Mark 11:12-14 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.
The above passage has been interpreted in various ways. Why would Jesus curse a tree and cause it to shrivel up when the fig tree was not in season to produce fruit? Isn't Jesus being unreasonable? There are various interpretations of what this cursing of the fig tree means; most are speculation. But one thing we do know about this passage is that Jesus reveals He has power to curse a living, biological entity. We have seen Jesus doing many wonderful miracles for people. He healed them, brought them back to life, restored their lives for the better. We have seen Jesus perform amazing restorative miracles, but we have not seen Jesus destroy or harm humans or any biological life. We have watched Jesus control nature as He calmed the seas and the wind in a storm. By his words alone, nature reacted to his commands. All of these accounts reveal a loving and powerful Jesus, but never before do we see a troubled Jesus speak judgment to life itself, in this case an unfortunate tree that happened to be growing along the path near Bethany. Jesus in this passage is illustrating very clearly He has the right to ask anything He desires from his own creation. He is not only Lord and King, He is the Creator of all things. John writes, Through him (Jesus) all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:3) Jesus created that particular tree, and He had power over its destiny that day. Perhaps most importantly, Jesus was not so much judging the tree for not bearing fruit, for the tree had no ability of its own to change its normal cycle of production, but He was as usual teaching his disciples a lesson that they should always be ready with spiritual fruit in their lives.
Some might interpret this passage metaphorically, others as an eschatological message pertaining to the judgment of Israel, while the passage might be seen as an illustration of what complete faith in God can do to a situation. Even if the request is an illogical one, asking a fig tree to bear figs out of season, Jesus had a right to expect figs because of who He was. Setting all this aside, we are going to simply accept that the Holy Spirit considers this passage very important since it is part of our Holy Writ, and we will go with the idea that Jesus was telling his disciples to be ready for his coming at all times--to have fruit for their Master. As Paul wrote to Timothy, In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction. (2 Timothy 4:1-2) In every situation, when it is convenient and when trials overcome us, when we prosper and when we are sick and think we will perish, we are to bear fruit for the kingdom of God. We belong to the One who saved us. We are his and He is ours. We read in the Word: ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ (Acts 17:28) Because our allegiance is totally toward Jesus Christ our Lord, we labor in his field for his glory. We give our all to him because He gave his all for us. When Jesus was going about doing the work of his Father, He said, I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. (John 9:4) Jesus knew He came to do his Father's perfect will, and He was fully committed to that cause by faith. He trusted in the Father's love for him and the power of the Holy Spirit within him to see him through to the end and to raise him up from the dead and back to his heavenly home.
This is the hope of every believer. We are working for the Lord today. We are laboring for him in the harvest fields, praying for the lost, believing for miracles by faith in our Lord. But we are looking to our eternal home with Jesus. Paul wrote this wonderful passage to Titus that sums up our situation so well: For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say, “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (Titus 2:11-14) Saved by grace, we can reject this world and live for the Lord, doing the work He has given us to do, while looking toward the day He will either return or at our death take us to be with him in our wonderful heavenly home. We believe Jesus wanted to stir the hearts of his disciples when he cursed the fig tree that day. He was saying, be ready at all times for my appearing and have something to show for your work. Let there be fruit growing from your lives, fruit that lasts for eternity. These thoughts help us today to take a look inward, to ask ourselves whether we are growing fruit for the Master, whether we have something to offer to him. He is patient but we must remember the Bible says, But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. (1Peter 3:15) What is your answer today? He has empowered us with spiritual gifts and given us the blessed Holy Spirit. Let us go forth in the power of his might, believing He will use us to grow much fruit. God bless you all!
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