Monday, March 17, 2008
Mark 11:12-14 Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response Jesus said to it, "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again." And His disciples heard it.
HOLY MONDAY
It was the day after Palm Sunday, Monday of Holy Week, when Jesus and His disciples again made their way from Bethany to Jerusalem, as they had the day before. It must have been with a tune in their hearts and a skip in their step that the disciples of Jesus followed the Master again into the Holy City. After the events of Palm Sunday, it would be hard not to wonder what exciting thing would happen today . . .
It was during the two-mile walk from Bethany they came upon a fig tree. Although it was not the season for figs, this tree was full of leaves, a sign also that fruit might be expected though early. There was no fruit upon the tree, only leaves, for it was barren. The tree had used all its strength in producing leaves, not fruit.
Jesus spoke to the tree, as only the Son of God can: "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again." A fruit tree is expected to produce fruit, isn't it?
Many in Judea and Jerusalem were like that Fig Tree. Though they had been given so much by God, still they did not receive Jesus as the Savior. They did not believe, nor did they produce God-pleasing fruit. They would also rise up and with insistent voices demand Jesus' death.
Jesus still looks for fruit among those who hear His Word and believe (not the kind that can be eaten). The problem is that we are born spiritually dead in sin. We are by nature like the barren fig tree. We do not have the ability to produce God-pleasing fruit, for
without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). God might have simply condemned us like Jesus cursed the fig tree.
Instead, God graciously provides His Word. The Holy Spirit works through that Word to convert convince and enlighten our spiritually dead hearts (and limbs). He, by His grace, grants us new life by faith in Jesus. As it is written: "It is God who works in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure."
May God bless His Word in your heart today, that you may bear fruit for Him who loved you and gave Himself for you.
