Fig Tree Withered From Its Roots

I. EXORDIUM:

Are you withered from your roots?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To show that we need CHRIST, without CHRIST we are nothing.

John 15:5 (Amplified Bible)

15:5 I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.

IV. TEXT:

Mark 11:20 (Amplified Bible)

11:20 In the morning, when they were passing along, they noticed that the fig tree was withered [completely] away to its roots.

V. THESIS:

Without CHRIST we are nothing.

VI. TITLE:

Fig tree withered from its roots

Study of Mark 11

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: Mark, son of Mary of Jerusalem; referred to as John Mark

B. Date written: 58 B.C.

C. Purpose: To present JESUS of Nazareth as GOD's Suffering Servant, the Redeemer of the world

D. To whom written: Roman or Gentile Christians

E. Main Theme: CHRIST is the tireless servant of GOD and humanity.

F. Key word: Immediately

G. Key verse: Mark 10:45

Mark 10:45 (Amplified Bible)

10:45 For even the Son of Man came not to have service rendered to Him, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for (instead of) many.

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. In the morning

"In the morning,"

It was a Tuesday morning.

Morning is a great time to pray.

Mark 1:35 (Amplified Bible)

1:35 And in the morning, long before daylight, He got up and went out to a deserted place, and there He prayed.

Morning is a good time to hire laborers for your field.

Matthew 20:1 (Amplified Bible)

20:1 FOR THE kingdom of heaven is like the owner of an estate who went out in the morning along with the dawn to hire workmen for his vineyard.

For JESUS's enemies, morning is a great time to kill someone.

Mark 15:1 (Amplified Bible)

15:1 AND IMMEDIATELY when it was morning, the chief priests, with the elders and scribes and the whole council, held a consultation; and when they had bound Jesus, they took Him away [violently] and handed Him over to Pilate.

Morning is a great time to come alive after being dead for three days.

Mark 16:9 (Amplified Bible)

16:9 Now Jesus, having risen [from death] early on the first day of the week, appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had driven out seven demons.

You do important things in the first thing of the morning, you don't delay it, while you have the strength to do it, looking at evening as time of your rest. It's priority time, morning is when you are at your best peak of the day.

B. As they were passing along

"when they were passing along,"

The fig tree was in the way side, it's a public property tree not a private one, so when it was withered, no one was hurt. There's no powerpoint during those days, and it's a parable in action by the LORD JESUS. Since the fig tree is on their way, passing by would really get someone to notice it, since it's in the way, together with the Presenter/Teacher (the LORD JESUS), along with His students/one receiving the presentation. It was seen by 13 men. The bible says, two or three witnesses, and they're 12 more than enough to validate a truth.

Deuteronomy 17:6 (Amplified Bible)

17:6 On the evidence of two or three witnesses he who is worthy of death shall be put to death; he shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.

Deuteronomy 19:15 (Amplified Bible)

19:15 One witness shall not prevail against a man for any crime or any wrong in connection with any sin he commits; only on the testimony of two or three witnesses shall a charge be established.

It's an established fact beyond the shadow of any doubt.

C. They noticed

"they noticed that the fig tree was withered [completely] away to its roots"

1. Fig tree withered completely

2. From it's roots

It was a withered fig tree right before their eyes, very differently from what they've seen before, a leafy fig tree with no fruits. It's just taking up space. It's representing fruitless nation of Israel.

The fig tree refers to the following:

GOD's vineyard - Israel:

Isaiah 5:4 (Amplified Bible)

5:4 What more could have been done for My vineyard that I have not done in it? When I looked for it to bring forth grapes, why did it yield wild grapes?

False teachers:

Jude 1:12 (Amplified Bible)

1:12 These are hidden reefs (elements of danger) in your love feasts, where they boldly feast sumptuously [carousing together in your midst], without scruples providing for themselves [alone]. They are clouds without water, swept along by the winds; trees, without fruit at the late autumn gathering time—twice (doubly) dead, [lifeless and] plucked up by the roots;