ON YOUR MARK: WEEK 11 DAY 1

Mark 11:12-26

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

12 On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. 13 And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

15 And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 16 And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17 And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” 18 And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching. 19 And when evening came they went out of the city.

The Lesson from the Withered Fig Tree

20 As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots.21 And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 22 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received]it, and it will be yours. 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

At the beginning of today’s reading, Jesus’ words and actions seem confusing. But if we look closer, he isn’t just reacting like we would when we are hangry. Jesus walked up to a fig tree, when it was not yet in season, and cursed it because it did not have fruit. Then He marched straight to the temple and overturned tables and drove out all the inappropriate things taking place. On the way home the disciples noticed that indeed the tree that Jesus cursed earlier had withered. So what is the point of these events?

The fig tree without fruit, is like a Christian who speaks of faith, but does not live out that faith. When we live out our faith, our “fruit” can be seen. The fig tree, green, lush, and full of fruit is our life when we are in fellowship with Christ; it is when we are walking hand and hand with the Savior, following His will and allowing our life to be the light so others can see Christ in us.

The passage ends with Jesus instructing them to have faith in God and forgive others, and if we are holding something against someone, we are to forgive them. An unforgiving spirit hinders the relationship between us and the Father, and therefore hinders the fruit that we produce.

Do you have an unforgiving spirit? Go now to the Lord and seek forgiveness! 

What does your “fruit” look like? How is God asking you to produce more fruit in your life?