This is Holy Week, the week leading up to Easter Sunday. Following Palm Sunday, Jesus went to the temple the next day. On His walk from Bethany to Jerusalem, He saw a fig tree and went out of the way to see if there were any figs to eat on it because He was hungry. Jesus and His disciples knew it was not the season for figs; still, when Jesus found no figs He spoke to the tree.
Mark 11:12-14
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.
They went to the temple and find it had become a place of revenue making instead of a place of prayer. The religious leaders began looking for a way to kill Jesus because He drove out the venders and money-changers.
Jesus and His disciples leave the city in the evening and Tuesday morning they walk by the fig tree again. The tree was completely dead from the roots and the disciples were amazed. The tree listened and there was never any fruit eaten from it again.
What just happened here?
Why curse a tree that was not in season to produce?
Throughout the Bible you read that Jesus always did things with purpose and not randomly. Most agree that Jesus was emphasizing Israel’s failure to be fruitful. Israel was like the fig tree that was lush with leaves, but produced nothing.
Everyone who is a follower of Jesus Christ is called to produce fruitful character and actions in their lives.
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
As we approach Easter, ask the Holy Spirit to fertilize your fruitfulness.
Mark 11:12-14
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.
They went to the temple and find it had become a place of revenue making instead of a place of prayer. The religious leaders began looking for a way to kill Jesus because He drove out the venders and money-changers.
Jesus and His disciples leave the city in the evening and Tuesday morning they walk by the fig tree again. The tree was completely dead from the roots and the disciples were amazed. The tree listened and there was never any fruit eaten from it again.
What just happened here?
Why curse a tree that was not in season to produce?
Throughout the Bible you read that Jesus always did things with purpose and not randomly. Most agree that Jesus was emphasizing Israel’s failure to be fruitful. Israel was like the fig tree that was lush with leaves, but produced nothing.
Everyone who is a follower of Jesus Christ is called to produce fruitful character and actions in their lives.
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
As we approach Easter, ask the Holy Spirit to fertilize your fruitfulness.
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