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.”
Mark 11:12-14 NIV
What? What in the world is this about? Yeah, that's most people's response to these verses . Jesus uses His miraculous powers to place a curse on the fig tree.
Our human viewpoint looks on this curse as capricious and unfair. It's not even the season for figs, and yet Jesus curses the tree because it is fruitless. Clearly, Jesus is trying to teach His close followers and us in the process something very important.
As in some other stories and events in the New Testament, it is important that we focus on the one key point of the story. As this story unfolds, it is possible to see that the lack of fruit on the fig tree foreshadows Jerusalem and all that it symbolizes with the Temple, the central religious place for God's people at that time.
Jesus will die near Jerusalem. He will die for the people there and people all over the world. He will come again looking to see if there is fruit as a result of His life, sacrifice, and resurrection.
There will be choices to make. There will be a season of decision, followed by fruit-bearing. Jerusalem had its time. Now it is our own time of decision and continuous fruit-bearing. What will our future be?
So, that is why Jesus curse the fig tree. Jesus cursed the fig tree as an object lesson for His disciples and for all Christians. The lesson to be learned is that there is a vast difference between the pretense of fruit and the presence of fruit. Jesus and the disciples saw the leaves which should signify fruit but did not find fruit.
R.C. Sproul summarized the object lesson well, Jesus found an object that illustrated the sin of hypocrisy. It had the appearance of fruitfulness, but it was actually barren. Jesus cursed it because those who do not bear fruit are under God’s curse of death. It is not enough to appear fruitful, Jesus calls us to be fruitful.
The fig tree being an object lesson against hypocrisy, it is wrong to think that the answer is to just be a fig tree that tries harder to produce fruit. It is wrong to think, If God’s curse is on those who do not bear fruit, then we should work hard to bear fruit.
We will be more loving, joyful, etc. The Bible exhorts us to bear fruit and holds us accountable for a lack of fruit, but the Bible is also clear that fruit is only born through faith in Jesus Christ.
The answer is not to try to be more fruitful, but to abide in Christ. Escape from the curse of God does not come by doing better. Do not try to do better, rather repent and believe in Jesus Christ. Salvation comes to us through the Holy Spirit through faith.
Although this text was directly connected to Israel, there is a relatable message attached to it for us today. The lesson of the fig tree is that we should bear spiritual fruit, not just give an appearance of religiosity the way the fig tree gave an appearance of fruit!!
Father thank You for this day and for Your amazing mercy and grace to walk into it. Lord let Your abundant blessings fall upon my friend and family today. Lord we choose to honor You and trust You, for in You we live, move and have our being. Lord we believe You are the Christ, the Messiah Your prophets promised would come. Lord we want You to reign as Lord in our lives, and we open our lives for the Holy Spirit to do His work of transformation in us, conforming us into Your character and transforming us into a temple where You live. Lord use my friend and I to be fruit bearers and fruit inspectors and lead others to You today. Daddy we love You amen. Be a blessing. Love ya !
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