyclic, but most seem random. You must take and successfully complete all initiations, whether they fall in your “season” or not.
  “And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.”–Mark 11:14. In response, to the fig tree’s barrenness, Jesus said, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again,” and his disciples heard him. Fourteen represents the Path of Choice and Separation. Choosing to separate yourself from the outer to progress on the inner is always necessary. This, too, is a key point. Matthew’s chronology of this episode is different. He reports that the fig tree withered immediately. Matthew’s author possibly adapted this version to make the event seem more miraculous. Jesus knew the tree had outlived its usefulness, had reached the extent of its particular capacity, and was already “dead” to further growth.
  “And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves.”–Mark 11:15. Jesus returned to the temple, and cast out the money changers and those who sold doves. Fifteen represents the Path of Darkness that heralds the dawn of birth, a rebirth in consciousness. The dove is the symbol of Israel. John and Mark both make a special note of how greatly the sellers of doves angered Jesus.
  “And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.”–Mark 11:16. Jesus prohibited them from conducting business in the House of God. Sixteen symbolizes the Path of Glory and Victory for the Virtuous. You cannot serve both God and money. The temple had become big business. Thus, Jesus began to purge materialism from the House of God.
  “And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.”–Mark 11:17. Seventeen, the number of Mark’s verse, represents the Path of Realization and Reward of the Righteous. This is also the high path of the Priest looking back to protect his creations. Jesus taught them an astonishing doctrine: You have made God’s house a den of thieves. Jesus is quoting Isaiah 56:7 and integrating it with Jeremiah 7:11. “Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.”.–Isaiah 56:7. “Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the Lord.”–Jeremiah 7:11. With these statements, Jesus called the righteous to follow him and spoke the Word that would wither the temple forty years later, when Titus Pompey destroyed it by fire. The forty-year span is significant: the number forty symbolizes completion, a complete cycle.
  “And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.”–Mark 11:18. The scribes and chief priests then feared Jesus. They sought to destroy him because his teaching would break their hold on the poor people. Eighteen represents the Path of Man tying earth to heaven. Under mere control and self-will, this is the Bloodstained Path of Spiritual Blindness and death in the material world. “And when even was come, he went out of the city.”–Mark 11:19. Jesus left the temple and the city. Nineteen symbolizes the Path of Spiritual Activity. Jesus was building the Brotherhood of Man, so he removed his disciples from the tainted influence of the temple and Jerusalem.
  “And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.”–Mark 11:20. Jesus and his disciples saw how Jesus’ spoken Word had withered the fig tree from the roots. Twenty examplifies the Path of Fundamental Wisdom, the awakening of the dead and agreeing and adjusting with Light on all levels. What Jesus had known the day before was now visible to everyone. “And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.”–Mark 11:21. Peter remembered the Master’s words and pointed out the result. “Rabbi, look, the fig tree which you cursed has withered away.” Twenty-one represents the Path of Reflection and Perception.
  “And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”–Mark 11:22-26. Twenty-two symbolizes the Path from whence flows the Light of Spiritual Wisdom over the Children of God. It is the Path of Resurrection and Ascension, freedom of the spheres. Jesus had given his disciples the tools to forge a chain of glory through forgiveness.
  What really happened during that 24-hour period? You cannot “know” unless you work to purify yourself and ascend to read the record contained in the Book of Life. But you can attempt to imagine what Jesus was thinking and planning during these episodes. He had entered Jerusalem to the crowd’s thundering acclamation, knowing that he had but hours to live if his ministry was to be as successful as he had planned it under divine law. He must grip the crowd’s imagination with miraculous acts, magnificent oratory, and leave them with a lasting memory of everything he had said and done. For many, it would be the only time they ever saw him or heard him speak. He must leave an indelible stamp on their souls’ mesh, a contact that was eternal.
  He must inflame and enrage the chief priests and temple rulers until they finally decide to kill him. He must threaten their political peace. His death, to be remembered, must be an outrageous spectacle. Everything was carefully timed and orchestrated for maximum impact. All this accounts for what he did and said publicly, but he used subtler means to create an indelible soul-memory for his disciples. He did not just blast the fig tree and wither it instantly, as Matthew reports. Instead he demonstrated the power of the spoken Word to wither the vibration of life. How much joy have you withered with just a word or two? How often have you persisted, as the chief priests did, in withering the faith of others? The Word always has a boomerang effect. Speak the Word that withers from a point of self and the results return to you sevenfold. By not desiring to hear, to do, or to be the truth, the temple rulers condemned their entire livelihood.
  Jesus’ references to fig trees and to the temple are symbols for the body and consciousness. Use your imagination to picture how these apparently unrelated episodes are tied together. Ask to see the record of the time and you will. The Master is still telling you that you are a Tree of Life, responsible for bearing the fruit of soul-conquering, in season or out, any time your Father requires. If you are too busy with life to bear today’s fruit, you wither where you stand.
  The Lord still says that you are a temple of the Living God, a structure of praise, built to last, dedicated to purity. You must remain undefiled. He stands before you today saying: “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”–Mark 11:24-26
  Forgiveness is how to forge the first twenty-two links of your chain of glory. Tears of self-pity rust and weaken it until you have tempered and refined it into the pure gold of redeemed soul substance. Your chain of glory will have thirty-three links. You will add the remaining eleven links through higher soul initiation.
  Earth today has reached the point where forgiveness is its only hope of glory. Today, with the radiance of the Shekinah glory flooding us from above, we are endued with the power to forgive sins, heal the sick and raise the dead in spirit. Forgiveness must become your way of life more abundant, a way of life for all seasons. The Master has taught us the words of life more abundant through his Mediator, Edna Miriam Lister, who declares, “Let love now go forth as Shekinah glory!”

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