Lessons from a Fig Tree

Read Mark 11:12-14; 20-25  

What does a cursed fig tree have to do with prayer? Is this just an extreme example of hanger (anger brought on by hunger)?

First, a quick botany lesson: fig trees produce their fruit before leaves. When Jesus saw the leafy tree it was natural to assume it had bloomed unseasonably early. However, this was not the case. The tree was fruitful only in appearance, and Jesus used this opportunity to show what happens with fruitlessness and to teach a lesson on prayer. Just as a fig tree ought to produce fruit, so should faith. If there is only the appearance of faith, it is fruitless. Jesus takes this very seriously.

After coming upon the deceptive fig tree, Jesus and His disciples went to the Temple in Jerusalem; what He found there paralleled the fig tree. In Mark 11:15-19, Jesus expresses righteous anger at the fruitlessness of the Temple. In quoting Isaiah 56:7, Jesus reminds His audience that God’s heart is for people of all nations. The part of the Temple court they were in was intended as a space for Gentiles (non-Jewish people) to pray. Those present had turned it into a place of profit rather than prayer, a place where corruption and greed were barriers to people of all nations coming to God.

Both the fig tree and the Temple appeared fruitful and should have been fruitful. Being found fruitless was not tolerated. In 11:23, Jesus taught His disciples to pray boldly for “this” mountain to be removed and that it would be. “This mountain” is the fruitless systems in our faith that prevent people from coming to God. Both in our personal faith and church communities, our response to fruitlessness should be prayer as Jesus teaches here.

We are called to follow Jesus’ example of dismantling unjust, fruitless systems that prevent all people from knowing or coming to God. Our first steps should be prayer, forgiving others, and seeking forgiveness. When we pray for the lack of fruit we see in our faith and in our churches, we must first seek forgiveness for the ways we are part of those unjust, fruitless systems. Then we can boldly pray for God to forgive us and to remove those systems and He will.

FOR REFLECTION:

• What kind of fruit is your faith producing in your life? Pray for God’s Spirit to truly transform you into a fruitful follower.  

by Mac Littel