Over the last several weeks we have followed Jesus on His journey to the Cross. He went in and out of the city, staying with friends, teaching His disciples, and being questioned by the Jewish Pharisees. He knew the end of His time on earth would be painful and humiliating. Yet, He did all of it for ME!
12Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry.
13And 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.
14In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” And His disciples heard it.
Jesus cursed the tree because there was no fruit! The tree looked good, had nice healthy leaves; but, when He examined the tree, there were NO FIGS! So He cursed the tree and it withered.
Why did Jesus do this?
To understand we need to read what happened the day before, Pam Sunday. Jesus went into the city on a colt and Mark 11:9-10 says:
9Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
10Blessed is the kingdom of our father David That comes [c]in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
The people were worshipping Him and praising Him. Laying their coats on the ground and waving palm branches. They appeared to LOVE JESUS. Yet when He came in closer to the city, He wept because He knew destruction was coming. And later that week the same city would be yelling, "CRUCIFY HIM!!"
Jesus' cursing of the fig tree was a prophetic judgement on those who, according to Isaiah, "...draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me!"
He is looking for fruit. He wants our praise and worship to come from a life that is bearing fruit! When He looks past the pretty outside does He see a life that produces healthy fruit?
Jesus wants obedience that produces evidence of a heart wholly devoted to Him!.
This week, I will review His walk. Take this time to reflect on what He did for YOU!
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