Numbers 34-36; Mark 11

"The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it." Mark 11:12-14

Poor fig tree. It will never produce fruit again. This seems like a strange story. Jesus curses the tree because it had no fruit but it wasn’t suppose to have fruit. It wasn’t the time of year to have fruit. Was Jesus unaware of the agricultural sickle, after all he was just a carpenter not a farmer. We’ll you know the answer to that one, of course he knew but then why such a harsh response to this poor old fig tree. Jesus wanted to make a point to those watching on and to those who would hear this story. A fig tree is made to bear figs and be eaten. If a fig tree doesn’t bear figs it isn’t really a fig tree it is just a fig tree look alike. The great tragedy of the fig tree is that it wouldn’t be able to do what it was created to do. God’s people are created to bear fruit. I think the great tragedy is see so often is people not fulfilling their God give call. An entire nation was about to be cursed, driven from their land and scattered all over the world when God had originally called them to His representatives to the world, and now He was laying his ax to the tree. Jesus said it another way in Matthew five, “you are the salt of the earth if the salt has lost it’s saltiness it is good for nothing but to be trampled under the feet of men.” Lord we want to bear fruit today because that’s who we are and that is who you made us to be. May someone taste and see the Lord is good today by getting a little sample from your branch.

Pastor Rick

Next Reading: Deut. 1-2; Mark 12