Jesus & The Fig Tree

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.”

Mark 11:12–14

‌

Jesus isn't pitching a fit here; He's making a point. In the Old Testament fig trees and figs were sometimes used as a metaphor for Israel. Jesus was on His way to the temple to pass judgment on God’s people and their worship when He gets hungry. In the distance, He sees a fig tree (a symbol of God’s people) that has leaves on it. Now, it isn't the the season for figs yet, but by this time of the year this tree ought to have edible buds on it. Fig trees in first century Palestine produced these buds before they grew leaves and figs, and poor people often ate these buds.* But when Jesus goes over to the tree looking for this fruit, He finds that it has nothing to give Him. There is an appearance of fruit, but there is no fruit.

Now, Jesus could have said nothing. He could have simply walked away. But He knows that this fig tree is a perfect picture of God’s people at that moment in time. The Jewish religion had an impressive outward appearance, but no fruit. God’s people had become just like that fig tree. They had an appearance of righteousness from afar, but up close, you could see they were barren, fruitless, unproductive and displeasing to their God. So, Jesus chooses to curse the fig tree as a sign (as an acted-out parable) to show His disciples that God’s judgment was coming on His people.

In doing this, Jesus condemns all religion that is outward only. If you appear to be a Christian, if you appear to be godly, but it’s all just a big show, a charade, a mask that you use to fool people; then you need to know that you aren’t fooling Jesus and judgment is coming.

If Jesus were to come inspect your life today, would He find fruit or just leaves? Are you pretending to be something you aren’t. Are you just pretending to be a Christian.... pretending to love God... pretending to believe…pretending to live according to God’s commands. Maybe you thought God was far enough away that He couldn’t see the real you! Well, you’re wrong! Jesus sees you up close. And all your outward show of religion and godliness doesn’t fool Him. Jesus doesn’t judge by outward appearances. He looks at the heart, and He sees you for what you really are.

Take an honest look at your life today. If there's little to no fruit on the tree, then take this story to heart and start producing fruit in keeping with repentance.

* John D. Grassmick, “Mark,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 157.

You Are Not Alone

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Ephesians 4:4–6

‌

According to this Scripture, all Christians share at least these seven things in common. We have:

• one body (church)
• one Spirit
• one hope
• one Lord
• one faith
• one baptism
• one God and Father of all

It is these things, our common God, baptism, faith, Lord, hope, and especially the one Spirit that we all have living inside of us that makes us one body as a universal church regardless of age, nationality, gender, socioeconomic status, and even regardless of what time we lived in. 

All Christians across the globe and throughout time are connected by these seven things! They bond us together as more than just a group of like-minded people. They make us a family, the family of God.

I think it’s important that we remember that we are not alone as believers. It’s important that you remember this first of all for your own benefit. You have a family of God around you to help you. You don't have to do everything alone. Lean on the believers around. 

But it’s also important that you remember this secondarily for the benefit of others. You have other people in your church and in the wide world beyond that need you, that need your encouragement and your help and your support and your prayers.

Don’t forget that you are connected in a deep and spiritual way to all believers. You should have an affection for them and you should seek to help and support them and to carry their burdens when you have the chance. And you should look to them first when you are in need of support, help, prayers and encouragement. 

You are not alone.

He is Risen!

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.

Matthew 28:6

‌

On the first Easter morning the women came to the grave looking for a dead man, and the angel is only too happy to tell them that Jesus isn’t in the grave anymore. He is risen! Jesus had predicted it, and Jesus always keeps His word.

‌‌It occurs to me though that many Christians still look for Jesus in the grave. He’s not there anymore. Jesus isn’t on the cross and He isn’t in the grave. He’s on the throne, at the right hand of the Father in Heaven.

But that is much less comfortable for us. You see, everyone likes a dead Savior. Everyone likes a man who loved you enough to die for your sins so you could be forgiven. That makes us feel all warm and cuddly. That doesn’t pose a threat to us or our lifestyles in any way. You know why? Because a dead Savior makes no demands of us…none that He can enforce anyway. He loves us. He dies for us. He forgives us. But He can’t command us....not if we leave Him in the tomb of our minds.

We are much more comfortable with Jesus on the cross or Jesus in the tomb than we are with Jesus on the throne. But the message of Easter is undeniable. He is risen! Jesus is alive and He has been appointed “the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead.” (Romans 1:4)

The Apostle Peter put it this way in his sermon on the day of Pentecost. He said, “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” (Acts 2:36)

Jesus is both our Savior (the one who forgives our sins) and our Lord (the one who commands our obedience). And He can’t be your Savior without being your Lord, because He is risen. He is alive, and He has plans for your life. Submit right now not to love a dead Savior, but to obey a risen Lord!

The Lord Needs It

...Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’ ” They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go.

Mark 11:1b–6

‌

As Jesus approaches Jerusalem from the southeast, He arrives at Bethany and from there sends two of His disciples on ahead to the next village, called Bethphage. Jesus tells these two disciples that they will find a colt tied up in that village and He charges them with bringing it back to Him.

Now, Jesus is no dummy. He knows that people may question His disciples taking this young donkey that does not belong to them, so He tells them exactly what to say if they are questioned. And of course, they were. In fact, Luke’s gospel reveals to us that the people who question these disciples are more than just bystanders, they are the donkey’s owners. And no doubt they think they are being robbed.

‌‌But look at what Jesus told His disciples to say. The two disciples say, “The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.” And that was enough. Whether the donkey’s owners knew Jesus by reputation or whether they were followers of Christ or whether they had never met Him before, we don’t know. What we do know beyond a shadow of doubt is that “The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly” was enough for them.

If Jesus asked you to give, to contribute something of yours to His kingdom, would you do it? If the Holy Spirit whispered to your heart and said “I need you to give that to me do with what I will,” would you obey His prompting? Is there anything you wouldn’t be willing to give if Jesus asked for it? ‌‌Is “the Lord needs it” enough for you?