When Jesus entered Jerusalem, He went to the temple, and in the evening, probably around 3 in the afternoon, He went out of the city to Bethany with His disciples. The next day as He was going back into the city He was hungry and sees a fig tree far off. Here we see Jesus’s judgment on unfruitfulness.
The fig tree was beautiful. It had leaves and looked healthy, yet after examining the tree He found no fruit. Looking good did not make it valuable. It was only of value to the Master if it produced fruit that could be used to eliminate His hunger. Fig trees were common in this region of the country. For a tree to be lush with leaves usually meant it had fruit, but this one did not.
Mark 11:11-13 “And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve. And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find anything thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.”
In the Old Testament, the fig tree was often used as an emblem for the nation of Israel. It is used 17 times in the Old Testament and 15 in the New Testament. The Jewish people were well familiar with the fig tree, its fruit, and how easy it was to grow. The nation of Israel was much like the fig tree Jesus cursed. They knew the laws that God had given to them. They knew the miracles God had performed to preserve His people, yet they missed His Messiah because they had long since lost their heart for God. To look at them you would think they must be close to God they keep all the religious ceremonies. They follow His laws to the letter, but for most God had become nothing but a list of dos and don’ts. This is something for each of us to think about as we live for Jesus.
When Jesus saw the fig tree and that it was barren of fruit, He cursed it. No longer would it be able to bear fruit and in a short time it would die, and its death would be visible to all who passed by. When Jesus curses the fig tree its doom was sealed.
Mark 11:14 “And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter forever. And his disciples heard it.”
The next evening when Jesus and the disciples were coming again from the city they noticed the fig tree was dried up. It was dead. Peter remembered Jesus cursing the tree the day before and He takes note and mentions it to Jesus and the disciples.
Mark 11:19-21 “And when even was come, he went out of the city. And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.”
There is a lesson in this for all who are Christians. As long as we live here on this earth we are to bear fruit for the Master. Just as there is no purpose for a barren fig tree the same is true for a barren Christian. Everything we do is to bring glory to Him. We are not to live for ourselves, but for Him, we are no longer our own. We have been redeemed, bought back, with the price of the blood of Jesus. Therefore, we are to live our lives for Him. We are to be Christ’s hands and feet on this earth. We must keep His commands if we are to please Him. If we love Him, obedience will not be hard, it will be the desire of the heart. What fruit are you bearing? How long has it been since you knew that God used you to produce something that has eternal value? If you can’t remember something recently then you need to repent and seek for God to open your eyes to opportunities around you and then obey.
I Corinthians 10:31 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
I Corinthians 6:20 “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
Colossians 1:10 “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;”
Are you fruitful are fruitless?
