Why Is Jesus Yelling At A Fig Tree? (AM Sermon Notes)
GIST: Fruitless leaves will receive ultimate judgment, so the solution is letting God produce faithful fruit.
SCRIPTURE: Mark 11:11-25
11 And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
12 On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. 13 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. 14 And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.
15 And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 16 And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17 And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” 18 And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching. 19 And when evening came they went out of the city.
20 As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21 And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 22 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
This is a little longer passage than we looked at last time, but no less familiar. However, while the triumphal entry is recognized as a sign of Jesus’ humility, authority, and praiseworthiness, these two accounts have brought their share of controversy. After examining the temple upon first arrival, Jesus is now coming back to act upon what He’s seen. Here we have Jesus’ only miracle of destruction (where He destroys something instead of restoring it)...and we see Him flipping tables. So, of course, some have used this to accuse Jesus of being easily angered or harsh. However, that’s not what’s going on here.
This is another “sandwich passage”. We’ve seen Mark do this several times. To demonstrate that two stories are interconnected, he’ll start telling one, pause and tell another, and then go back and finish the first one. So, we’re meant to see the cursing of the fig tree and the scene in the temple as part of the same truth.
Again, we’re at the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry here. As with the triumphal entry, He is trying to make very clear who He is and what He came to do. This scene is memorable--and it was meant to be. So what’s He’s teaching? Gist: Fruitless leaves will receive ultimate judgment, so the solution is letting God produce faithful fruit.
I. THE PROBLEM: FRUITLESS LEAVES
Yelling At A Tree? Let’s start by looking at this first scene, the destruction miracle. Jesus sees this fig tree “in leaf”; He’s hungry, so He comes to see if there are any figs; there aren’t, and we’re told it is because “it was not the season for figs”, so He curses it. What’s going on here?
Let’s make a couple observations. First, there have been many explanations given for the “not the season for figs yet” portion. The gist of all of them is that there was a possibility of figs being on the tree. The phrase likely refers to the time for gathering figs, which it was not, but these fig trees were supposed to produce twice a year, resulting in the possibility of some figs being found on the trees most of the year. So, Jesus’ expectation is reasonable. Either way, however, the point is that He came looking for fruit...and there was none. Not even unripe figs--just leaves. The tree seems to be alive...but there was no evidence of its purpose (producing figs). Therefore, this is not rash emotionalism on Jesus’ part, and the point isn’t ‘Jesus kills trees when He doesn’t get His afternoon snack’.
Acted Parable. Instead, this is an acted parable. Remember the sandwich thing? You can’t take the fig tree story away from what follows in the temple--and I’m sure most of you are catching on to the parallels. Jesus sees a tree that gives the appearance of being alive, but is missing the whole point of its existence. Then, He goes into the temple and starts flipping tables and running off people making a mockery of the House of God! They were in the most beautiful representation of Judaism in the world, but were completely missing out the whole point. In fact, the whole point...was the one who started flipping the tables.
Corruption in the Court of the Gentiles. So, what exactly was going on here? Likely, you have heard lessons on this before. There was some corruption to the money changing that was occuring. People couldn’t use Roman currency in the temple, so there were money changers set up to “help them out” by exchanging their Roman money for the acceptable form, but their motives don’t seem to have been strictly humanitarian. There were also people selling animals for sacrifices, likely with much of the same “robbing” mentality. However, what Mark seems to take note of is as much the where as the what. Jesus had just entered the temple when this happened. This would have been what was known as the Court of the Gentiles. It was as close as any Gentile could get to the temple. If you were a Jewish woman, you could get a little closer. Jewish men could get even closer. Priest could get even closer. And, once a year, the High Priest could go all the way into the Holy of Holies.
Jesus is in this Court of the Gentiles, but it’s still the temple; it’s still to be a place of worship. You weren’t even supposed to use it as a casual cut-across to get to the other side of town (which explains the references to Him not letting people carry things through the temple). This was meant to be a holy place...but that is not what was happening. And Jesus’ words are very telling. Look again at verse 17, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers”(emphases added). It’s interesting to me, that the word for house here could also be used to imply a family, as in “the house of Upchurch”. And even if that implication seem likes a stretch, the “house of God” represents His place and His presence; and He says My place with My people is to be a place of prayer--for all nations. Not just for the Jews, not just for the religious elite, for all those praying in My name! Yet, they had taken away that possibility by making the only place Gentiles could even come in the temple...a corrupt business zone.
Not An Overreaction. Now, it’s important to note that this is not an overreaction on Jesus’ part. This is just like Psalm 69:9 “9 For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.” Jesus is passionate about His people, in His place, living according to His purpose. That’s the Kingdom of God. That’s what He’s come to establish, in truth. That’s what is so clearly being rejected here. He’s come into this place that is supposed to represent God’s presence and purpose--and found it given over to something else entirely. I believe it was Derek Thompson who used the analogy of coming home and finding your spouse in bed with someone else. Would the appropriate response be to quietly ask for the usurper to consider modifying their approach to your spouse? Maybe be less direct in their intentions, or wear different clothing, or come at a different time? NO! That approach would be sickening and show absolutely no real love for your spouse at all! I love my wife, my bride, passionately--the mere thought of someone else trying to take her away makes my heart sink. I know many of you feel the same--and we’re just human. How much more is the unconditional love of Christ?
Reaction Of The Religious Elite. So, that’s Jesus’ reaction. But how did the religious elite react? Well, look at verse 18. “18 And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching.” Jesus was zealous for the truth. They were zealous for their way. And that is precisely what led to this corruption in the first place--and precisely what leads to the next point, as well ☺.
II. THE RESULT: ULTIMATE JUDGMENT
Fake Faith Fails. So, the problem was fruitless leaves, and the result is ultimate judgement. In verses 20-21, we’re taken back to the bread of the sandwich. We pick up with the fig story. The morning after the scene in the temple, they are walking past the fig tree again. Only now, there is no fig tree. It’s been withered...to the roots...which means it’s not coming back. Peter is astonished by this and says, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” He had just cursed the tree yesterday, and now it’s completely dead.
I won’t be long on this point, but there are a few implications we need to note. The core point, however, is that fake faith fails (that’s a little alliteration for you☺). What is being symbolized here? Complete withering, complete destruction, complete judgment? Hell.
Implications For Judaism. First, let’s note what this is saying for Judaism. Often we refer to this segment as the “cleansing of the the temple”. Yet, in a very real sense, this is not a cleansing at all--but a replacing. Up until this point, the temple was the place where God chose to dwell on earth. However, when Jesus dies on the cross, what happens to the veil that separated the Holy of Holies, God’s dwelling place, from the rest of the temple? It’s torn! The temple is no longer the dwelling place of God; now the Holy Spirit resides in our hearts. The Church, the Body of Christ, is the new temple. We are to represent God’s kingdom on earth (hold that thought).
Judaism isn’t being modified here; the truth of the Old Testament, the whole point of everything, is being revealed in Jesus Christ. Therefore, rejecting Jesus while holding to traditions which point to Him, will not save you.
Yet, this is not a cursing of Jewish people as some have taken it to mean. No, they are not saved just because they are Jewish by birth. However, they can be saved! Just like anyone else who calls on the name of the Lord!--by faith through the grace of Jesus Christ.
Implications For Us. Yet, let’s not forget the implications for us either. If we’re to be the temple of God, there are expectations which come along with that. And just being part of a local church doesn’t cut it. If you’re not really saved, if there is not fruit on your branches, if you are claiming to follow Jesus with your lips, but give absolutely no evidence of that in the way you conduct your life--then this same judgement will come to you. (This reminds me of the Casting Crown’s song, “If We Are The Body”.)
III. THE SOLUTION: GOD-PRODUCED, FAITHFUL FRUIT
So, if this is tearing down the false and replacing it with the true (not just cleaning it up), what constitutes this “truth”? This could, of course, be an entirely separate sermon. But I won’t do that to you this morning ☺. Let’s just look at what Jesus says in these closing verses: 22 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
Faith. We looked at these verses last Sunday night before our prayer meeting and really had a great discussion. Here Peter comes astonished at what he’s just observed, and Jesus says, “Have faith in God.” That’s the first step...and it’s what these people in the temple were lacking. It’s what led to this judgment. They had faith in their traditions, and sought after their own prestige, or self-interest, but they were not trusting in God. If they had been, they would have listened to the One He sent. Ephesians 2:8-9 puts it like this, “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” This faith is a gift from God which He provides by Grace. We don’t deserve it, but it is His work within us. So, don’t try to muster up faith. Turn to the one who provides it.
Is Frank. After telling Peter to have faith, Jesus gives a discourse about prayer. This might seem out of place, but it touches on the fruit part. These aren’t all the fruit the Holy Spirit produces in His people, but they are pretty bigs ones. I titled the point “is Frank” because I was going with an “f” thing, but this is talking about boldness in prayer. We made these observations two Sunday nights ago, but they bare repeating. Jesus isn’t giving us a recipe for getting whatever we want here. We’ve talked about this many times before. We come to Him submitting to His will. However, He is reminding us that prayer is powerful. We don’t mumble meaningless words. We’re speaking to the Almighty God who works all things according to His purpose. This is a spiritual fruit. Pray with humility, but pray boldly. He may tell you no. That’s fine. He may tell you yes. Though His answer might not be what you were expecting, when you come to Him and really pray (not just saying words with your eyes closed☺), He will answer your prayer. So, true faith prays boldly.
And Forgiving. After tellings us to pray boldly, Jesus ends with this reminder to forgive. Again, this might seem out of place, but it’s not. The only reason we can pray is because we’ve been forgiven. If we continue to live unforgiving lives, should we expect to be heard when we pray? Those who have been forgiven…forgive. That’s core to what it means to be God’s people!
And Far-Reaching. Lastly, this faith is far-reaching. Remember what Jesus said in the temple? His House is to be a House of prayer for all nations. Think of someone you think could never be saved (In our sinful nature, we think this way, don’t we?). No one is out of His reach. Everyone needs to hear.
TAKEAWAYS
Much has been said this morning, so these takeaways are more of a recap ☺.
1. Jesus is interested in real fruit--not meaningless motions.
I could probably stretch this out far longer than it needs to be, but I’ll try to make this direct. Is your love for Christ real or just ceremonial? Again, this reminds me of a song. In Matthew West’s, “Motions”, the chorus says, “I don't want to go through the motions; I don't want to go one more day, without Your all-consuming passion inside of me; I don't want to spend my whole life asking, “What if I had given everything, instead of going through the motions?"”
2. Salvation comes by grace through faith alone.
First, it’s not being the “right kind”, or of the “right family”. Second, do you find your faith shaken? Turn to the one from whom faith comes.
3. This offer is extended to all nations.
Praise the Lord! The fact that any of us are saved today is due to this truth! The fact that any one in this world can be saved is too. Go. Share. Praise.
4. Come in faith, praying boldly, and forgiving willingly.
Is that what your life looks like?
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