No Fruit: Daily Thoughts from Mark (Mark 11:12-14)

Why doesn’t everyone see how glorious Jesus is and how worthy of following?  Why does Islam acknowledge Isa (Jesus) but give him only a bit role in their faith?  Why do others hate the name of Jesus?  It is the confusing shame of our race that we are so disappointingly rebellious against our God.

Jesus is in Jerusalem with his disciples, moving toward the climax of this rebelliousness among his people.

On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it. (Mark 11:12-14, ESV)

Jesus’ “triumphal entry” into Jerusalem, as it has been dubbed, is the beginning of his last week before being crucified.  Though the populace who witnessed his entry lauded him, in a few days they will witness his crucifixion and some of them may even be part of the crowd that asks for it.

So the Messiah is here, in the holy city, ready to be acknowledged, but he knows he is going to be killed.  His people do not really receive him.  And so this calls for judgment against a hardened people who refuse to accept God’s kingdom.

When, therefore, Jesus sees a fig tree and anticipates a snack but finds nothing, this tree becomes a symbol and picture of Israel.  Though he came to Israel in hopes of her seeing who he is and welcoming him as her Messiah and Deliverer and Savior, instead he finds nothing but opposition.  His cursing of this fig tree is symbolic of the judgment upon his people for their blindness and unfruitfulness.

A day is coming when Israel will, as a nation, embrace their Messiah (Romans 11).  In the meantime they have as a whole been cut out of the fruitful vine of God’s covenant with Abraham and Gentiles have been grafted in.  But Paul warns us that we can just as easily be cut back out if we prove unfruitful.

May Jesus always find us fruitful in him.