Mark 11: 12 – 26. RSV Bible
“When I went to a Christian school, I walked into the cafeteria and there on the table was a plate of fruit. Next to it was a sign that said “Take one. God is watching.” Next to the fruit was a plate of cookies, which had a sign next to it, written by a fellow student, that said “Take as many as you want. God is watching the fruit.” Readers Dijest
Jesus and his disciples left Bethany setting out for Jerusalem, we read that Jesus was hungry and seeing a fig tree in leaf he looked for figs, but found none, Mark tells us that it was not the season for figs.
Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible page 324
“The various fig trees altogether bear about 10 months out of the year and are of 3 kinds.
The early fig. The fruit ripens towards the end of June; it is the most beautiful and delicious kind. Jer 24: 1-8.
The Summer fig. The fruit begins to appear in June about the time the early fig is ripe and comes to maturity in August: it lasts a long time and may be preserved. . Hos 9:10.
The Winter fig appears in August about the time the summer fig is ripe and reaches the ripening stage toward the latter part of October and November. If the winter is not too severe this fruit can still be plucked towards spring.” Song 2:13.
Jesus was hungry he looked for a natural resource that was freely available along the roadside.
What came to my mind was that and the fig leaves were God’s covenants and promises to Israel:
God’s covenant with Abraham: “Behold, my covenant and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you and kings shall come forth you.” Genesis 17: 4-8.
God’s covenant with Israel through Moses, ‘The Giving of the Law’ and the fulfilment of God’s promise to Abraham: the Hebrew people becoming a nation.
God’s covenant with King David and the promise of a Saviour, the Messiah. Jesus fulfilled this promise, Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16: 16.
The Pharisees looked for signs from Jesus to prove he had come from God. Jesus looked for signs to prove that the Pharisees loved God.
The fig tree representing Israel – Jesus hungered seeking the righteousness of Israel’s commitment to keeping the law and found none.
Jesus couldn’t find any fruit on the fig tree, and he cursed the tree Some of the disciples heard him say, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.”
Under the Law Israel cursed for not keeping the law.
“But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command you this day, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you.” Deuteronomy 28: 15 – 68
The Pharisees added their rules to those given to Moses by God as they earned their righteousness by doing good works.
Jesus looked for Israel’s hunger for righteousness in the temple where God resided in the Holy of Hollies.
Jesus and his disciples entered temple and when he saw the desecration of the court of the Gentiles, he drove out those who sold and those who bought also overturned the money changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. We read he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. Jesus said, ”My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? but you have made it a den of robbers.” The money changers currency exchange rate robbed the people and the Gentiles were being robbed of spending time praying to the God of Israel.
This scene is also seen as a person’s life being cleansed of sin. Where the result of sin robs a person of living an abundant life. Sin gives rise to guilt, shame, deception, rebellion and suicide etc. These things tear apart relationships and often are the cause of mental illness.
In the reading the following morning the disciples noticed that the fig tree had withered up from its’ roots.
This I believe illustrated the end of the law covenant.
Jesus said, “Have faith in God.” This pointed to the new covenant, were we carry nothing of any merit of ourselves to make atonement for our sin against God.
Jesus cleanses our body, soul/spirit with his shed blood and that takes place when a person comes in faith to Jesus.
Christians bear the fruit of God’s love in Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord.
The church is called to tell people about God’s love for everyone and to give whosoever, the opportunity to receive forgiveness and the free gift of God’s love, eternal life.
“For God so loved the world that he gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3: 16
Through faith in Jesus all that separated us from knowing Father God is removed from us. The holy Spirit gives us the fruit of the God’s love: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5: 22.
Walking by Faith
Legally, the devil is allowed to tempt us, because of our freewill, but Jesus tells us to hunger and thirst for righteousness and we will be satisfied. God’s righteousness by faith and not by the works of the law, not by activities that we do to please God that’s from our own self-righteousness.
Faith. and Grace to move the mountain.
After a gap of twenty years my sister wanted to find a job. Her youngest of seven children started senior school, so she prayed about it and the Lord gave her a picture in her mind of someone’s feet, the Lord confirmed it to her when she attended a local event where unknown to her chiropody was mentioned and that confirmed to her that she should become a chiropodist. It meant going to college studying biology and taking up training and she passed the exams and today she ministers to people’s feet and her testimony has brought people to faith.
Prayer
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on the earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for yours is the kingdom the power and the glory, forever Amen.