One of the earliest lessons I can remember from my wee years as a Christian, is about the fig tree ... and as I have pondered this passage again, I realize again how wrong my teacher's got it!
Mark 11:12-25
It is all about faith, right? If my faith is great enough, then I can command - and it will be done! Jesus said so - right hear!
And, well, no he did not - the context is what is so important and within that, Jesus said no such thing!
1. Be of Substance
Figs have two cycles of fruit bearing. The first is called "buds" or "green" figs. They are small, tasty and set early before the real fruit. As child I used to climb my neighbor's fig tree and chow down on these. They were great and less messy than the real fruit! He did not like the "little" ones, so they were all mine!
But, Jesus found no early set of fruit - just leaves.
God wants substance from us - not buildings, staff, programs, self directed ministries!
And, Jesus will curse us if no faith is to be found in us! Show will be our end.
What we believe affects our lives - and it shows to all with DISCERNMENT! It is what I have hammered on my entire life: fat, self satisfied "Christians", whose leadership long ago has lost its way.
Yup, we are ripe for a judgement now, just as we were back in 1974 when I figured out what this verse was really about! And think about how low we have fallen as Christians in the passing 40 years!
2. People and Prayer
Israel had piety, but no actual belief any longer.
The had programs and priests to lead them - and profits for those without faith.
The priest were fleecing the poor - and God notices such things and will act in His time.
Over turning the tables was but the beginning of God's judgement on the Temple.
Covetousness is at odds with God's demands for Holiness!
Think in terms of Christianity being no different than Judaism - because it isn't!
1. Christianity began with a period of Fellowship amongst the believers. Think Acts.
2. Christianity expanded into Greek culture and became a Philosophy.
3. Christianity became organized in Europe and became the prevailing Culture.
4. Christianity became an organized Big Business in America.
We as Christians have come full circle! We followed the exact same path that failed the Jews in their relationship with God. And TAAA_DAAA!, we are there, in the same condition before God as the day Jesus walked into the Temple and made a whip .....
3. The Final Temple
So, Jesus passes by the fig tree again. It is withered and dead - it will never bear fruit again!
The temple is about to be spiritually dead and then destroyed.
There is no fruit now or will there be ever.
The Temple, God's dwelling place with man is about to be closed by Him.
But, Jesus tells us that there will be a comforter whom will be in us, upon us, empowering us! God's Spirit will now dwell in each of us.
And just like the worthless priests of old, we are just as apt to trash, cheapen and defile our temple - as they did theirs .....
*****
What was it that Jesus really did say?
Contextually, he had just flogged a group of merchants and made a mess, more than likely, of the Gentile's court - where blemish "free" offerings could be had for a slight mark up. And to God, that was not acceptable. But, the Jewish Rabbi's had replaced God long ago in their own faith and were robbing their countrymen, before God!
"God does not see".
"He is only a make believe at best".
"I can make a fortune being the chief priest!"
And Jesus strolls in. Probably nothing changed across his entire life, but now he acts!
The fig tree is cursed. Not as a symbol of Israel as has been taught for eons, but as a symbol of the barrenness of the Temple in Jerusalem.
He clears out the merchants and makes a mess of things for the greedy priests.
He returns to see the fig tree dead and tells the disciples, "... Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea ...' ..."
And I have known many a brash Christian since whom in front of me and many others have cursed a mountain and ordered it to be thrown into the sea - but that is not what the passage is saying. And, well, it seems their faith was not so great as they thought ....
"THIS MOUNTAIN".
What mountain? Zion of course, the Temple Mount! is what Jesus is talking about. And though He could have done this, He did not because He had already condemned the Temple by illustration through the fig tree.
And as you might remember, only a week away from this passage is the tearing of the Veil in the Temple, the curtain which separated the Holy of Holies from the world. The place where God's Spirit dwelt was to ripped open and His Spirit removed.
Only to then be allowed to indwell each of us - for His purposes, not our own.
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