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.
- The fig tree often represents the Jewish Nation of Israel in the OT.
- The fig tree typically begins showing signs of fruit when it’s leaves are on the tree.
- There is a season for figs - this states it was not the season yet.
- However there should have been signs of pending fruit.
- Jesus found no signs of fruit on the tree.
- Jesus speaks power over the fig tree.
- “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.”
- Seemingly Jesus and the disciples move on, but we will come back to this.
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.
- This would appear to be the second time Jesus cleaned the temple.
- In John 2, Jesus cleaned the temple at the beginning of His ministry and while similar the accounts in John 2 and here in Mark 11 and in Matthew 21 there are differences that lead to the possibility these are two different accounts that occurred.
- We do not this for sure however and there is not enough evidence to say for sure.
- At this time temple sacrifices were still happening and there were those who sought to profit.
- Sacrifices were not really intended to be bought and presented.
- The sacrifices were meant to be just that - sacrificial of the one presenting it to God and sacrificial to God for the cleansing of sin in that persons life.
- One was present their absolute best to God as a sacrifice but instead we see people just buying a sacrifice, whatever was available and that was going to have to be good enough.
- Not to mention those selling the pigeons, oxen, sheep…
- These were selling the “sacrifices” for profit and at prices considered of robbing the buyer for personal financial gain.
- The temple leaders were ok with it showing their level of greed, dishonestly, and willingness to pursue personal gain through disobedience of God’s law.
- Jesus seeing this, overturned the tables of the money-changers, and drove out those who were doing wrong in His Father’s house. In His House.
- Sacrifice comes through the heart and give to the Lord the best you have.
- We are not to merely give of our abundance, when it’s easy or convenience.
- We are to give as the Lord has given to us, the best there is. The Lord gave His only Son.
- Typical, the priests sought to destroy Jesus because He was imposing on their posh lifestyle.
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.”
- This brings us back to the fig tree.
- The next time the disciples see the fig tree it is withered.
- It’s not just without fruit, it’s dead. “Withered away to it’s roots”.
- We who have professed faith in Jesus can say a lot of things with our mouths.
- Words are just words.
- The heard does not lie and Jesus can see into every heart and know it’s true belief.
- This is why Jesus says “whoever does not doubt in his heart, but believes”.
- We can’t fake it as Christians. As followers of Jesus.
- You might get away with it for a time.
- You may fool the foolish.
- You may even fool yourself.
- You CANNOT fool the Lord.
- “Have faith in God”
- You can do so much with just a little faith. Even faith the size of a mustard seed.
- Believe for what you ask, believe that you have already received it.
- Open your mind to understand that you don’t have all the answers, nor can you know what is good, right, and best in the future.
- Forgive - forgive others for all that has been done to you so that you can with a clean and clear heart ask for forgiveness for the wrongs you’ve done against the Lord.
- Believe by faith, in your heart, in your soul, in your mind of the goodness of God.
- Believe you have received blessing upon blessing and still more to come.
- Believe and receive all that God has to give you and rest in the abundant Love of the Lord.
