Lessons from a Fig Tree
In this Palm Sunday message, Pastor Shane examine's Mark's story of Jesus and the fig tree, the day after His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Click here for the recording of this 4/13 Service, and you can fast-forward to 26:24 to get to the start of the sermon.
Our text comes from the Mark 11.12-14
12 On the next day, when they had left Bethany, He became hungry.
13 Seeing from a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and 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 were listening.
Introduction
I grew up hearing the adage- “If you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”
Recently, this question has been rattling around in my head
I grieve for the condition of the American Church - shallow, consumeristic, un-discipled, inward focused
This week’s minister’s meeting- 3 leaders, none of which opened their Bible
As I am in the front end of the last quarter of my life, I find myself given to serious introspection- have I served my Lord, my wife, my children and grandchildren, and those I’m discipling, well?
For what will I give account?
What do we know about figs, in the Bible?
Fig leaves were used to cover Adam and Eve in the Garden, Gen 3
Ancient Palestine was known as a land of fig trees, Dt 8.8
Moses said fruit on wayside trees could be picked as food
It was used by God as a symbol of prosperity, 1 Ki 4.25, Mic 4.4
In the last days every man will sit under his own fig tree, Mic 4.4
The falling of figs in the Bible is seen as a metaphor for God’s judgment
In Israel today there are both wild and cultivated fig trees
Most modern Israeli gardens contain a cultivated fig tree, some growing 30’ tall
A ripe fig contains gritty seeds which are the true fruit
The fig is the receptacle which holds the fruit
In the east, fig trees typically produce 2 crops per season, bearing some 10 months per year
Fig trees are typically planted by wells, providing shade which keeps the water cool
Jesus and the fig tree
Jesus condemns the fig tree because it should have born early ripe figs
The Lord was right to anticipate edible fruit, given the season (ZPEB, 2.534)
v12
The day before Jesus had made His triumphal entry (Palm Sunday) into Jerusalem, to the cheers of thousands
Afterward, He went back to Bethany, likely to the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus
He is hungry- did not Martha feed Him?
People have always had more trouble with the humanity of Jesus than His divinity
Vere homo, vere deus- very man, very God
v13
As He returns to Jerusalem the next day, He sees a fig tree in the distance, in leaf
Thus, there should have been early, budding fruit
He went to see if there was anything on it
He found nothing but leaves- it looks mature from a distance, but up close it is lacking
Mark says it was not the right season (kairos) for figs
Given what we know about fig trees, they produced in all but a small window throughout the year
Thus, He was right to expect some fruit
v14
He cursed the tree, to never produce fruit again
Was Jesus taking His wrath out on an inanimate fig tree?
His disciples were listening- are you?
Applying this to our lives
A healthy Christian produces fruit (see Jn 15)
Fruit is self perpetuating- seeds produce more seed
Like a fig, the fruit of our lives is the seed left in the fruit- so, what are you leaving behind, in your marriage, children/grandchildren, friends, community?
If you couple this passage with what He says elsewhere about fruit (Jn 15- inspecting, pruning, deadwood thrown into the fire) there is much expected of us
Jesus does, and will, expect those who claim Him as Lord to produce fruit
His Word calls us to fruit production now, in the present
He will examine us for fruit at the Bema Seat
Just as the Twelve listened to Him as He cursed the fig tree, we need to listen to Him now
