This morning I want us to explore the incident of the fig tree and how it relates to Jesus teaching on forgiveness.
Mk 11:12-14, 20-24
1) Mark 11:12-14
12 Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. 13 And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 In response Jesus said to it, "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again."
And His disciples heard it.
NKJV
a) Fig tree is bright with foliage but produces no fruit. It is barren, is has no fruit for it’s master. Jesus puts a curse on it, not to intimidate other fig trees, but to demonstrate a lesson to His disciples. Wait a moment and you will see…
2) Mark 11:20-21
20 Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away."
NKJV
a) Same story in Matt
i) Matthew 21:19-20
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.
20 And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, "How did the fig tree wither away so soon?"
NKJV
b) The fig tree has withered into nothingness. The fig tree had not disobeyed the clear commands of it’s creator. All along it was doing what God had designed it to do, produce figs in it’s season
c) So, what were the lessons that Jesus wanted to show to the disciples?
i) Faith and Obedience to the word and work of God
(1) If you believe, in your heart what God has said,
(a) You will do what He has commanded you to do.
(b) Else, you will do what you want to do.
3) Mark 11:23-24
23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ’Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
NKJV
a) Matt 21:21-22
21 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. 22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."
a) Have no doubt in your heart that God is faithful and true.
4) Mark 11:25
25 "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. NKJV
a) Why a lesson on forgiveness, at this time?
i) Jesus is addressing a serious problem within the discipleship. Unforgiveness. Not even four days ago James, John and their Mother had requested THE place of honor beside Jesus (Mk 10:35-37, 41). This had caused strife within the discipleship. This is the issue that Jesus is addressing. They have to heal those wounds. What Jesus has been expounding on, all along about relationships cannot be dropped now, especially now.
ii) To heal the wounds inside the nucleus of what is to become, The Church. The other 10 are holding a grudge against James and John.
iii) Likewise, at this point in our lives, we need to examine ourselves and ask some tough questions. Questions like: “Do I need to forgive anyone?” And “How is MY walk with the Lord, in light of the scruptures? In light of this teaching?”
iv) Mark Thornton relates a story that fits this message quite well. Mark says:
“As I was getting ready to come to church one day, I was helping my son to get a bath -- and frankly, he didn’t want to have a bath, especially because he couldn’t sit and play in the tub for a while. And he resisted, complained, and made it difficult -- but we struggled through it and got him clean, for the most part. As we finished up, I told him to stand up and get out so we could get him dried off and dressed for church; to which he responded, "I Can’t!"
I replied, "What do you mean, you can’t?"
He scowled at me and said, "Daddy, I Can’t!!"
Now unfortunately, we’ve been through this routine before so I knew how to respond. "You mean -- You Don’t Want To, right?” To which he begrudgingly nodded. It wasn’t that he "couldn’t" get out, he "didn’t want" to get out of the bathtub -- he wanted to stay in and play for a while.
And I couldn’t help but think that this is so similar to the way that we respond to God’s call. He asks us to do something, and we reply, "Lord, I CAN’T! -- I’m too old... I’m too young... I’m not ready... I’m too busy... I have too many other things to do... He did it first! But deep down, what are we really saying? "I DON’T WANT To!” I don’t want to do it... I don’t want to change... I don’t want to sacrifice... I don’t want to stretch, I don’t want to obey your command, I don’t want to let go of my anger, hurt or what ever.
b) This whole Jesus “THING” is all about just this…forgiveness…without forgiveness, there is no remission of sin, the relationships are wounded, bleeding, dying.
i) Between neighbors/friends
ii) Between parents and children
iii) Between husband and wife
iv) Between The Creator and the created
c) This is why Jesus came here in the first place – Forgiveness. To make is possible to forgive.
d) Just as God wants to forgive you, He also wants you to forgive others. It is not just a passing fancy of His. It is a requirement. I say to you again, in the name of Jesus Christ:
5) Mark 11:26
26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."
NKJV
a) The same text is found in Mathews’ gospel: Matthew 6:15
15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. NKJV
b) In the Lords Prayer, we are given the instructions, as part of the pattern of how we are to pray to forgive as we have been forgiven:
Matthew 6:12
12 And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
i) Notice, we are to forgive in order to be forgiven.
c) What is this thing - FORGIVENESS?
i) Forgetting? No
ii) FORGIVENESS - The act of excusing or pardoning another in spite of his slights, shortcomings, and errors. As a theological term, forgiveness refers to God’s pardon of the sins of human beings.
(from Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright (c)1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
iii) Sometimes forgiving is hard to do. Sometimes the person that you need to forgive:
(1) Isn’t interested in being forgiven
(2) Won’t/can’t apologize for a wrong that was done to you
(3) Isn’t available any longer – moved, died, etc.
iv) Sometimes, we just have to forgive someone to save ourselves.
(1) Luke 23:34
34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots. NKJV
d) Loose Salvation?
i) Question has been raised – in light of Mk 11:26 would someone loose his salvation if he didn’t forgive?
ii) Scripture says that a one who has received Christ and acknowledges Him as his Lord and Savior, cannot loose his salvation:
(1) Romans 8:14-17
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
NKJV
iii) If you CANNOT loose your salvation, and you have an unforgiving heart.
iv) What is the status of that individual? Can you be forgiven and continue in sin?
v) If one continues in sin, is one forgiven?
(1) No. the conclusion is that one who won’t, can’t, refuses to forgive, isn’t himself forgiven.
(2) If he isn’t forgiven then he hasn’t be reborn in the first place and has not really been adopted and will stand in poor account on the day of judgment.
2) We have received the clear command of our Lord and Master - FORGIVE
a) The key questions at this point is “How do you respond?”
i) In obedience,
ii) delayed obedience,
iii) or outright defiance to God.
b) Faithful fruit or fruitless faith? One of the fruits of faithfulness is forgiveness, for those who have offended you and for you who have offended your God.
c) On the other had, if you don’t forgive, do you have faith?
3) Romans 12:1-2
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
NKJV
a) The world tells us to hold the grudge
b) Our egos tell us to hold on to the hurt
c) Christ says differently – forgive. And in forgiving, we are transformed.
4) I leave you with the words of Thomas a Kampis - “Instant obedience is the only kind of obedience there is; delayed obedience is disobedience. Whoever strives to withdraw from obedience, withdraws from Grace.”
