The Miracles Of Jesus (Pt 10) Series

So, let’s dig in, shall we?

Body

Jesus withers the fig tree

Found in gospels of Matthew and Mark

I’ll begin by reading Matthew’s account:

Matthew 21:18–22 “Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?” So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.””

So, the set-up here is:

We’ve already seen the Triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and the people crying “Hosanna”

Jesus cleansing the Temple

Jesus and disciples left Jerusalem, returned to Bethany

Going back to Jerusalem

Matthew 21:18 “Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry.”

We again see the fully human person of Jesus. He was hungry

But when we read verse 19, he wasn’t merely hungry.

Matthew 21:19 “And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.”

He was “hangry”

But the anger was directed @ the fig tree. It just happened to be the recipient of His anger!

A few months back I came home “hangry”. I wasn’t angry with Lisa, it was something about work, but she was the recipient of my anger!

I quickly realized it, and immediately apologized.

Jesus wasn’t angry with the fig tree, I believe He was angry with the nation of Israel, they had become a fruitless people!

Is this us? All beautiful in full bloom on the outside, yet barren and fruitless on the inside?

Verse 20 continues my amazement of the disciples:

Matthew 21:20 “And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?””

I understand that probably every disciple was not present @ all the @ least 34 previous miracles, but they are amazed @ the withering of a fig tree!

It’s interesting, as we examine the miracles, as a body of work, there are only 2 recorded miracles of Jesus destroying something.

This one, and the herd of swine that ran off the cliff, into the water and drowned.

I believe Jesus was teaching the disciples the importance of being fruitful, or facing the consequences of being barren!

Next, we see Jesus heal the severed ear of the servant.

Although we see events surrounding the miracle, the miracle itself is recorded only in Luke.

Luke 22:50–51 “And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him.”

To gain a little better grasp of the circumstances, let’s look @ a couple of verses prior.

Luke 22:47–49 “And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?””

Remember the raising of Lazarus had this long 37 verse set-up to the miracle?

This one was like 3 verses!

Just a few remarks about this miracle:

verse 50 says “and one of the them”.

In John 18:10, we see who “one of them” was.

John 18:10 “Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.”

When we examine verses 50-51, it is so “matter of fact”. Just another night in the life of Jesus!

No hoopla from the crowd

No gratitude from the recipient.

But, it truly was anything but just another night in the life of Jesus!

Let’s look @ everything recorded in Luke 22, prior to this miracle.

We see the plot to kill Jesus and Judas’ plan to betray Jesus.

A few verses prior, we see Jesus telling Peter that Satan was trying to sift Peter like wheat.

We also see that Satan had “entered” Judas!

Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper

Disciples dispute who should be called the greatest of the them