Performance In Christianity series
The Life Of A Tree – Performance of Jesus
The fig tree withers – looking good but serving nothing. Is there anybody who feels justified opening a can of fruit only to find it empty? It was morning and after His labor in prayer, coming back from the mountain near Bethany as was His custom (Mark 1:35), He saw a fig tree along the way. Jesus was on the way to what His Father had shown Him to "work the works of Him that sent Him while it was day?" (John 9:4). This tree looked good as if it contained fruit, but under the leaves was no fruit. There was not even a sign of fruit and this would be like going to a fast food place sitting in a long line and placing your order and getting to the window only to hear, "sorry, we ran out of food."
Mark recounts this narrative in Mark 11:12-14, 20-25, and verse 13 remarks that when Jesus got to the bright green leafy tree, it was not fig season! What mainline theologians ignore is that Jesus had the presence to make the miraculous happen. When the tree felt the presence of Jesus, it should have born fruit, not only because it had leaves, which come after the fruit, but because Jesus was in its presence. The leaves covered the embarrassing and innocuous lack of fruitfulness. Spiritually, we are showing our leaves with no evidence of fruit. We tend to focus on the excuse of the disciples, which points to the time of the season, however; we should be reminded that when the Master is present everything is blessed and the fig tree with no fruit, was no excuse nor the lack of work done in His name.
Jesus is the personification of Faith (Luke 1:37). His performance of the work of God in this one miraculous act signifies His sovereignty and authority. He is the True Son of God and has demonstrated His Agape Power numerous times in other situations– He feeds the multitudes; He walked on water; He called forth a fish with money in its mouth, and we question His cursing a fruitless tree? Less we forget (Deuteronomy 4:7-9), He is the founder of the world and has the sovereign right to call forth, build, and destroy (Mark 9:31). Are you a fruitless fig tree with leaves?
Matthew 21:18-22
Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw [it], they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this [which is done] to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
The LORD my Shield, Jehovah Magen (Deuteronomy 33:29), we thank You for our surrender to Your sovereignty. We praise You because You control all things earthly and spiritually. We decree and declare blessings upon those who walk circumspectly and obedient to Your Word and Your Will so that; by speaking to fig trees and mountains in our lives, Be thou removed and be cast into the sea; it shall be done. Now, for the Kingdom and the Glory of God, we petition, with anointing in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, and Savior, Amen.
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