The Parable Of The Fig Tree Series

Dr. Bradford Reaves

CrossWay Christian Fellowship

Hagerstown, MD

www.mycrossway.org

“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. (Matthew 24:32–36)

Behold, a day is coming for the Lord, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in your midst. 2 For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women raped. Half of the city shall go out into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 3 Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. 4 On that day, his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley so that one-half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward. 5 And you shall flee to the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal. And you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him. (Zechariah 14:1–5)

The greatest hope we are given from the Lord Jesus Christ is his imminent; the Second Coming. I know of no greater topic that I can preach to you than on the return of our Lord as Eternal King. There is coming a day when that will be made reality and we are commanded as believers to be living lives that expectantly await his return.

Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:8)

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, (Philippians 3:20)

You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Luke 12:40)

Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:28)

The expectancy of Christ’s return is not new to our or recent generations. In fact, in the very gospels, we find that the disciples themselves were eagerly awaiting Christ’s return before he even made his departure. The theme of Christ’s Second Coming fills the New Testament. It is when our bodies will be redeemed in the fullness of our salvation. It is when we will witness the final and great defeat of Satan and all that is evil. It is a real event foretold by the Scriptures in both the Old and New Testaments that will happen as personally and historically as His first coming and with just as far-reaching and glorious impact.

The reality of his return was also a common topic in Jesus’ ministry. Nowhere do we find a more fascinating work on the topic than by the Lord himself in what we call the Mt Olivet Discourse. It is recorded by Matthew and Mark and Luke because of its tremendous importance. Today we’re looking at a parable within the discourse regarding the fig tree. However, to fully appreciate the context of the parable, we have to understand why Jesus tells the parable. It is on the Mt of Olives that Jesus is giving this lesson. Interestingly, it is the very spot where Zechariah tells us he will make his physical return.

As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no o

So the disciples ask him two questions: when will it be, and what will be the signs? Interestingly, Jesus answers those questions in reverse order. He gives the signs And then he answers the question as to when. And these are the signs that we, as believers today, are to be watching. Today, we are seeing foreshadows of many of these signs that will happen in rapid-fire succession. We call those signs birthing pains.