He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so he went over to see if he could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. Then Jesus said to the tree, "May no one ever eat your fruit again!" And the disciples heard him say it.
One of my goals as a cook is to make excellent guacamole. I have almost mastered my recipe. I went to make my special guacamole the other day for some friends to try. My recipe requires tomatoes. I bought tomatoes that looked perfect. Unfortunately, they were mushy when I cut the tomatoes to put them in my guacamole. I was frustrated. These tomatoes looked great, but they were not. My guacamole survived and was certainly edible, but it would have been better if my tomatoes had been better. It is frustrating to be deceived when fruit or vegetables are not as good as they seem. This frustration I felt, however, is only a fraction of how Christ feels when His followers do not produce good fruit.
Jesus revealed His disappointment with His followers who do not produce good fruit in Mark 11. In this passage of Scripture, Jesus and His disciples were traveling to Jerusalem, where Jesus would ultimately be arrested, tried, crucified on a cross, and raised from the dead. As he was on His way, he saw a fig tree. He was hungry, so He “went over to see if He could find any figs” (verse 13). Unfortunately, “there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit” (verse 13). Seeing this, Jesus spoke to the tree, saying, "May no one ever eat your fruit again!" (verse 14). This is a strange story to be included in Scripture, isn't it? Why would Mark, who wrote the book of Mark, think of including this interaction between Jesus and a tree? This interaction was about more than the tree. It was meant to teach a lesson. It was meant to call out those who might outwardly look like they are living fruitful lives by honoring God, but inwardly, they do not have good fruit. These are people who might go to church, give generously, or volunteer for a good cause, but inwardly, they are not producing fruit that comes from having a growing relationship with Christ. Their outward actions are for show. They want people to think they are good, religious people, but they are not growing in their relationships with Christ. This way of living is not how Christ desires His followers to live. We are meant to produce good fruit.
My friend, we are meant to live full, fruitful lives. That is why Jesus said to His disciples in John 15:16, “You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit.” Just like He called His disciples, Jesus calls us to bear fruit. He does not call His followers to produce just any fruit, but lasting fruit. He calls us to have thriving relationships with Him so that we are constantly growing and making Him known to those around us.
Take time to evaluate your own fruit. Is there any area of your life where your life looks fruitful but is not? Confess that area to God now. Tell Him you are sorry for the areas of your life that have not produced good fruit, and ask Him to help you have good fruit in every aspect of your life. As you go throughout your day, take steps to live a fruitful life that pleases Him and points others to Him.
Mark 11: 1-14
1As Jesus and his disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. 2 “Go into that village over there,” he told them. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks, ‘What are you doing?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it and will return it soon.’”
4 The two disciples left and found the colt standing in the street, tied outside the front door. 5 As they were untying it, some bystanders demanded, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They said what Jesus had told them to say, and they were permitted to take it. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it, and he sat on it.
8 Many in the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others spread leafy branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting,
“Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessings on the coming Kingdom of our ancestor David! Praise God in highest heaven!”
11 So Jesus came to Jerusalem and went into the Temple. After looking around carefully at everything, he left because it was late in the afternoon. Then he returned to Bethany with the twelve disciples.
12 The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so he went over to see if he could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. 14 Then Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” And the disciples heard him say it.
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