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As I was looking at events in the last week of Jesus' life, I came across the surprising account of him cursing a fig tree. It looks like it happened on the last Sunday or Monday of his life on earth. Both Matthew 21:18-22 and Mark 11:12-25 record the event, and both accounts say Jesus taught a lesson on faith in its wake of the event. That lesson is worth pondering. But Mark, guided by the Spirit, appears to be teaching us another lesson too.
As I was looking at events in the last week of Jesus' life, I came across the surprising account of him cursing a fig tree. It looks like it happened on the last Sunday or Monday of his life on earth. Both Matthew 21:18-22 and Mark 11:12-25 record the event, and both accounts say Jesus taught a lesson on faith in its wake of the event. That lesson is worth pondering. But Mark, guided by the Spirit, appears to be teaching us another lesson too.
Mark's account is one of several "sandwich" stories in his Gospel. In these, he inserts one story into the middle of another (5:21-43, for example). The reason why is not always clear, but in the case of the fig tree, it is pretty obvious. Inserted into the middle of the account of the cursing of the barren fig tree (Mark 11:12-14, 20-25) is the account of Jesus cleansing the temple (Mark 11:15-19). It's hard to miss the connection between the barren fig tree and the bad fruit of the Jewish religion in Jesus' day.
This section of Mark indicates that people who don't bear good fruit for God will be cursed by him. I realize this is not a "feel good" message, but it is taught right here during the last week of Jesus' life, which we are considering right now. Being judged for failing to produce fruit is also taught in the parable of the tenants (Mark 12:1-11) and the barren fig tree (Luke 13:6-9).
My take-aways from this account are, first, that it's not enough for us to merely be religious, even real religious. Rather, God expects me to bear good fruit in my life. Second, I have a choice about doing so, or else he wouldn't curse those who fail to do so. But third, this is not a matter of sheer willpower. Rather, it is fruit bearing.
So, instead of "gutting it up" and forcing myself to do something good, I need to see to it that my heart is full of good (cf. Matthew 12:33-35). I can tend to my heart (cf. Luke 13:8) by prayer, meditating on Scripture, and cooperating with God's Spirit. Doing these things will help weed out the sinful desires that are in my heart and provide the "good soil" and "root" from which good fruit can emerge in my words and deeds.
If you want some specifics examples of fruit, to make this more tangible, there are many. Mark's account gives us several rotten examples, including cheating people out of money (11:15-16), commercializing religion (11:15-16), and being envious toward people who are getting more attention than us (11:18). Some of the good fruit that God desires, mentioned in this account, includes prayer and welcoming all nations to God (11:17). Which of these things do we have in our hearts?
If we cultivate our hearts in the ways mentioned here, we will avoid the Holy Week curse and produce the good fruit Christ is looking for.
The Curse of Holy Week
04/06/2020
I don't mean Holy Week is a curse. I mean it contained a curse. Literally.As I was looking at events in the last week of Jesus' life, I came across the surprising account of him cursing a fig tree. It looks like it happened on the last Sunday or Monday of his life on earth. Both Matthew 21:18-22 and Mark 11:12-25 record the event, and both accounts say Jesus taught a lesson on faith in its wake of the event. That lesson is worth pondering. But Mark, guided by the Spirit, appears to be teaching us another lesson too.
As I was looking at events in the last week of Jesus' life, I came across the surprising account of him cursing a fig tree. It looks like it happened on the last Sunday or Monday of his life on earth. Both Matthew 21:18-22 and Mark 11:12-25 record the event, and both accounts say Jesus taught a lesson on faith in its wake of the event. That lesson is worth pondering. But Mark, guided by the Spirit, appears to be teaching us another lesson too.
Mark's account is one of several "sandwich" stories in his Gospel. In these, he inserts one story into the middle of another (5:21-43, for example). The reason why is not always clear, but in the case of the fig tree, it is pretty obvious. Inserted into the middle of the account of the cursing of the barren fig tree (Mark 11:12-14, 20-25) is the account of Jesus cleansing the temple (Mark 11:15-19). It's hard to miss the connection between the barren fig tree and the bad fruit of the Jewish religion in Jesus' day.
This section of Mark indicates that people who don't bear good fruit for God will be cursed by him. I realize this is not a "feel good" message, but it is taught right here during the last week of Jesus' life, which we are considering right now. Being judged for failing to produce fruit is also taught in the parable of the tenants (Mark 12:1-11) and the barren fig tree (Luke 13:6-9).
My take-aways from this account are, first, that it's not enough for us to merely be religious, even real religious. Rather, God expects me to bear good fruit in my life. Second, I have a choice about doing so, or else he wouldn't curse those who fail to do so. But third, this is not a matter of sheer willpower. Rather, it is fruit bearing.
So, instead of "gutting it up" and forcing myself to do something good, I need to see to it that my heart is full of good (cf. Matthew 12:33-35). I can tend to my heart (cf. Luke 13:8) by prayer, meditating on Scripture, and cooperating with God's Spirit. Doing these things will help weed out the sinful desires that are in my heart and provide the "good soil" and "root" from which good fruit can emerge in my words and deeds.
If you want some specifics examples of fruit, to make this more tangible, there are many. Mark's account gives us several rotten examples, including cheating people out of money (11:15-16), commercializing religion (11:15-16), and being envious toward people who are getting more attention than us (11:18). Some of the good fruit that God desires, mentioned in this account, includes prayer and welcoming all nations to God (11:17). Which of these things do we have in our hearts?
If we cultivate our hearts in the ways mentioned here, we will avoid the Holy Week curse and produce the good fruit Christ is looking for.
--Marvin Bryant