In Matthew 21:19 and Mark 11:12-14, we find recorded the account when Jesus cursed a barren fig tree so that it withered up and died. Upon initially reading this happening in the ministry of Jesus, it can strike you as very odd and uncharacteristic of Jesus. It may even seem that Jesus is overreacting to the state of the fig tree and its inability to provide Him breakfast. Adding to the strangeness of this event is that it is only time where we read about Jesus performing a miracle that resulted in negative consequences. Of course, if we were to isolate this event away from its historical context, we may well be scratching our heads about it and never knowing its relevance or application. Thankfully by examining the circumstances surrounding this incident, we can come to understand the meaning of this narrative and grasp its relevancy even for us today.The context surrounding the cursed fig tree gives us a clue about its meaning.When we consider the context, we discover that:• Jesus rides triumphantly into Jerusalem on a colt. (Matthew 21:1-11)• After arriving in Jerusalem, Jesus goes into the Temple and pays attention to everything that is going on (Mark 11:11). Note: I believe this is an important point. Jesus knew well the state of affairs in Jerusalem and the Temple.• Jesus then leaves for Bethany, East of Jerusalem, and stays the night. Mark 11:11, Matthew 21:17.• As Jesus is heading back into Jerusalem the next morning, He crosses the barren fig tree and curses    it. (Mark 11:12-14, Matthew 21:19)• Returning to Jerusalem and entering the Temple, Jesus cleanses it. Mark 11:15-16, Matt 21:12.• After the day’s events, Jesus and his disciples head back to Bethany.• On the way back to Jerusalem in the morning, the disciples note that the fig tree is now withered.      (Mark 11:20-25).• In Jerusalem, the religious leaders challenge Jesus in the Temple (Mark 11:27-33, Matthew 21:12-     17).• Jesus tells some parables criticising the religious leaders (Mark 12:12-12, Matthew 21:28-46).When we read the surrounding verses, we can observe the focus on Jerusalem, the Temple, and the negative interactions between Jesus and the religious leaders. This whole section in Matthew and Mark is bookended with Jesus entering Jerusalem on a colt and the parable of the wicked tenants. They mistreat both the servants and the owner’s son after being sent to collect fruit from the vineyard.Amid Jesus witnessing the overall spiritual state of affairs in Jerusalem and encountering the wickedness in the leaders and religious officials in that city, we find this account of the barren fig tree. The question is, how does this situation with the fig tree relate to these other things?The fig tree is an object lesson.In Mark 11:12, it’s clear that one of the reasons that Jesus approached the fig tree was that He was hungry. However, seeing the actual state of the fig tree and Jesus being a master of word pictures and object lessons, He decides to make the most of it and use it to highlight the actual spiritual state of Jerusalem.From a distance, the fig tree looked mature and fruit-producing.To fully understand Jesus’ point, we cannot overlook Mark 11:13, which says, “Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf…”. In Luke 21:29-31, Jesus uses the example of the fig tree to teach about recognising spiritual seasons. He says, “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near.” I barely have any knowledge of figs and fig trees. It’s not a fruit I typically eat, and I have not lived around them. That said, from Luke 21 and Mark 11, we can glean a bit of knowledge about fig trees in ancient Israel and discover information that might help us to understand the lesson from the barren fig tree. Firstly, it’s clear that there was a time of year when the leaves of figs sprouted and indicated the coming of summer in ancient Israel. We can also conclude from Mark 11 that the growth and state of the fig leaves on a tree somehow showed the stage of edible fruit. In the account of the barren fig tree, something about the state of the leaves on the fig tree gave Jesus the impression that He would find fruit on it, even though it was not quite the time for figs. It seems clear that the fig tree that Jesus saw was well beyond the sprouting of its leaves and exhibited maturity ahead of the season. Jesus thought that the fig tree might contain edible fruit because of the state of its leaves, which portrayed the tree as advanced.The fig tree likely represents Jerusalem and the inhabitants.The fig tree looked healthy and was excelling in growth from a distance, but up close was found wanting. But the question is, why did Jesus curse it? When you first read about Jesus doing this, it can sound petty and unnecessary. However, Jesus is not frivolous or cruel. So, we have to look beyond the incident and consider what could Jesus be seeking to highlight or teach through this event. Or, more importantly, what could this tree be representing? If you think about the surrounding context and the interactions that Jesus was having with the Jews in Jerusalem, it becomes clear that the fig tree represents Jerusalem and the Jews that live there. From a distance, Jerusalem and its inhabitants looked religious. It looked advanced and spiritually mature. You might even say that it looked like it was well and truly ready for the coming Messiah. Spiritually, it was ahead of the season. But up close, it was as barren as the fig tree and lacking the fruit of true godliness. So much so that most of the people who lived in Jerusalem did not even recognise their God whom they claimed to serve when He showed up. If there was ever a time in the history of the Jews and the city of Jerusalem to bear genuine spiritual fruit, it was now. Yet, the religious leaders and the Jewish people, in general, were far from being the kind of people that were pleasing to God. Because of their lack of godliness, they eventually killed the Son of God. Jerusalem’s inability to produce people who truly belonged to God would finally mean God’s punishment and even the destruction of the city itself. In the parable about the wicked vineyard tenants in Matthew 2, Jesus ends by saying, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvellous in our eyes?’ Therefore, I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”Application:When Jesus came to Jerusalem, he dealt with a city and a people who looked devoted to God but failed to produce the fruit of godliness. The question remains, though, does this have any relevance for us. The answer is yes. We, who claim to be Christians and members of God’s Church, can be just as hypocritical as the city of Jerusalem and its inhabitants. We can look devout, attend worship every week, and say that our local Church belongs to God but fail to become and produce genuine disciples of Christ. As Christians and as Churches, Christ expects us to be committed to Him from the bottom of our hearts and to live like Him every day. When we merely look the part, we fail to live up to our spiritual potential and end up living spiritually unproductive lives. As Churches and as Christians, God wants us to make a difference in the world, and that can only happen if we allow Christ to impact every aspect of our lives and all that we do as a Church.So, are you or the Church of where you are a member genuinely living up to your spiritual potential in Christ? Or, are you and the Church of where you are a member just like the barren fig tree that looks the part but fails to produce any fruit?

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