Jesus curses the fig tree
The Setting –Jesus enters Jerusalem on what we call Palm Sunday, the first day of the week. He is met with great celebration. Last week we talked about the crowds cutting down branches to lay along the road like a red carpet, others even put their coats on the path as Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem. Young and old people cried out their praise, Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!
This is where we pick up the story today.
Mark 11:11-14 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve. 12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 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.14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it
Mark placed the cleansing of the temple between this account of cursing the fig tree. Matt. has Jesus clearing out the buyers and sellers in the Temple courts, and then cursing a fig tree that immediately withers all on the same day. Mark has Jesus first return to Bethany. Then on the way to Jerusalem from Bethany – Jesus pauses by a fig tree to have breakfast. Seeing that there were no figs, he cursed the tree. It isn’t until that evening that on the way back to Bethany that the disciples notice the fig tree is withered.
Here’s what many people find confusing. How could Jesus go 40 days without food, but then curse an innocent fig tree because there was no breakfast on it! Was Jesus overreacting punishing a fig tree whose time for figs had not arrived? Who picks on a plant! He was hungry - Later He would be thirsty – but why waste supernatural energy cursing a tree. Was Jesus hungry or angry?
Pay attention here – because this is Jesus’ only miracle of destruction Why?
Mark 11:19-25 When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city. 20 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”
22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
Two types of figs in this region
Early fig that had fruit when in full leaf in the spring of the year and regular figs that bore fruit later in the year. This fig Jesus and those around him knew to be of the early variety because it was in full leaf.
There is a direct link between the cursing of the fig tree and the cleansing of the temple. Jesus cursed the fig tree as parable, acting out the rejection of the Jewish Nation.
The entire 13th chapter of Mark details much of the destruction. While the disciples are marveling at the construction and apparent invincibility of the Temple, Jesus tells them that not one stone will be left on another. Every one will be thrown down.
While sitting on the Mount of Olives – with a perfect view of the Temple across the valley, some of the disciples ask “When will this happen? Any clues / signs you can tell us about?”
The clues Jesus gives seem to be intentionally vague, as if any age can find them fulfilled in their lifetime. Nations will battle nations; there will be wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, famines. This is just the beginning. For the most part, Jesus was speaking of days they would experience, a time in 70 AD when Rome would level Jerusalem. But He leaves them with a tantalizing bit of information about the “end times.”
Mark 13:32-37 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.
35 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”
So be on your guard, you will be handed over to local councils and flogged. You will stand before governors and kings as witnesses. The Gospel must be preached to all nations.
Jesus in OT prophetic form uses a physical prop to make his point poignant
The religious leaders made a show of piety and righteousness but underneath everything there was no fruit. What does a life without fruit look like?
Biggest objection against Christians? Hypocrisy, no love, no fruit.
Here is the problem with hypocrisy: It's not that we are sinners!
It's that we posture and pretend NOT to sin. We are too proud to be humble, honest or human. Absolutely, the Church is full of sinners. It’s the only organization besides Organized Crime that it's a prerequisite to be a sinner!
Better to be a sinner than a hypocrite
Jesus was cursing the Jerusalem leadership for not bearing fruit. Echoes of Micah:
Micah 7:1 - 2. What misery is mine! I am like one who gathers summer fruit at the gleaning of the vineyard; there is no cluster of grapes to eat, none of the early figs that I crave. 2 The faithful have been swept from the land; not one upright person remains. Everyone lies in wait to shed blood; they hunt each other with nets.
Or Hosea
Hosea 9:10. “When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the desert; when I saw your ancestors, it was like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree. But when they came to Baal Peor, they consecrated themselves to that shameful idol and became as vile as the thing they loved.
Or Jeremiah
Jeremiah 8: 13 “‘I will take away their harvest, declares the Lord. There will be no grapes on the vine. There will be no figs on the tree, and their leaves will wither. What I have given them will be taken from them
Jesus appears to be calling down the same threats that Jeremiah 17 called down. Just as the temple in Shiloh was destroyed and the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians, so would the Second Temple in Jerusalem be destroyed.
Jesus is operating in the prophetic tradition by cursing the tree of Jewish leadership for not bearing the fruit it should have.
Hosea is told to marry a prostitute. Ezekiel was famous for this method. He cuts his hair, burns it and scatters it as a sign of what will happen to those living in Jerusalem when Babylon takes over. He is also the one who digs a hole in the wall of his house and crawls through it with his belongings, in broad daylight, again to show the Jews what is in store for them. Isaiah was told to walk around town naked for 3 years; Ezekiel lies on one side and cooks his food over dung. Cursing a fig tree seems pretty tame compared to these guys.
For proclaiming this judgment the Jewish leaders decided to kill Jesus
Mark 11: 18. The chief priests and the experts in the law heard it and they considered how they could assassinate him.
Take a Closer look at the fruit of the Spirit (fruit that the Spirit produces!)
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Unpack some of the traits of these fruits – how do others see this fruit in your life, especially those closest to you.
Love – do others feel loved by you, judged by you? Do they look forward to being with you, or avoid you? Do you give to others your time, talent and treasure out of love?
Joy – smiling or frowning, complaining and grumbling, or hopeful and spilling over with joy?
Peace – anxious or worried? Calm and confident that God is totally in control? Do you know the “peace that surpasses all understanding?”
Patience – Urgent, in a hurry, running late? Do delays and interruptions drive you nuts? Or do you see them as opportunities for God to do His best work?
Kindness – how do you treat those who are the last, least, lowest? Do animals love you or cower from you or just stay away. How do children read you? Kind or crabby?
Goodness – do you hold the high moral ground without making others feel like low lifes? Do you put other’s needs ahead of your own?
Faithfulness – do you keep your word? Or are you a Maybe kind of person. Do others know that they can count on you?
Gentleness – are you quick to listen, slow to speak or act? Does your voice sound angry or comforting?
Self Control – who is the master of your life and your desires? Can you stay the course?
When those who know you best love you most, you have lived a successful life
Connect with the ideas in John 15 – Jesus is the vine, we are the branches
It is his desire that we bear “Much Fruit” Jn. 15:8
Next Step - Dare me to be like Jesus
Finally, Jesus took the amazement of the disciples over a withered fig tree and turned it back around to them –
22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
Is there anyone you hold anything against? Then forgive them to pave the way for the Father to forgive your sins!
Going deeper
1- Take the Fruit of the Spirit challenge seriously in your life. This is fruit that the Spirit produces (you don’t) but what are you doing to nurture it?
2- Does the Fruit of the Spirit show up in your life?
3- What fruit is evident, what fruit needs to be nurtured, where do you need to be pruned?
4- Who do you need to forgive?
