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Miracles of Jesus #35

 Miracle #35

The story of the withering of the fig tree is found in Mark 11:12-14, 20-25 and Matthew 21:18-22.

The Story:

The setting: The next day as they were leaving Bethany (the day after the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem), Jesus was hungry

Seeing the fig tree: Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit

Finding no fruit: When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs

The curse: Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it

The next morning: In the morning, as they went along (the next day, after cleansing the temple), they saw the fig tree withered from the roots

Peter's observation: Peter remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!"

Jesus's response - faith: "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them"

Prayer promise: "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be done for you"

Forgiveness requirement: "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins"

Significance:

  • This occurred during Passion Week—Jesus's final week before crucifixion
  • It happened between the Triumphal Entry (Sunday) and the cleansing of the temple (Monday)
  • Mark sandwiches the fig tree account around the temple cleansing—a literary technique showing they're connected
  • Jesus was hungry showing his full humanity
  • The fig tree had leaves, which normally indicated fruit should be present
  • Fig trees in that region produced early figs before the main harvest
  • A tree with leaves but no fruit was deceptive promising what it didn't deliver
  • Mark notes "it was not the season for figs"—this seems to excuse the tree
  • But a healthy tree should have had early figs if it had full leaves
  • The tree was a living parable—representing Israel
  • Israel had the "leaves" of religious activity but no "fruit" of righteousness
  • The temple had become a den of robbers instead of a house of prayer
  • Jesus cursed the tree—the only destructive miracle Jesus performed
  • This was a prophetic sign of judgment on fruitless religion
  • The tree withered from the roots—complete, irreversible judgment
  • This happened overnight showing the power of Jesus's word
  • Peter was amazed at how quickly it happened
  • Jesus used this as a teaching moment about faith and prayer
  • "Have faith in God"—not faith in faith, but faith in God himself
  • The mountain-moving statement was likely figurative—referring to seemingly impossible obstacles
  • Mountains were often symbolic of great difficulties or opposing kingdoms
  • Jesus promised that faith-filled prayer would be answered
  • "Believe that you have received it"—present faith for future answers
  • But this comes with a condition: forgiveness
  • Unforgiveness blocks our prayers and our relationship with God
  • We must forgive others as God has forgiven us
  • The fig tree incident symbolized:
  • Israel's spiritual barrenness despite religious appearance
  • Coming judgment on Jerusalem and the temple (destroyed in AD 70)
  • The danger of outward religion without inward reality
  • That God expects fruit, not just leaves
  • That God expects genuine spiritual fruit, not just religious appearance
  • The danger of hypocrisy—looking spiritual without being fruitful
  • Jesus's authority over nature—even to curse and destroy
  • That judgment comes on fruitless religion
  • The power of faith-filled prayer
  • That nothing is impossible for those who truly believe
  • Prayer must be accompanied by forgiveness
  • Unforgiveness hinders our relationship with God and our prayers
  • That God looks at the heart, not just outward religious activity
  • The connection between faith, prayer, and forgiveness
  • That Jesus used everyday events as teaching opportunities
  • The seriousness of spiritual fruitlessness

This story powerfully illustrates:

The withering of the fig tree is a sobering warning against empty religion. Just as the fig tree had leaves but no fruit, Israel (and the temple system) had religious activity but lacked the fruit of justice, mercy, and faithfulness that God desired. Jesus's curse on the tree was a prophetic sign of coming judgment. However, Jesus turned this into a positive teaching about the power of faith-filled, forgiving prayer. The account challenges us to examine our own lives: Do we have genuine spiritual fruit, or just religious leaves? Are we praying with faith and forgiveness, or harboring unforgiveness that blocks our prayers?

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