On the road from Bethany to Jerusalem, during his last week of earthly life, Jesus curses a fig tree. Did he do this because he was in a low emotional state and allowed himself to get mad? This tree had leaves, and though out of season, you could typically find fruit on a tree that had leaves. Yet when he goes to harvest the fruit, there is none. It’s then he curses the tree to never bear fruit again. Did he curse it because he was hungry? What was he trying to prove?
Let’s read on, but also remember that in the Old Testament, Israel was sometimes referred to as a fig tree.
On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” Mark 11: 15 –17 (NIV)
Looking the Part
The religious leaders gathered at the Temple thought they had it all together. They dressed right, followed the law, and held everyone accountable to what they thought was right. They had all the appearances of fruit, just like the fig tree with its leaves, but they were not bearing true fruit.
Jesus was there to drive out their hypocrisy and false religion and point to what could only be found in him—the true Temple: “Destroy this Temple and I will raise it again in three days” (John 2:19). He knew the religious leaders didn’t understand that he was talking about his own resurrection.
Later, again on the road, the disciples notice the fig tree had withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”
No doubt, Jesus wanted the disciples to see all of this. He is the true vine that gives eternal life and bears true fruit. “I am the vine,” he said in John 15. I would challenge you to dive into the Bible and search for all the references to Jesus being the vine.
Just like the people of that day, we may find ourselves fixated on “our own leaves.” We often focus on the wrong things: What does our faith look like to others? Are we holy enough? Do we have it all together?
My takeaway is that we must be careful not to become like the religious leaders of that day and be so caught up in the appearance of fruit that we miss being connected to the True Vine.