Mark 11:20-21 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”
My first response after reading the eleventh chapter of Mark was Lord don’t let us become withered fig trees!
You know the story. Jesus and his disciples were on their way to the Temple when he spotted a fig tree in leaf. Even though it wasn’t the season for figs, its leaves indicated the presence of fruit. But when Jesus approached the tree, he discovered none of the tasty figs, only leaves giving the false impression of fruitfulness. He cursed the tree, but not because he was hangrey. He used the tree to illustrate something far more important than satisfying his hunger.
When he arrived at the temple courts he saw a whole orchard of human fig trees. The Pharisees and teachers of the law waved their leaves as if they bore the fruit of God. But they were as barren as the tree Jesus cursed. They should have been bearing life-giving fruit to seekers of God, but their spiritual lives had long ago dried up.
What caused these human fig trees to wither?
They lacked faith (vs. 22-24). No one can walk in God without faith, let alone have food to feed the spiritually hungry. The Pharisees refused to believe in Jesus, and so cut themselves off from the source of hope and power.
I find it necessary to do a Pharisee-check in my life from time to time. Are there factors cutting into my faith? Am I doing more judging than loving? Does my diet consist of an ample supply of old manna but runs short on new wine? Have I begun limiting God’s power to the confines of my understanding? Is my desire for comfort trumping sacrifice?
Let’s not let the fruit God wants us to produce dry up by allowing the harshness of the world to steal our faith. Let’s keep believing in the God of miracles. And do whatever he tells us to do.
This summer some dear friends brought us a basket of figs from their trees. I still remember how delicious that fruit tasted. As believers, we have some pretty soul-satisfying fruit to offer the world. But only if we don’t become withered fig trees.