If you have been reading Mark’s gospel you know that we are now in the final week of Jesus’ earthly life. He had his triumphal entry on Sunday. After entering Jerusalem, he entered the temple, looked at everything, and then went back out to Bethany. As you read Mark 11:12-14 keep in mind that the Lord had already told a parable on the fig tree in Luke 13:6-9. A fig tree in full leaf this time of year is unusual because it was sometime in April when the Passover was taking place and it wasn’t the season for figs. Here however by the road was a fig tree in full leaf. Jesus is hungry. Jesus reveals to us his divinity even as he has clothed himself with humanity. So he is fully God and fully human at the same time which makes him the perfect High priest for us. Hebrews 4:14-16 teaches us that Jesus was tempted in all points that we are and didn’t sin. He is able to sympathize with us and intercede for us because he laid down his life for us paying for our sin debt in full. He knows what it’s like to be hungry. Because he is hungry, and this fig tree by the road is in full leaf he expects to find some figs on it. He found none. Jesus will act out the parable that he taught on the fig tree in Luke’s gospel by pronouncing judgement on it because it promised fruit and didn’t deliver. Israel as a nation often promised to be very fruitful but it wasn’t. Let me ask you a question as you read this article, are you claiming to be a Christian? Just as Jesus came to the temple and looked around at everything, he is looking at everything in your life. What fruit are you bearing in your life? You are either bearing the fruit of the flesh or the fruit of the Spirit. Read Galatians 5:16-26. Jesus pronounced judgment on the fig tree. Jesus as the Son of Man has the authority to judge not only the fig tree but also our lives as well. Jesus just wouldn’t have cursed a fig tree because it didn’t have any fruit on it, no he cursed the fig tree for false advertisement. It claimed one thing but produced another. We all need to stop and examine our lives for this very reason. We may say we are a Christian basing it on a prayer we prayed or a baptism that we have done but if there is no change of heart and the Holy Spirit isn’t producing in us his fruit of the Spirit then we too are guilty of false advertising. Please take the time to read these passages of Scripture prayerfully asking the Lord to search your heart, revealing to you what sin you need to repent of and forsake so that you can be a person useful for his kingdom.
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