The Story of a Fig Tree

 Tuesday

The Story of a Fig Tree

“Then Jesus told them, ‘I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more…”

Matthew 21:21

As had become their routine, the group set out toward Jerusalem. The several miles they walked each day gave Jesus precious time with His disciples. His time with them was running out. The group came upon a withered fig tree. This same tree had boasted large, green leaves the day before. Jesus, who had been hungry, had approached it to pluck a fig to eat. Seeing that the tree had borne no fruit, Jesus had said, “May you never bear fruit again!” (Matthew 21:19, NLT) Thomas stopped short at the sight of the withered tree. Peter looked at Jesus with amazement and said, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” (Matthew 21:20, NLT) Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.” (Matthew 21:21, NLT) Faith…they would need it in the days ahead. When He left and ascended back to His Father, their faith in Him would hold them through life, even to the point of death. 

Jesus spent the day teaching in the Temple. He spoke in parables to the crowd gathered around Him. The crowd listened, and the religious leaders balked at His teaching. At several points, they openly challenged His authority. They questioned Him hoping to trap Him. Jesus turned to His disciples, and to the crowd around Him and said, “The teachers of the religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. So practice and obey whatever they tell you, don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden. Everything they do is for show.” (Matthew 23:1-5) 

Jesus and His disciples left the Temple. The day was growing late. They headed to the Mount of Olives. John approached Jesus and said, “Tell us what is to come? How will we know when you return? Will there be signs? Jesus looked around at these men that were closest to Him. He replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name claiming, ‘I am the Messiah’. They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers.” (Matthew 24:4-6, 9) He continued to speak of the end and what was to come. He knew that it was hard for them to hear but they needed to be ready. The cost of following Him would be high. Most of them would lose their lives because of their faith in Him. 

Faith is tested in the fires of affliction. Jesus knew that His disciples’ faith would be tested. In the final days that He had with Him, He found moments when He could speak to them of faith. His disciples were amazed at the fig tree that had withered so quickly. The fact that the fig tree had leaves meant that it should also have fruit. But it didn’t. It was all “show” with no substance, kind of like the religious leaders. Jesus knew that if the disciples’ faith was for “show” then they would never be able to withstand the trials they would face. True faith that had been tested, and tried would be needed. 

And to stand in the days ahead, we will also need to have a deep faith that can stand against the pressure of this world. We should be praying that God will push us beyond the comfortable so that we have to learn to rely on Him. We need a faith without borders. We also need to be grounded in truth, so that we know what is to come. The events of our world shouldn’t take us by surprise. Jesus said that we would be ridiculed, and persecuted for our belief in Him. He prayed for us. He didn’t pray for God to remove us from this world but that He would protect us from the evil one, and that we would be made holy (John 17:13-26).  He actually commissioned us to go into the world and be a light. He doesn’t want us to shrink back in fear or conform to the standards of the world. He wants us to stand firm in our faith, and love the people around us. 

I pray that your faith will be stretched and tried, so that it runs deep. I pray that you will stand firm and live a life of substance, and not one that is just for “show”. I pray that your faith will be a light in the darkness.

Scripture Reading:

Matthew 21:23-24:51, Mark 11:20-13:37, Luke 20:1-21:36, John 12:20-36