-
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
Archives
Categories
The Fig Tree Part 2
Written by on April 21, 2015
We covered in the last post, about how that story of the “Fig Tree” in Mark 11:12-14, can apply to our lives. Lets finish the study.
14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.
20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
Because the fig tree was barren when it promised fruit, the Lord Jesus pronounced a curse upon it. He declared that it was to be fruitless forever. The lack of fruit was not the reason for the curse. It was the pretense of the leaves! The tree was making promises it could not deliver!
Application
I would just remind you that the same scenario can be played out in our lives today. When we have the appearance of life, but bear no fruit, we can expect a visit from the Lord. Verse 13 tells us that the fig tree was “afar off”. Jesus made an effort to go to that tree and He will come to examine the fruit in our lives as well.
If we make a pretense of religion by flaunting our leaves, but have no fruit, He will judge us too!
When the Lord finds a branch that will not yield to His efforts to train it and to make it fruitful, that branch will experience the work of the vine dresser on a deeper and more painful level. John 15:6 says, “If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” This does not mean that the branch is cut out of the vine. It does mean that it is trimmed back in an attempt to force it to be fruitful.
All of this reminds us that those who know the Lord are expected to be fruitful branches. When we are not fruitful, we can expect the personal attention of the Vine Dresser in our lives. He will come to us with chastisement to teach and train us to become more fruitful for His glory, Heb. 12:5-11; Rev. 3:19.
The disciples heard Jesus when He cursed the fig tree, v. 14. The next day, as they passed by, they saw that the fig tree was “dried up from the roots”. Peter called the Lord’s attention to the miracle. These men could see that the Lord had worked a miracle and that this miracle had a special lesson to teach. This miracle was a clear demonstration of the Lord’s sovereignty over all things, including nature.
The Curse – Destruction
Usually, when a tree “dries up”, it does so from the top down. The root system will be the last part of the tree to die. Not this tree! Jesus cursed it and it died from the roots up. It is a picture of total destruction!
John the Baptist said, “And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire,” Matt. 3:10.
I would just remind everyone that the same God Who can take a lost sinner, save his soul and bless his life, is the same God Who will judge that life if necessary.
If we will honor Him, obey Him and serve Him, He will bless us in wonderful ways. If we refuse to honor, obey and serve Him, He will bring His chastisement into our lives. The same Lord Who can fill us and use us can also leave us dry and empty. He has the power to bless us and He has the power to curse us, which depends upon ability to bear fruit for His glory!