LESSONS FROM THE FIG TREE AND THE TEMPLE
Mark 11:12-19
April 1, 2007
(Distribute handouts)
Introduction
The gospel writers give greater details on Jesus’ last week in Jerusalem. They record the beginning of what has traditionally been called “Passion Week.” Important events of that week were: (refer to the handouts)
• Triumphal entry
• Cursing of the Fig tree
• Cleansing the Temple
• Teaching in the Temple
• Challenge of Christ’s Authority
• Olivet Discourse
• The Last Suffer
• The Upper Room Discourse
• The Arrest and Trial
• The crucifixion
• The Burial
• The Resurrection
The stage was now set for the unfolding drama of the last week of Christ’s earthly life. According to Apostle John, Jesus Christ arrived at Bethany on Friday. He spent the night with Lazarus, Mary and Martha. Saturday (the Sabbath) could have been a day of limited activity. On the first day of the week (Sunday), at triumphal entry, His time had come. He sent two of His disciples to Bethpage (Mark 11:2) He directed the two to the village to find a colt.
Now, I want you to direct our attention to our text, for that’s were our message will be taken.
Proposition: In this passage of Scripture the Holy Spirit uses a cursed fig tree and the corrupt religion of the Jews to teach us very important spiritual lessons.
Our Text: Mark 11:12-19
JESUS CHRIST VISIT’S BETHANY
A. They came from Bethany (v.12b)
The Lord Jesus loved to visit Bethany. In verse 11 we read that Jesus Christ after His triumphal entry went out to spend the night with the twelve disciples in Bethany. The special objects of Christ’s mercy, love and grace. Martha, Mary, and Lazarus lived in Bethany. No doubt the Lord Jesus spent the night with that chosen family.
Bethany was a blessed place because Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, this elect family lived there.
B. He was hungry (v.12c)
Jesus Christ left Bethany early in the morning. Probably Christ has not yet taken His breakfast. So the fact here is that “Jesus was hungry.”
While he lived upon this earth, our blessed Lord Jesus had a nature exactly like ours, sin alone excepted. He wept. He rejoiced. He felt pain. He felt gladness. He got tired and needed rest. He got thirsty and needed to drink. He got hungry and needed to eat.
These are wonderful, amazing things to meditate upon. He who is the eternal God, the Creator and Sustainer of all things - He who feeds every sparrow and clothes every lily - He who holds every beast of the field, every bird in the sky, and every fish in the sea in the palm of his hand - He from who all things came and to whom all things go, when he came to save his people from their sins, was hungry!
THE CURSING OF THE FIG TREE
As our Lord and his disciples walked along, they saw this fig tree. It stood out from all the others because, though the time of figs had not yet come, this fig tree was in full foliage. The other trees were just beginning to shoot forth their buds; but this one was large, spreading its full foliage of leaves, and waving in the wind, as if to say, “Look at me”. But when our Lord walked with his disciples over to the tree to gather some figs, he found “nothing but leaves”. Our Lord pronounced a curse upon the tree, and by sun up the next morning it had withered in death from its roots (v. 20).
A. Without a doubt, this barren, cursed, withered fig tree represents UNFRUITFULNESS.
The barren fig tree strikingly portrayed the condition of the nation Israel as Jesus saw it. There was the outward profession and the promise of fruit (as indicated by the presence of leaves on the fig tree, but upon closer evaluation this promise was empty. The Jews, the Scribes, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, all were rich in leaves. They possesses more leaves than anyone. Ceremony, creed, history, doctrine, show, tradition, reputation they had in great abundance. And they did not mind calling attention to their beautiful leaves. But they were utterly destitute of faith toward God. They had no fruit! Therefore that nation and their religion has been specifically cursed of God and forever abandoned (Matt. 23:38)
The Leafy appearance indicated fruit. So it is with men who profess to be a Christian: their profession indicates fruit. Full foliage stirred expectation. Jesus expected fruit to be present. However, if there is no fruit, then profession is empty and good for nothing. It may as well not exist.
In Matthew 23:28 we read, “In the same way, on the outside you appear people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.”
B. Above all else, this barren fig tree represents RELIGIOUS HYPOCRISY.
You who are carnal, half-hearted, hypocritical professors of Christianity are represented here. Would to God that you who are content with a name that you live, though you are dead, could see your faces in this mirror! Your fine, showy, impressive leaves, those things that impress you so much with yourself, mean nothing to God almighty. They stink in his nostrils!
Like the leaves of the fig tree, the nation appeared to hunger and thirst after righteousness and the coming of the Kingdom of God. But behind all of this religious flurry of acclaim and activity, there was no real fruit or repentance.
• Your Great Experiences!
• Your Emotional Displays!
• Your Precise Doctrine!
• Your Showy Sacrifices!
• Your Comforting Ceremonies!
They are just leaves, nothing but leaves. They will no more cover the nakedness of our souls from God’s all seeing eye in the day of judgment than Adam’s fig leaves covered his nakedness in the garden. Christianity is faith in Christ alone!
Many who profess Christ spend the time, energy, and money to pursue their own desires and ambitious instead of God’s will. Their service to God is but nothing only an addition to everything else.
2 Corinthians 13:5 "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?"
If Christ is in you, if Christ is in me, if he is dwelling in us by his Holy Spirit, if he is the life that is in us, he brings forth fruit, even the fruit of the Spirit in us (Gal. 5:22-23).
Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."
The professing hypocrite is much more accountable than the non-professor.
WHEN WE COME TO THE HOUSE OF GOD, WE OUGHT TO BEHAVE AS PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME TO THE HOUSE OF GOD.
As you know, the temple in Jerusalem was typical and representative of the Church, which really is the house of God (1 Tim. 3:15).
When the Bible speaks of the Church and House of God, it is talking about the assembled body of believers, gathered in one place for public worship. When we come together in the name of Christ, the Son of God meets with us (Matt. 18:20), the Spirit of God dwells within us, and we are the Temple of God (1 Cor. 3:16).
Let us attach no idolatrous superstition to this or any other building or material place. This building is not the church. The church just meets here. This auditorium is not a holy sanctuary. It is just a room in which the holy Word of God is preached. I am not standing behind a holy desk. I am standing behind a pulpit.
Having said that, the obvious lessons taught in this passage of Scripture with regard to the church, the temple, the house of the living God are these:
A. This is God’s house.
The church does not belong to you and me. It is not our church. It belongs to Christ. It is his church. That means that Christ alone makes the rules, enforces the rules, and exercises rule.
1. His Word is our only creed.
2. His revealed will is our rule of life.
3. His glory is our guiding principle.
B. In the House of God we pray and worship
1. Singing God’s Praise
2. Calling on God’s Name
3. Proclaiming God’s Gospel
4. Seeking To Know God Himself
5. Seeking To Know His Will
6. Seeking Grace To Do His Will
7. Seeking To Make Him Known
It is utterly abhorrent that anyone should make the house of God a place of trade, commerce, and entertainment.
When we come into the church, the house, the temple of the living God, we ought always to behave ourselves reverently.
Everything we say and do, when we come to worship God, ought to reflect reverence for our great God and Savior.
Let us ever be aware of the fact that the Son of God takes notice things which go on in his house. Profanity, irreverence, and indifference are an affront to him. Let us take heed, when we come here, that we do not offer the sacrifice of fools. When you start getting ready to come to church, try to remember whose house this is and why you are coming here.
Application
My friend, may I ask you this question with all sincerity? Are you a Christian, or are you just religious? A Christian recognizes that God has shown every man (and me, in particular) to be a sinner. A Christian trusts not in his own religious activity or good deeds, but in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He was bruised for our iniquities; He bore the penalty of our sins. His righteousness makes us acceptable to God.
Let me close the message with this:
Psalm 139:23-24 (taken from The Message, a paraphrase by Eugene Peterson):
“Investigate my life, Oh God.
Find out everything about me;
Cross-examine and test me,
Get a clear picture of what I’m about;
See for Yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong—
Then guide me on the road to eternal life.”
