My Fig Tree

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The month is March and Jesus is walking by a fig tree with his disciples. He reaches out to the tree, pulls back the leaves to find a fig, but he does not find any. So he curses the tree (Mark 11:13). Within a short while the tree withers away.

Figs were fully ripe in Judea as early as the Passover (April timeframe).  The fig tree always puts forth its fruit first and afterwards its leaves. Indeed, this tree, in the climate which is proper for it, has fruit on it all the year round.  Fruit tree growers know that a small amount of fruit ripens prior to the main crop. This is a referred to as the first ripe fruit or the firstfruits.

When Jesus approached the tree, it was the time of the firstfruits of figs, but it was not yet time for the main harvest. So Jesus expected to find figs, but it was barren all it had was leaves.  This tree did not fulfill its purpose, and as any diligent orchardist would do, Jesus simply eliminated an unproductive tree, not with an ax or a saw, but by His Word.

The gospel of Mark tells this story in two parts, Mark 11:12-14, 20-22. Sandwiched between the two parts is the story of Jesus clearing the temple? What the Jews were doing in the temple is one of the reasons why God brought judgment upon them and upon the city of Jerusalem. These people did not have love God; they acted like religious men, but it was only an outward appearance of a show of spirituality. They promised much, but had nothing in their hearts for God.

The dramatic action by Jesus to curse the fig tree was a way to communicate to the Jewish leaders that corrupt religion will bring the judgment of God. It was God’s way of describing the outcome of a fruitless Jewish nation. History will confirm that God allowed destruction to come to that nation because all they had was an outward appearance of righteousness.

Even today the message is alive in our midst; Jesus is expecting us to bear fruit. We are made to bear fruit. It is not an option. Our relationship with the Lord Jesus is meant to be life-changing and fruit-bearing. People who belong to Christ bear this kind of fruit! Are we bearing fruit for God? We must have more than the appearance. Anyone can look good on Sunday morning at church, but that alone is not a good test of right living. 

God pulls back the leaf and looks for fruit. What will Jesus find in the Fig Tree of your life?

 

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